Sand Angel Page 0,31

heavy footsteps as she made it to the bathroom. With a twist of her hand she turned the shower on. She had to get Drew’s scent off her now.

He’d given her a little taste of happiness. Even if it was bittersweet this morning, she had learned something. Happiness couldn’t be found through another individual. You had to want it—work for it—just as she had done throughout the years.

She stepped beneath the flowing water. It was warmer than she preferred. Was it the water temperature or the heat coming off her body? As she began to soap her arms, she realized something.

She was in charge of her happiness.

She had wasted three years pining for Drew. And look what she had done to her life. Such a fool. She shook her head and rinsed off. This was where the foolishness ended. She shut off the water.

After grabbing a towel, she rubbed it briskly over her body. She knew it wasn’t going to be easy. She stepped from the shower and walked toward her small closet. There was no way to just turn off how she felt about Drew, nor the rush of adrenaline she loved when it came to performing. Her gaze scanned the outfits hanging. It was hard to explain the pleasure she got with each death-defying act she performed. It had become her life—what she lived for.

A vibrant pink riding ensemble caught her attention. With a jerk she opened a drawer and retrieved underwear.

Surprisingly, Drew hadn’t been the only driving force behind her desire for speed. Yes—speed just made it easier to forget him. With speed came accidents and there was no denying that pain numbed his memory, but he wasn’t the reason she rode. She was good—damn good.

As she slipped her bra and panties on, she realized just how much she had allowed Drew to mess with her mind. She pulled the jersey over her head and sucked in a breath of regret. Drew was all she had ever wanted. With angry movements she pushed her legs through the riding pants. He had deceived her once again.

But she was stronger now. He would leave and this time she wouldn’t fall apart. Maybe she’d go back home, mend the tear in her family’s relationship.

Filled with a brand new sense of purpose, she put her socks on, slipped her foot into one boot and then the other, snapping them tight. For the next two days she would enjoy what Glamis had to offer. Sunday she would head to Phoenix and say hi to her mom and dad.

Now all she had to do was stay away from Drew.

Plate in hand, Drew headed toward the toy hauler, taking a step backward as the door swung open and Zoë stepped down. Crap. She was already dressed to ride. Both he and Josh thought that by keeping her busy, they’d be keeping her out of trouble.

He’d just have to seduce her into seeing things his way. He liked the sound of that plan.

She didn’t say a word to him as she passed by and began to release the ramp at the back of the trailer.

“I brought you breakfast,” he said, leaning in for a kiss that caught her cheek as she turned away. Hmmm…something wasn’t right.

Glancing over a shoulder, she looked down at the eggs and bacon he held, then at him. “Ahhh…that’s sweet. I hope you didn’t go to any trouble. But if I remember correctly there’s a little restaurant and bar down by the Glamis Beach Store. I have a craving for a hamburger.” She moved up the ramp, her footsteps tapping on the floor as she disappeared into the toy hauler.

He shot a desperate glance in Josh’s direction. His friend urged him on with the brush of his fingers.

Zoë appeared again, but this time she was rolling her Honda 250 CR down the ramp. The bike meant trouble. Big trouble.

He moved in, stopping her with his free hand on the bike’s handlebars. “Ah…I thought we’d disconnect the toy hauler from your truck and take a ride to Brawley. Check out the sites.”

She tugged the bike out of his grasp. “Good idea. While you and Josh are there pick me up some tampons.” She threw over a shoulder, “Oh, and a big box of pads.”

Well that put a dampener on the seduction angle. Talk about bad timing. He could still hold and kiss her. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth when he remembered how aroused she got with just the