I was exhausted by the time I got home. Heather and I had spent hours circling the mall. My phone buzzed in my bag. I still hadn’t taken it off vibrate, and I seriously considered just letting whoever it was go to voicemail.
I wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone. Especially not my dad or his assistant. A voice at the back of my mind chided at me to answer. Someone might need me. Someone might be in trouble.
The caller wasn’t in my contacts. I took a deep breath, trying to quash my cautious optimism that James might have finally tracked down my number.
“Gabrielle speaking.”
The butterflies in my stomach woke up and went nuts as his deep voice spoke at the other end of the line. “Hey, Gabbi.” He was so effortlessly casual. “I figured out a way to get your number.”
“Thank you, Captain Obvious.” I tried to keep calm, but it was damn hard. My body knew the things he was capable of doing to it. My nerve endings came alive just from the sound of his voice. “How’d you do it?”
“I’d tell you that if I told you, I’d have to kill you, but I’m afraid your fate would be infinitely worse than that. Let’s just say that I did what I needed to do to get to you.” My heartbeat sped up, and my palms became clammy at the thought that he’d clearly gone to some lengths to get my number.
“That doesn’t sound ominous or anything.”
His low chuckle made me feel giddy. “It wasn’t supposed to, but it was kind of Bond-worthy.” His tone was light, joking. It was endearing.
“If your next words are ‘Call me Skye. James Skye,’ I’m hanging up.” I wasn’t even joking, though I doubted he would be that cheesy.
He laughed a deep rumbling laugh that sounded like it came straight from his stomach in response. “Man, I wish I’d thought of that. That would’ve been so fucking epic. And it would’ve fit perfectly.”
“No, not epic. Horrible. You’re better than that,” I teasingly berated him. “And that would never fit perfectly. Not ever, not anywhere.”
“You being serious? It would’ve been awesome. I’m sort of reminiscent of James Bond, aren’t I?” He could thank his lucky stars that I knew what sarcasm sounded like.
“So, Mr. Skye. What can I do for you?” The nerves that had calmed with his teasing were back in full force. Maybe even with reinforcements.
“Well, since I had to enter into some unspeakable alliances to get your number, I thought I’d better put it to good use.”
How was it possible for one person to be that confident? “Put it to good use how?” I gave myself a mental pat on the back for managing to sound nonchalant.
“I’m going to the beach tomorrow. I’ve been told I need to take some time to relax. I was wondering if you would be interested in joining me?
The butterflies went nuts again. “Tomorrow? I don’t know. I’m pretty busy at the moment.” I tried to play it cool, but I already knew I was going to go.
“Come on, don’t make me beg. I’ll see you there at 2.”
Well, what do you know? Maybe I’d left a lasting impression, after all.
Chapter Eleven
James
The sun burned hot on my neck as I stepped onto the beach. My eyes scanned the mostly empty stretch of sand from behind my sunglasses. I grabbed my towel and bottle of water and jogged to Gabrielle, who was already there, stretching her lithe body out on her towel and rubbing sunscreen into her skin.
“Can I give you a hand there?”
She jumped at the sound of my voice.
As incredible as she looked in casual clothes, as devastating as she was all dressed up, the sight of Gabrielle in a tiny polka dot bikini was enough to make the air get stuck in my lungs.
Gabrielle’s lips curved into a coy smile. “With what do you want to give me a hand, exactly?”
I laughed as I spread my towel next to hers, giving her a smirk. “Jeez, and you thought the football players were the ones with the lines. Judging by that, lawyers have us beat.”
Her cheeks flushed. “Aspiring, maybe-someday lawyer over here, but sure. Judge the whole profession.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You’re honestly talking to me about judging a whole profession?”