There are about a dozen cars scattered in the lot, and I maneuver to get to the few spaces close to the sand.
“That your man there?” Isaac points to an older pick-up truck right up front, the tailgate down and, simply put, a god of the male form propped up on the back.
I swallow and try to calm my racing heart. “Yep, that’s him.” Yeah, that sounded good. Not at all shaky like I feel inside.
“He brought boards!” Josiah has the back doors sliding open before the van is even to a complete stop.
“Whoa, awesome!” Aaron pushes past Zoe and they all start to tumble out, two at a time.
I pull the keys and toss them into my beach bag. I want to fluff my hair or check my face one more time, but it’s too late. My door swings open, and I’m scooped up by Mason and slammed against his chest.
“God, I missed you,” he says into my neck, his grip so tight that I believe he really did miss me as much as I missed him.
I wrap my arms around his middle and hold on, breathing in the clean cotton scent of his shirt that’s now mixed with the nutty and tropical smell of sunscreen. “Mmm, you too.”
“I wanna kiss you so bad, but I don’t want your brothers to kick my ass.” He drops a hidden and lingering kiss against my neck.
As much as I want to laugh, the tiny brush of his lips has robbed me of the ability to speak and infused me with pure need. Dammit, if this is how cranked up we are just from being separated for twelve hours, what will we be like at the end of weekend when we finally get back to Vegas?
“Mr. M-m-ason?” Leah tugs on his shirt, and he releases me quickly as if being caught hugging by a six-year-old is a felony. “Are you g-gonna teach us h-h-ow to surf?”
He squats down to her eye level and my heart melts. It’s now I notice his hair is a little damp and his strong jaw is covered in stubble. With his hand braced on the truck tire, his bare arms, which are exposed by his sleeveless shirt, flex in the sun.
“Would you like to learn how to surf?” His voice has taken on a softness that I don’t even know if he’s realized, but Leah responds immediately by grabbing his hand.
“Yeah, I wa-a-ant to be like Be-th-th-thany Hamilton when I grow up.” She tugs him to the back of the truck, and I lock up the van then follow.
“Except maybe avoid the shark thing, yeah?” Josiah says, his tanned twelve-year-old-boy arms crossed at his chest.
“Oh, yeah.” Leah blushes. “No shark.”
Mason reaches into the back of the truck and pulls out a long surfboard that looks like it’s made out of foam. “I brought this for whoever wants to learn. The waves here are pretty mellow. Good for first-timers.”
Isaac points to the other board in the back. “What’s that one for?”
Mason props the long board against the tailgate and grabs the short, stealthy looking one. It’s white with blue-and-green flames. “This one’s mine. It’s better for doing airs, trick riding.”
Zoe peeks up from under the brim of her wide sun hat. Dark eyes peer up in wonder. “Can you show us some tricks, Mr. Mason?”
His deep blue eyes find mine. “Tricks? I’d love to.”
My cheeks get hot and I tug at my cover up.
“You guys think I can get your big sister to surf with me today?”
They all respond in some form of “good luck with that.”
He stares at me. “Well, what do you think? You up for a little surfing, baby?”
I nod. Yes. Of course. With him, I’d do just about anything.
Mason
Cold water. Lots and lots of cold water.
That’s the only way I’m going to get through a day of being around Trix in her bikini without embarrassing myself. Sitting on the sand, I thought the distance would help. It doesn’t.
My gaze stays locked on her at the water’s edge; she’s holding Zoe’s and Leah’s hands, jumping little waves and laughing so hard it drops her head back. The older kids are a little deeper in the water, doing the same. Trix splashes Leah, and the little girl runs away squealing before coming back to crash into her big sister’s arms. Trix’s smooth bronze skin warms beneath the sun, and the swells, dips, and gentle flares of her curves