Eye for an Eye (Take a Chance #2)- Lisa Helen Gray Page 0,74

I work there. It didn’t matter. He still won the argument. And as we pull up onto the seafront, I’m glad.

I love the beach. We never got many chances to go when I was growing up, but the few times we did, it was the best. I have so many good memories with my mum there.

The weather isn’t the best, but it’s dry at least. I wouldn’t care if it was raining though. I’m at the beach with Wyatt and we are spending the day here, heading back later to get back in time so I can still get enough sleep, ready for work tomorrow.

It’s the kindest, most thoughtful thing any guy has ever done for me. Sure, many have booked holidays or trips, but they weren’t done for me. Wyatt has done this to cheer me up, to spend time with me, to get to know me. How can I even argue with that when all I’ve wanted to do since we slept together is be with him.

“Wyatt, I—I don’t know what to say,” I whisper, staring at the waves slapping over the sand.

He grabs my hand, giving it a squeeze. “Just tell me you like the beach.”

I laugh, my chest warming at the nerves in his tone. “I love the beach, Wyatt. Do they have arcades here? Candy? Oh, we need to get some fish and chips. You can’t come to the beach and not get fish and chips.”

“Or sand on the rim of your can of pop,” he agrees, causing another laugh to escape.

I can’t believe this. He did this for me, to cheer me up. The backs of my eyes begin to burn. I’m not going to cry God dammit.

Instead, I paste on a bright smile, leaning into him a bit. “Want to build a sandcastle?”

“Let’s get you fed first. You didn’t eat this morning.”

I didn’t. I was too nervous after he said we were going somewhere. I kept picturing us running into Andrew, but that isn’t even an issue. No way would a man like that be caught dead here. He’d be above it. He’s missing out because aside from a fair, the beach is the best place to be.

Wyatt gets out of the car, and by the time I’ve shoved everything back into my bag that fell onto the floor, he is around the car and opening my door.

I lean up, kissing him on the cheek when I exit the car. I breathe in the salt air, soaking in the smell of the water, the sand, and the shops selling food along the beachfront. I can smell donuts, fish and chips, burgers and hot dogs.

It’s heaven.

He locks up the car before linking our fingers together, and tugs lightly on my arm in the direction of the beachfront.

He inhales, taking in his surroundings. “I miss that smell.”

“Me too,” I agree. “The last time I came to the beach, me and Mum had to find somewhere to stay the night. We got burnt so bad and my mum couldn’t drive back. I was fourteen, I think. But it was such a good day, enough so we forgot to put more sunscreen on.”

He stares down at me, his eyes flashing with surprise and interest. “What did you do together?”

“We built sandcastles, got sand in our pop,” I tease, winking at him. “We spent time on the pier playing games in the arcade. We had fish and chips and then ate candy floss before going down to the rock pools. We tried to find some crabs, but we never did. We found a lot of seaweed but never a crab. It was how we got burnt. We were having so much fun looking it just slipped our minds.”

I glance away, feeling tears burn the back of my eyes.

“Why do you seem sad? It sounds like a happy memory.”

I curl my hand around his bicep, resting my head against his shoulder. “It was. One of the best. But I just realised it was the last time we spent time together like that. I got busy with school, she with work, and then I guess time passed and she became ill. We never got to do anything like that again.”

He leans down, his warm lips pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m glad to be here.”

“Good.”

We stop at the chip shop and I watch as his powerful frame stands in line behind a group of people, waiting to be served. He stands out. All the Hayes brothers