Baewatch - Xavier Neal Page 0,12

get us both banned.

And her, most likely, fired.

Not exactly an ideal way to start a relationship.

The r word crossing my mind at a more frequent rate creates an equal amount of unease and elation that has me shifting around in the sand for a second time. “I was wrong.”

Brooklyn’s hooded stare does its best to pry back open while her heaving chest struggles to settle. “About?”

“Not kissing you last night wasn’t crazy.”

Her eyebrows lift towards the bright blue sky.

“It was fucking insane.” I give my lips a quick swipe, tasting the lingering pineapple flavor, something I’m assuming she had for breakfast. “Probably the most insane shit I’ve ever done, and I’ve gone tombstoning.”

Deep crimson spots suddenly begin to appear in her cheeks causing her to glance away in an attempt to regain her composure.

Part of me hopes she never does.

Part of me wants to see how many shades of red I can get her to make.

I wait until her gaze gravitates back to mine of its own accord to ask, “Plans tonight?”

She swiftly shakes her head.

“Want some?”

Brooklyn gives her bottom lip a small bite before cooing, “I’m listening…”

“I wanna take you to Paradise.”

Mirth springs into her expression at the same time she inquires, “Do you mean for that to sound the way that it sounds?”

“What are you-” A momentary break is taken for me to replay the poorly worded phrasing in my own head. Afterwards, I slowly nod at her point. “Yup. I hear it now. That shit was not intentional.”

“Again.”

“Honestly, kind of wondering how often I accidentally say those types of things. You’re the first person who’s ever called me on it, so I’m not sure if it’s because you make me a little tongue tied or if the rest of the world just doesn’t care enough to point it out.” My toe wiggles against hers, stroking it the way my thumb would if we were holding hands. “Though, this time I don’t exactly hate the sexual implication.”

Brooklyn blushes, once again; however, I hold her stare hostage rather than allow her to send it away again.

“Have you ever been?”

“Um…having mixed feelings on the appropriate answer…”

Her teasing leads to us both snickering. “I meant to the hole in the wall spot. It’s this little bar and grill. Intimate but lively. Fresh food. Fresh drinks. Fresh music…” Another bright, hopeful grin grows. “Give it a shot with me?”

“On the condition-”

“There always seems to be one.”

“-that I get to pick where we go for date number three.”

“I like how that sounds.”

“Me picking or date number three?”

“Yup.” We exchange wide smiles, and I add, “It’s walking distance from my place. You can meet me there whenever you get off – I’ll text you my address – and we’ll go over together.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“That’s because it involves you.”

Brooklyn swoons at the absentminded statement and hearing the happiness it brings only makes me want to say more things to make her feel adored.

She absolutely fucking is.

At least by me.

I feel myself making plans to never let her forget that.

And, oddly enough, something about her makes me want to be the type of man who never lets her forget how phenomenal she truly is.

That also falls in the category of foreign feelings.

“Probably should go.” Hating the idea as much as the chosen exit line pushes me to proclaim, “Not that I want to leave you or this moment or even the beach – I never wanna leave the beach, it’s why I live with it in my backyard – but I’ve got breakfast plans with the guys, and you, most likely, want to finish calming your mind before work.”

“Enjoy breakfast.”

“Won’t taste nearly as good as you, but I’ll find a way to make do…”

Another round of red creeps into her cheeks, and I take the color cue to dismiss myself.

Funny how the smooth moments and ill-phrased ones both flow so freely. Can’t say that I care for the latter, but I do like knowing someone sees both sides of me. Appreciate that someone actually listens and pays attention and isn’t just pretending to give a shit about not only what I give a shit about, but me. I’m not used to another person being this invested or involved, nor have I been this into someone else in years.

I look forward to changing that.

More importantly, I’ve got high hopes that what transpires between us has better results for my heart than the last experience did.

I always figured if I ever had a slow motion 80’s-inspired montage play out