They both climbed off the bike. Skylar looked up at the huge, two-story building with the glass front and huge shark hanging in the atrium visible through the glass. “What are we doing here?”
Shades just grinned at her. “You’ll see.”
He took her hand and led her inside. Then he led her through the store, past display
s of cups, mugs, key-chains, refrigerator magnets and an assortment of things made from seashells. They wended their way through racks and racks of tee-shirts and sweatshirts. Skylar tried to look at things as Shades pulled her along, moving with purpose through the store. Until he stopped suddenly, and she plowed into his back. Apparently he’d reached his destination. She looked around. They’d arrived at the swimsuit section. Her eyes traveled over the racks of bikinis. She looked up at him questioningly.
He grinned back. “Pick one out, darlin’.”
Her brows rose. “Seriously?”
“You got five minutes. I’ll meet you in front. Make it sexy.” Then he winked and walked off. She watched him grab a pair of men’s trunks as he headed toward the register.
She turned back to the racks and quickly began flipping through the hangers.
Twenty minutes later, they were heading down Fort Morgan Road. Civilization fell away and they passed under a canopy of trees, Spanish moss swaying in the breeze. There was sand on either side of the road. After several minutes, the trees opened up, and the bay appeared on the right. Several miles down, they made a left turn and rode a couple blocks to the shore. They made a right and rode along the beachfront homes. Shades pulled down a drive that was barely visible in the sand and pulled up to a bright pink house. It was up on stilts, beachfront facing the Gulf, the blue water visible beyond the stilts. The place didn’t look like much from the outside. In fact, it looked kind of rundown with its peeling paint. A line of bikes was parked under the house. The guys having stopped to load up on beer, ice and booze, judging by the bottles and bags they were carting in, had arrived just ahead of them. Ghost was heading up the stairs to unlock the door.
Skylar and Shades dismounted and climbed the stairs, following the men as they trooped inside. There was an open floor plan with a kitchen on the right, a long bar between it and the living area. On the left was a small dining table. Straight ahead in the living area was a couch facing the windows that revealed the partially covered deck beyond. On one side sat a love seat, and a chair and ottoman on the other. A flat screen TV sat on a stand at an angle in the corner. There was an open doorway on the right and another on the left.
“There are two bedrooms and a bath on each side of the house,” Ghost explained, pointing toward both doorways. “So pick a room, guys.”
Skylar walked over to one side and checked out one of the bedrooms. It faced the Gulf with its own wall of windows. A large queen bed, with a nightstand on either side, faced the gorgeous view.
Shades walked in behind her and tossed their bags on the bed. Then he approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her as she stood at the window admiring the view. The sand was sugar white, and the ocean was deep blue.
“It’s so beautiful.”
“We can open a window tonight and listen to the surf roll in with the tide all night.”
“I love this place.”
“You’ve been here two minutes.”
“I don’t care. I love it. I never want to leave.”
Shades kissed her neck. “Come on, babe.”
He took her hand and led her back to the main living area. The door to the deck stood open, and the ocean breeze beckoned them outside. They joined the others out on the deck.
“My God, I could throw a rock and hit the surf, the water is so close,” Skylar exclaimed.
Shades smiled at her.
Ghost pulled a cooler out and loaded it with beer. Then he broke a bag of ice open and dumped it over it.
“You guys hit the quick-rip?” Shades asked, watching Ghost.
“Nah, I wanted to get a few pounds of shrimp to boil so we stopped at the grocery store.”
“The three of you in a grocery store? I can only imagine.” Shades chuckled.
“It was all going fine till Blood almost got us kicked out of there,” Ghost replied with a grin aimed at Blood.
Blood gave his best ‘what are you looking at me for’ look and replied, “What, her kid was running all over the store like a little terror and I’m the bad guy for tripping him?”
Sandman snorted.
Ghost hit him with a look. “You were no better. ‘Lady, can’t you count to ten?’”