Page 59 of Someone Exactly Like Me (Wounded Hearts 1)
The sun is hot on my skin and I know I need to get back under the umbrella. I don’t want to let go of him. But I have to. I draw my body apart from his. Our faces so close, the intensity is undeniable. A mixture of desire, connection, and respect sits in the space between us.
His eyes move to my lips. Mine are drawn to his.
“Destiny…” His stillness sends a rush through me.
The current of the water knocks his balance, disrupting the moment, severing our gaze.
“I think I’m ready to go back in,” I say reluctantly.
“Your skin is getting pink.”
“You can stay out here, I’ll just swim back in.”
“No, I’ll come with you.”
He walks to where I’m able to stand and we head back into the shoreline then up to our spot on the beach. Well, I look more like a mall-walker because I’m walking so fast to get to my towel and dry off. As we pass the older couple, I wave at them and he thanks them.
Grabbing my towel from my chair, I quickly pat the beads of water off my skin so I can warm up. “Brrr.” I tilt my head to the side and squeeze the water from my ponytail. As I do, I catch his gaze on my breasts. My nipples are hard as a rock.
“When we’re dried off, how about we go to the winery?” he asks.
“Okay, that sounds good.”
He moves his chair into the sun and lays out. Putting on my sunglasses, I sit and soak in his glorious body since this is the last time I’ll see this much of it in real life.
Once we’re dry, we pack up our things, wave to the older couple, and head to my car.
“Where can I change?”
“I’ll throw the blanket over the windshield and we can close the towels in both doors. You can change in the car. Is that okay?”
“Hah!” he laughs. “Okay, if that’s what we’ve got, then that’s what we’ve got.”
“Any women walking by have probably already seen you naked anyway.” Well, that was bold of me. And now, I’m thinking about him naked.
He lets out a hearty laugh. “You have a point.”
We cover the windows and he gets in. I can think of nothing other than Niccolo Mancini being naked in my car. My head starts on a fantasy that quickly ends as he gets out.
“Do you need me to hide you?”
I chuckle. “No, I’m a woman, it’s easier.” I hold up my sundress.
He helps me remove the blanket and towels. I open my door and quickly slip out of my coverup and put on my sundress. He watches me.
I drive the few miles to the winery and we don’t speak. I’m thinking about being in his arms, his lips inches from mine, and desperately aching for him to kiss me. “Control”by Zoe Wees comes on the radio, the lyrics ringing true. Is he thinking about holding me in his arms? Why did he do that?
We only stay at the winery for one tasting and both end up liking the same wine. He buys two bottles and we go to Malibu Farm for an early dinner. As we eat, our conversation is disconnected, almost stilted. We’ve both withdrawn. Regardless of what I’m feeling, nothing more than friendship can exist between us, if that’s even possible once he leaves and continues on his path to stardom. He’s quieter than usual. There’s more than one stolen glance above the rims of our wine glasses.
On the drive home, he remains distant, as do I.
“You look like you’re far away somewhere,” I say.
He shifts his gaze from staring out the window to me. “No, I’m not far away. I’m here.”
“Is something on your mind? I’m a really good listener.”
Reaching over, he tucks a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. “I know you are. No, nothing’s on my mind.” His tender smile rips at my heart as his gaze lingers on me. He might be a good actor, but he’s a terrible liar.
