Dark Beach - By Lauren Ash Page 0,12
to think of something less personal—after all, this was their first date. Nothing came forth. “Nothing. You?”
He couldn’t help but smile. His eyes skimmed her tight pink summer dress and then flickered back up to meet her gaze. “Me?” He paused.
“I was thinking about what you’d look like older,” she confessed.
“Now why would you want me to be older? Didn’t you come out with me here because I’m younger?”
She flipped over, moved her elbows up to block the sun, or to cover her face—to cover embarrassment she couldn’t hide.
Ron took the cue. Rolled up next to her on his side, he put his arm over her waist.
“You’re too hot,” she whispered.
With that, he tried to kiss her, but she moved away.
“I don’t kiss on the first date.” Jenny propped herself on one elbow, on her side, and they both faced each other, inches apart.
“Can I be the exception?”
He looked so fresh, but he acted older. Jenny couldn’t fathom where it came from. She raised one brow. Ron moved his head in closer, holding his lips close to hers, but he didn’t do anything. She tilted her head just a little as he pressed his lips to hers. She had kissed many others, but it still felt like a first kiss—still tied her stomach in knots. He pulled back a little, still keeping his face close.
“I want you,” he whispered, and stroked her cheek.
They kissed again, this time longer.
The rest of their time in the woods, out in the middle of nowhere in the Cascade Forest, was innocent, although spent not saying much at all.
* * *
“I knew I’d find you up here.” Ron stood all the way back in the hex room as Jenny leaned up against the glass and regarded the view. “Careful on the glass there; don’t lean all your weight on it.”
She stayed put. “I love it up here. It’s like I’m all alone, and there’s nothing else whatsoever. I haven’t felt this way about a place in ages. I mean, I love our home, but you know—it’s just so much better out here.”
“You and Nana would get along very well.” Ron stayed where he was, knowing better, still hearing the undercurrent of anger in her tone.
“Look at all the people out there, walking along. I wonder if they all live here? Or are they just visiting? It’s impossible to tell; they’re all so pale. It must be hard to manage a tan in this weather.” She rubbed her arms. “I need to work on mine, badly.”
“You can go sunbathe. It’s not always so bad. When the weather’s good, it’s really good. You could be as dark as you want.”
“I don’t want to be too dark, just a bit of color.” Her tone eased a little.
“Come here.” Ron put his arms out. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to fight anymore.”
Jenny hurried to him, snuggled in to him. “Me neither. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Oh, honey. Come on, I’ll help you clean. We’ll get it all done, then we’ll go pay a visit to Nana.”
* * *
Busy Bee Meadows was a pale peach stretch of a building on the non-ocean side of Rocky Shores’ spit. It had water views, but only of an expanse the width of a medium-sized freeway. It overlooked more homes on the other side of the narrow inlet. Still, it had a better view than most, and it was always full, with low patient rotation.
“She’s been here how long?” Jenny asked as she parked the car.
“Years now. Maybe like five years or something.”
“But who takes care of the beach house?”
“Oh man—that’s right. I forgot about her. We didn’t have to break in.” Ron slapped his knee. “She has a good friend in town somewhere who has a set of keys. Her name is … hmmm ... it’s not coming to me. I’ll ask Nana. We’ll need to get the keys from her.”
“Well it’s too late for that. I barely slept last night with just some boards on the front door. I ended up in bed with Kip. Now, this woman, she can come in at any time?” Jenny asked, concerned.
“Yeah. Considering I can’t remember her name, it probably wouldn’t have mattered. Wonder what she’ll think if she finds out I nailed the door shut. What a mess. We’re lucky crime rates are low here. Anyway, remind me to ring the locksmith to come out and fix it.”
Jenny nodded. “Sure.” Her mind was elsewhere, thinking of the strangers that could possibly access her