Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

“The condensed version is that the person I planned the trip with had a last-minute change of plans. So I decided to do the whole thing solo.”

“Brave girl.” He whistled.

I wondered what he would think if I told him the entire story. Why did it matter if Cole knew I had just been dumped? I didn’t lie, but I left out a few key points I didn’t want to think about, at least not when he was around.

“I’m ready to get out of here. Walk me back?”

“Sure. Yeah, of course, but I drove.” Cole turned toward the party that was raging in front of us. “I think we can leave through the side gate. No reason to go back in that shit.”

I followed him around the side of Bottoms Up and through the wooden gate that was marked as an emergency exit. I waited for a siren to go off as he pushed on the handle, but it was silent.

“They just mark the gates like that so people don’t sneak their friends in. That’s how my buddies and I used to get in here.”

I looked at him. “You used to sneak into Bottoms Up? Tell me it ain’t so.”

Cole laughed. “Yep. And I did a lot more than that.” His sexy smile made me melt. “Come on, let’s get you back.”

Cole walked over to a huge maroon truck parked in the club’s lot. He crossed in front of the vehicle and opened the passenger side for me. I had to hold the grab bar to hoist myself into the cab. This was definitely the highest truck I had ever ridden in, but that was supposed to be Texas. Big trucks, right?

Cole pulled into the empty parking lot at the Dune Scape and cut the engine. I could hear the waves hitting the beach through the open windows of his truck.

“Would you want to have a drink?” Cole pulled the keys from the ignition.

“Should we ask Ryan?”

He shot me a look.

“Kidding. Yes. A drink sounds good.”

“Ok, then. I’ll grab a few drinks from my room and meet you at the boardwalk.”

I climbed down from the cab and made my way to the wooden path that led to the beach. The breeze had picked up and I wished I had something to cover my arms.

After a few minutes, Cole emerged behind me holding two beers. “Sorry, I don’t have a huge selection. Beer ok?”

I wasn’t about to admit that I didn’t drink m

uch beer. “It’s perfect.” I took the cold bottle and sipped. A shiver ran down my back.

“You cold? Here.” Cole handed me his beer and unbuttoned the plaid shirt he was wearing. He pulled one sleeve and then the other before wrapping it around my shoulders. Underneath, he had on a T-shirt. I studied every move he made, as if he was unwrapping a present.

“Thanks. I guess you did get to be a knight in shining armor after all.” I laughed and was glad to be warm. The shirt was heated was from his body.

“Follow me.” He tilted his head in the direction of the water.

“Where are we going?”

“My secret spot on the beach.”

“Sounds mysterious.” I trailed behind Cole as we walked down the boardwalk and north along the dunes, glad his playful side had emerged again. We felt normal again.

“Here it is.” He stepped into an alcove nestled by beach shrubs. “It’s a natural wind barrier. You won’t be as cold in here.”

I also noticed that we wouldn’t be spotted by a single soul on the beach. The cove was tucked away among higher sand dunes. Cole tossed one of the forbidden motel towels down on the sand.

“I heard you can’t use those except for showers. There’s a strict motel policy,” I taunted him.

“I’ve got connections.” If it hadn’t been so dark on the beach, I would have sworn he winked at me.