Page 100 of Titus
“Fine then,” I answered. “Perhaps I pursued Cat further because I enjoyed the challenge.”
“And now?” John said after ending a call he had taken during the commotion.
“And now, I’m going to bring her to the beach tomorrow.”
Sebastian and Collin both nearly spit their drinks back into their glasses, but I ignored their reactions.
“You…” Jake Mitchell remained unfazed by that realization, “… are going to the beach… with her?”
“You think I’m afraid of a little sand?” I smirked. “You know I spent much of my childhood on the Costa del Sol.”
“Yeah, well, your childhood isn’t exactly recent history.” He laughed and leaned back in his chair. “So, which private beach are you bringing her to, then?”
I smiled at him. “That’s the question of the night, actually. I need a good recommendation because she prefers public beaches, and I only know of private ones.”
“Oh, boy. She’s taking your ass to school,” Collin said with a laugh. “Bolsa if you want to surf, Huntington if you prefer something more commercial, and Laguna if you just want to chill and plan moves for tomorrow night with her.”
“Malibu is most likely your best choice,” Jim said. “It has the best of all the places Collin mentioned.”
“Why not just stay close to your place, just in case you get lucky?” Wyatt asked.
“For the record, that’s not why I’m taking her out,” I answered. “I want her to be comfortable with me.”
“Jesus Christ,” Colton said. “You really are taken with this woman.”
“I don’t know what I am,” I answered truthfully.
“You haven’t even been to a beach since we were kids,” Wyatt reminded me. “I think you’re entering a midlife crisis or something.”
I looked at my brother and realized in that moment that he was exactly right. Shit. Would I even know how to handle a casual day at the beach? I hadn’t done anything like this since before our father demanded we grow the fuck up and focus on our future.
“Well, gentlemen,” Collin said, standing. “This evening has been eventful.” He looked over at me. “Have fun at the beach tomorrow, sweetheart. Remember your sunscreen.”
Jake rose with him. “And don’t forget the beachballs, either,” he said, as he and Collin both laughed, waiting for John to stand and leave with them.
John shook his head. “Well, you’re welcome,” he said.
“For what?”
“Making your sorry, arrogant ass look good to her while she was at the hospital with her sister.”
“I highly doubt this was all you,” I answered.
“Perhaps not,” he chuckled. “But don’t fuck it up now, brother.”
“Bye, ladies,” Collin said.
With that, the conversation shifted to what Jim had in place on the inside to monitor Jameston for any shady moves. I needed to make sure we were ahead of whatever games he was playing, because a weasel like that never went down quietly. Men like him always wanted to burn down everything around them on the way out.
Once I was reassured that the situation was being handled, I could focus on tomorrow and on spending an enjoyable, casual day with Cat. Truthfully, I was glad none of the men were giving me too much grief over it because I knew better than anyone that this wasn’t like me at all.
The beach parking lot overlooking Malibu was already crowded by the time I arrived. Apparently, half of Los Angeles had collectively decided today was perfect beach weather.
The Pacific stretched endlessly under the afternoon sun, with waves rolling in shimmering blue lines toward the shore. Palm trees swayed above the highway, music drifted from open Jeeps, and groups of surfers moved barefoot across the sand, carrying their boards under their arms as if this lifestyle were second nature.
Then there was my ass, leaning against my vintage silver 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder, which I hadn’t driven in almost three years.
I’d pulled the cover off the car that morning after standing in the garage, staring at my collection longer than necessary. I owned only four rare vintage sports cars, but each one meant something to me. Machines I once loved driving before business consumed every waking second of my life.
