But this was one problem my daring billionaire couldn’t fix.
I flashed a tight smile, but shook my head, stuffing my cell phone back in my pocket. He understood the subject was closed, but unwilling to leave me alone, he tried a different tack.
“Come to the beach with me?”
I glanced around in surprise. “Now?” The beach was dark. Only the light of the full moon reflected off the tops of the waves, leaving the sand bathed in shadow.
He smiled and held out his hand. “If you like.”
For a second, I considered his offer. Then I laced my fingers through his open hand. I would like. In fact, I would like very much.
We went to the beach a few minutes later.
“Is it cold?” I asked hesitantly, perching on the water’s edge.
He had already waded in up to his stomach by the time I got to the beach. When he heard me speak, he turned around and gave me a breathtaking smile. The moon lit up his curls in a silver halo, and his eyes were the exact color of the starlit sea.
“It’s warmer than you think.” He offered me his hand. “Come on.”
He was right. At first I just dipped in my ankle, but the water was as warm as a bath, and I was quick to scamper in. It wasn’t exactly a peaceful shoreline. It was the kind that kids would love to jump and play in during the day. None of the waves were too rough, but I still squealed and jumped back as a bigger one splashed up to my chin.
Marcus laughed and whirled around. “Are you afraid to get wet?”
I answered him with a resounding wall of water that eight years on a swim team had led me to master. It struck him squarely in the face, and he stumbled back a step, coughing and blinking salt water from his eyes.
“You little—”
The next second, he was charging through the waves. I screamed and dove for cover, but I wasn’t fast enough. I may have perfected the art of splashing, but Marcus had over a foot on me and strong muscular arms. It wasn’t long before the two of us were dripping from head to toe.
“Where did you learn to play like that?” he panted, combing his hair from his eyes.
I shrugged and giggled. “I have an older brother, Max. It was kill or be killed in my family. He made sure I learned to survive.”
“Older brother.” Marcus chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
We laughed ourselves out, then stood in awkward silence on the deserted beach. There wasn’t a soul in sight. No one around for us to keep up the charade. It was just him and me, and all these unanswered questions.
After a few minutes, he cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Listen, Becca, there’s something you should know. After you left the boat last night, I—”
“Look out!”
I leaped automatically backward as a huge wave barreled toward us, landing me squarely in Marcus’ arms. He covered me protectively as it rained down over our heads, tensing and bracing himself in the sand. When it was finished, we stayed still as statues, panting and blinking the water from our eyes.
“Sorry,” I gasped as I peered up at him. “I didn’t—”
He kissed me.
There was no one else around. No one watching but us.
I kissed him back.
Oh yes...I had undoubtedly, most definitely, gotten in over my head...
Chapter 22
Back in the room, we decided to do a tequila shot. We agreed to just one.
I seductively looked into Marcus’s eyes and softly ran my fingers across his lips. “You know how this works, right? Lick-sip-suck.