They bumped fists. When Marshall walked up the beach toward his car, another crew member brought Zach his phone, telling him, “It’s been ringing.”
His mind immediately veered to Tessa again. She’d sounded pretty set on leaving two days ago, but Zach kept hoping for a call anyway.
“Thanks.” Zach was thinking about picking up some Advil on his way back to the hotel while he squinted at the screen. Two missed calls from a number he didn’t know, an area code two-zero-two. Wherever that was.
He tapped into his waiting text message. The first line read: Hey there, it’s Tessa.
His
heart took an extra hard beat. Zach stepped into the shade of the canopy to read the rest.
We’ve decided to stay another few days. I’d like to see you when you’re free.
Adrenaline spurted into his bloodstream. Zach dropped his head back, closed his eyes, and pumped his fist. “Yes.”
He texted back immediately. I’ll make myself available at your request.
He didn’t give a shit how pathetic he looked. He had a very small window of time to enjoy this unique creature, and he knew it.
She returned a smiley emoji and How about dinner?
“Ah, crap.” Figured she’d ask when he had plans. He sighed and weighed his options. Jax and Lexi would be here for a few days. His talk with Marshall could wait. It wasn’t like the studio had made an offer. But he couldn’t get together with the vixen attorney just anytime.
So he texted back Name the time and place. I only need thirty minutes—I’m still on the beach, but headed back to the hotel.
While Zach waited for her response, he texted Jax and told him he was bailing on dinner. Then he texted Marshall and told him they could talk business over breakfast or lunch tomorrow.
Ka’ana or Fleetwood’s? Tessa texted. I’ll make reservations.
“I like this bold new version of you, baby,” he murmured, already wondering how their second night together would be. Judging by how amazing their first night had been, his bet was their second would be a fucking blockbuster.
But he hesitated with his reply. If she didn’t have a kid, he would have insisted on walking over to get her at the condo before they headed out. That would give them prime warm-up time in the cab on the drive to the restaurant. He was anxious to get his lips back on hers. Would kill to get her into another shower with him. But he wasn’t particularly interested in meeting a three-year-old.
Still, he texted: Two of my favorite places. You choose. Should I come over and pick you up?
I’m already out. I’ll meet you at Ka’ana.
He smiled, texted: Perfect, grabbed his gear, and jogged toward the parking lot.
Zach was ready in record time and when he reached Ka’ana, his stomach rolled with hunger. The rest of his body also sported a deep craving—but that was for Tessa.
He pushed through the door to the lobby of the restaurant and found the typical crowd waiting for a table—a hip, young group of millennials in everything from tight skirts and kitten heels to bikini tops and sarongs. Zach searched the space for Tessa, hoping she was as pretty as he remembered. He’d had a number of beers by the time he’d met her at the bar, and their night had been largely spent in nothing but moonlight. But after thinking about it for another millisecond, he knew he didn’t care.
He wandered through the waiting area and around the bar. When he didn’t see anyone immediately recognizable, Zach returned to the lobby and pulled out his phone to text her.
“Zach.”
A female voice brought his head up. A young woman walked toward him from the dimly lit bar. He returned his gaze to his phone and started tapping out the text, hoping to brush her off. If he got this role for Hawaiian Heat, he’d have to get better with hats and sunglasses.
Instead of hanging back, she came right up to him and placed a hand on his arm. “Zach.”
He looked up again with Sorry, I’m meeting someone on his tongue. But found himself looking into Tessa’s blue eyes. “Oh, hey. I was just—”
Her hair was down, and her stiff suit was gone, replaced by a loose, semi-sheer tank top printed in a pale abstract floral. The fabric fell like liquid over her breasts, and a familiar craving rolled through his gut. Her jeans were worn denim capris that stopped midcalf, and she wore honest-to-God Teva flip-flops on her feet.
Island girl, was his first thought, and excitement fluttered under his ribs.
“You look amazing.” She was gorgeous. Natural, sun-kissed, easy-on-the-eyes gorgeous.