“Not to mention sand in the worst of places.” I top off her glass.
“Ugh, I didn’t think about that. There’s no way I want that. Just thinking about it is making me want to pack up and leave.” She wiggles her body in the sand, and I’m sure that’s not helping much.
“Well, how about we finish our drinks, I’ll walk you to your car, and then you can ride off into the night without worrying about turning into a pumpkin or sleeping on the beach and taking the risk of catching sand fleas?”
“Oh God, you’re a ray of sunshine. Sand fleas? Give me thirty seconds flat to finish this glass, then I really will run for the hills.” Marlie’s head tips to the side and finds my shoulder. My arm moves to her lower back, making its way beneath my borrowed jacket to give her more of my warmth.
“I try, but you won’t have to run. I’ll keep them at bay.” Today might have started off with me being ready for it to be over and done with, yet now, I’m not ready for it to end. What a fucking conundrum it’s turned out to be.
CHAPTER SEVEN
marlie
“So, I guess this is goodnight.” I’m never awkward. Okay, I take that back. I can be when I’m around my friends, you know, the kind where you let your barriers down as well as your hair, maybe dance on tables, have too much to drink, and regret nothing from the night before.
“Yeah, afraid so, sweetheart. You might get a day off, but if I leave my brother to delegate where the crews work come Monday, we all might be screwed and out of jobs.” His hand is in mine, my back is facing the door of my car. After we sat and listened to the waves crash along the shore, we finished our drinks, and I let out yawn after yawn. Tanner called it a night, which I’m completely bummed about, but I also get it. He’s got a twenty-minute drive home, and jet lag is the real freaking deal, not to mention time zone changes. What a bitch and a half.
“It was nice to finally meet you, and not to inflate your ego, but Taylor was right about everything she said about you.” I stand up on the tip of my toes, going for Tanner’s cheek because I’m not that forward and expect him to kiss me. After all, this isn’t even our first date, much less anything more. I mean, sure, he asked for my number, and I gave it to him without hesitation, my eyes drooped a few times, and my head landed on his shoulder, but I wasn’t going to be that aggressive.
“The feeling is entirely mutual.” Tanner must have seen what I was up to. His lips meet mine, a light graze at first, and when I go to pull back, his hands land on my hips. My back meets the door of my car as his soft pillowy lips kiss me again, and swear to all that is holy, it’s heaven on earth.
“Oh.” That two-letter word leaves me as my hands move to his shoulders, gaining more purchase as his tongue licks my upper lip, nipping it teasingly.
“Gonna kiss you now, Marlie. I hope like fuck you’re okay with that.” Tanner doesn’t give me a chance to respond. The intake of my breath, the way I’m tightening my hold on his shoulders, that’s all the answer he needs. Our tongues meet in a slow sweeping motion. Tanner’s smooth movements, the way we’re in this clench… Everything has drifted away—the aching in my feet from wearing heels all day, the pulling of the bobby pins in my hair, the jet lag, it’s all a thing of the past. The only thing that’s at the forefront of my mind is how fucking amazing Tanner is at kissing me, and I know without a shadow of a doubt, whenever he calls me, I’ll be answering it on the first ring. To hell with trying to make it seem like I’m not interested, because I am.
And believe me, it’s been a long time since I’ve decided to take a chance on a man. I’ve kissed my fair share of frogs praying they’d be a prince. Newsflash, they weren’t, but Tanner, he most definitely could.
“Shit, I should apologize for mauling you out in public. There’s not a chance in hell that will happen, though.” Tanner pulls back. I’m still yearning for more, rocking back on my heels.
“I don’t want you to apologize either,” I reply. He dips his head, whispers a kiss against my lips one last time, and if my hands weren’t still on those muscular shoulders of his, I’d be chasing after his mouth yet again.
“That’s good, Marlie. You get home tonight. I’ll get what I can done at the office tomorrow, then I’ll call you. If you’re free, we can hit up the beach, go out to dinner or something, okay?”