Mr. Mitchell Billionaires' Club Book 2 - Raylin Marks Page 0,133

his board as he walked up the soft, dry sand toward us. He set down the board, and let my crazed daughter, who was now obsessed with it, examine it.

“Careful, Addy,” I said. “You can snap that thing in two. No getting on it.”

“I’m just petting it, Mom,” she said, not looking back as Ash and I laughed.

Jim’s smile was beaming and his eyes bright as he approached me, sitting in my chair. He unzipped the top portion of his wetsuit, and before I could admire his tanned abs, his lips were quickly pressing hard against mine.

His wet cheek met mine. “You look beautiful,” he whispered, “and tonight is ours.” He brushed his lips across my cheek and sat in the chair to Ash’s right.

“Here, trade me,” Ash said, starting to stand.

“Relax, little sister,” Jim said, positioning his chair to face Addy and us two ladies. “I’m fine. Besides, the best views are right where I’m at.”

I smiled along with Ash, but Ash’s attention was drawn out where Jake had just caught a wave.

“You looked pretty fantastic out there,” I said. “I didn’t pin you as a man who surfed.”

He glanced out to where Jake disappeared into a barrel. The waves were badass. I was feeling a yearning to get out there—too bad I didn’t take Jim up on the wetsuit situation yesterday.

“Well.” He shrugged, grabbing a bottle of water. “I figured I’d lost it after all these years, but the guys all bet against me, so I felt inclined to prove them wrong.”

“You did amazing, Jim,” Ash said. “Jake’s gotta pay up. He’s the one who started the whole bet.”

“Of all the people, Jakey knows that when my own brother places wagers against me, I’m going to beat him.” He laughed, eyes dazzling when they met mine again. “Even if I kill myself.”

I couldn’t focus. I wanted to be in his arms. I wished I’d just gone to his house last night. I glanced out at the ocean after Addy lost interest in Jim’s shortboard and went back to digging for treasures in the sand.

“Those waves are incredible.”

“Then get on the board,” Jim said.

“Funny.” I looked over at him. “Tempting to take that on in a bikini, but not tempting enough.”

“Good thing that I asked Ash to borrow one of her wetsuits after an adorable little girl told me she wanted to surf like Mommy.”

“What?” I frowned. “She’s only heard stories.”

Jim laughed. “You have a wetsuit waiting for you. Get back on the board, Mom.”

“Yeah, Mommy,” Addy said.

“You two are starting to work dangerously against me,” I said.

“Go have a little fun. Where’d you surf?” Ash asked.

“Santa Cruz.” I smiled, wondering if I should do this. More surfers were out, and I wasn’t in the mood to deal with assholes.

“Hey,” Jim said, standing up and walking over a badass wetsuit, “get into this thing. The guys will make sure no one drops in on you out there.”

My lips twisted as I studied the wetsuit.

“Av,” Jim said, snapping my attention to him. No one shortened my name like this except my sister. I suddenly loved that coming out of his mouth. “What happened to the girl who taught me how to live life? Will she sit on the beach and miss the last of these perfect waves?”

“I have a kid.” I smirked at him.

“Addy’s on my watch now,” he said. “I promised I’d build sandcastles with her anyway. Go live a little.”

“Fine,” I said, Jim sparking up the adventurous side of me. “She doesn’t go into the water.”

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t bribe Jim.” Ash laughed. “We’ve got Addy. Go have some fun.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Avery

I squeezed into the wetsuit and took out a board that was a little longer than Jim’s. Hopefully, Collin didn’t have a special attachment to the one I initially thought was Jim’s other board. If I jacked it up, it was on my dumbass for thinking I still had it when it came to surfing.

I paddled out and duck-dived a wave that curled over me. It was a good sign that at least that part came back to me naturally. Then I was out past the breaks and paddling to where I saw Jim’s brother, waving while the three guys sat on their boards, catching a break.

“And she comes out to make us all look like fools?” Collin—the one I’d met for a few minutes at the medical conference—said. “Good to see you again, Avery.”

“You too,” I said, pulling myself up to straddle the board and watch