television. “We’ve still got part of the weekend. Anywhere you want to go?”
He shrugged. He hadn’t really gone out much before, and even though he had lived in Miami for the better part of his life, there were still places he hadn’t seen. “Anywhere is fine. But I’m good staying in with you.” He didn’t miss the softening in Gabriel’s features. Sometimes, his Bull was as cuddly as the plush version.
“I caught you looking at the beach. Want to go downstairs for a while?”
He couldn’t nod fast enough.
= ♥ =
Bull tapped Ben’s shoulder. “We’re getting you some swim trunks,” he signed.
Ben lowered his sunglasses. “No. I’m good,” he signed in response. He pushed the dark sunglasses back up and resumed his people watching.
Denim shorts weren’t ideal for the beach, but after learning the power of the word no, Ben’s determination to stand his ground had escalated on just about everything. Bull was damn proud of him for finding that inner warrior who refused to surrender, but that just meant Bull needed to learn when to give up. And now was one of those times.
He side-eyed Ben sitting on the towel beside him. They had arrived on the beach nearly an hour ago and Ben didn’t appear to be tiring one single bit. Even with the dark sunglasses Bull had given him, Ben couldn’t disguise the way he visually swept the entire crowd of people around him. In the water, sunbathing, single people, couples, families…everyone appeared to be a fascinating subject in his people-watching adventure.
“He’s been trying to build something for twenty minutes and it keeps falling apart,” Ben signed and pointed to the young boy sitting on the beach. “He’s going to give up.”
“That kid doesn’t give up so easily.”
Ben pushed the glasses to the top of his head, his eyes pleading. “Some do.” He stood and brushed off the sand.
Bull didn’t need to ask to know where Ben was headed. Pulling the baseball cap off his own head, he handed it to Ben. “Wear this, please. The sun’s too strong this time of the day.” Thankfully, Ben didn’t argue with him and took the baseball cap, popping it on his head as soon as he walked away.
Bull quickly grabbed his phone and dialed a number from his contacts. “Hey, Janet, how are you?” he asked after a few rings.
“Hi, Bull! Are you in town this weekend?”
“Look to your left.” He waved at Janet when she turned toward him.
“Why are you calling me instead of just walking over here?”
“Because a guy is about to walk up to your son, and I didn’t want you freaking out. He’s with me.”
She quieted as her son threw the small shovel and bucket into the incoming tide. There was little that seemed to keep six-year-old Wyatt’s temperament in check since his father passed away the year before. Except for the beach. Something about the water eased him enough to convince Janet to negotiate for one of the cabana-level rooms during her annual employment review. The moment Rachel found out about Janet’s loss, it hadn’t taken much to convince her to agree.
They remained on the call, neither one saying a word as Ben picked up the bucket and stepped just far enough into the shoreline to fill it with water. He scooped up the shovel on his way toward Wyatt and plopped himself on the sand across from him. They watched Ben dig a trench between the start of the boy’s castle and the shoreline threatening to tear it all down with the rising tide. Ben led by example. Showing Wyatt how to wet the sand enough to the right consistency for his sand sculpture. Wyatt craned his neck, refusing to miss a single detail as Ben built one layer, then another into something that looked like a three-tier sand cake.
It was enough to make Wyatt smile and scoop up a handful of sand and wet it enough to add to the structure.
“That’s the first time he’s smiled this month.” Janet cleared her throat. “Wednesday was a year. It’s been a tough week.” They quietly watched as both Ben and Wyatt worked together to expand on the castle. “He’s good with him.”
“He’s good with everyone,” Bull whispered.
“Why don’t you come join me. Make some of these hotel guests jealous of me for a while as we watch them.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “I’ll be there in a minute.” He ended the call and packed up their things. Midway in his walk to Janet, Ben