couldn’t make it, how the hell could I?”
“So, you do want to find your soulmate?” I ask, surprised how interested I am in her response, though I try not to let it show.
“I mean…yeah, I think so. Not right now, obviously, but I want to find love. I want to grow old with someone. I want to have kids one day and a dog and a white picket fence. I want someone to rely on me and to support me. I want all of that. Just….” She licks her lips, then looks out at the ocean surrounding us before repeating, “Just not right now.”
I don’t notice I’m still holding her hand until I look down to inspect her ankle again. Clearing my throat, I untangle our fingers, then brush my thumb along the curve of her foot another time.
“Does it still hurt?”
She shakes her head. “Not really. It’s a little tender, but it definitely could’ve been worse.”
“Let’s make sure you take it easy for the rest of the day, okay?”
“Okay, Dr. Gage.” Her button nose scrunches up with a light laugh before she asks, “I just realized that I don’t even know your last name or what you do for a living. Are you an actual doctor? Because that would be slightly embarrassing while also very convenient.”
“No. I work with Conner, remember?”
“Good point,” she concedes, her face threatening to blush all over again.
Giving her a break, I explain, “I handle marketing, while he does a lot of the finances for Guttenburg Enterprises.”
“Ah, yes. Now I remember hearing something about that. What’s your last name?”
“White. Yours?”
“Daniels.”
“Well,” I offer her my hand. “It’s nice to officially meet you, Nora Daniels.”
“You too, Gage White. So, have you ever swam with dolphins?”
“Actually, no. Would you think I’m less macho if I admitted that I’m excited to try it? It’s always been on my bucket list.”
“If anything, it only makes you sexier. In fact, it’s a very Cancer thing to do. We like to talk about our feelings.” She presses into my shoulder, playfully.
“Oh, no. That means you’re rubbing off on me.”
With another light laugh, she whispers, “Now if only I could get you to rub one off on me.”
“Did I just hear an innuendo come out of that pouty mouth, Nora?”
“Maybe.”
“I’m beginning to think that I’m rubbing off on you too.”
She grins. “I think you might be right.”
9
Nora
The entire atmosphere screams paradise. From the tall palm trees to the white sandy beach, I’m in heaven. Plain and simple. With a sigh of contentment, I let the water lap at my ankles then drop my head back toward the sky.
Hello, sunshine. How I’ve missed you.
“Never took you for a beach kind of girl, but now that you’re in your element, I can see it,” a deep voice rumbles behind me.
I peek over my shoulder and catch Gage checking out my butt. “You just like me in a bikini.”
“Every guy on this beach likes the sight of you in a bikini. Trust me. But I like the smile on your face too.” Inching closer, he grabs my waist with a gentle but firm grip. The intimate touch makes my stomach tighten, and I catch myself glancing down at it for a quick inspection. Long, calloused fingers with trimmed nails. Weathered skin that hints at how capable and hard-working they are. I’ve always been a sucker for a strong set of hands.
Licking my lips, I peek back up at him. There’s a confident smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he pulls me closer to him. I’m pretty sure it’s permanently etched onto his face, and I kind of love how contagious it is.
“Someone’s confident this morning,” I razz while a swarm of butterflies assaults my stomach.
“Well, I am wearing the red pin that says I’m off the market for the time being. I might as well soak up a few of the perks, right?”
“Oh, so this little presentation has nothing to do with the fact that I was helping a few single guys find their way to the scuba diving meet-up point a few minutes ago?”
He growls low in his throat before bending closer to my mouth. There are still a few inches of distance, but the space is closing a little bit more as every second ticks by.
“Did you just growl at me?” I laugh.
“Maybe.”
Another inch closer.
“Do you think girls like it when you growl at them?”
Chest rumbling, he presses his forehead to mine. “You tell me.”
“Pretty sure when you look at them