hear the owner likes you.”
Chapter 15
The beauty of the Cape Cod National Seashore never ceased to take her breath away. She lingered at the top of the majestic dunes, letting her gaze wander down the steep drop to the flat stretch of sand below. Colorful splashes of towels and umbrellas dotted the beach, and small waves curled toward the shore.
She maneuvered carefully down the switchback trail that led to Gull Hollow Beach. Glancing at her watch, she unfurled a blanket in an unclaimed spot near the water’s edge. Max should be meeting her shortly, but she understood the nature of his business made being punctual a challenge sometimes.
Apparently it made dating a challenge as well. He’d been very apologetic when he’d asked her for a lunch date, but she thought it was sweet. His nights were busy, and a picnic lunch on the beach sounded heavenly.
Dropping her flip flops on the blanket, she picked her way through the sun-baked sand to cool her feet in the surf. The waves crashed around her calves, wetting the edge of her sundress. She looked around at the crowd of vacationers, relaxing under the bright sky in bathing suits. Should she take off her cover-up to reveal the strapless bikini underneath?
She was nervous. It was ridiculous—she’d been spending the better part of a month around Max at this point. Years ago, they’d been inseparable. But now, suddenly he calls lunch a date, and she was paralyzed with indecision.
Returning to the blanket, she tugged the dress over her head. He’d seen her body a million times. Still, she pulled her beach bag onto her lap as she saw Max approaching, carrying a large blue cooler. Her pulse quickened, and she rummaged through her bag, pretending to search for her sunscreen.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he said, plunking the cooler down in the sand. He bent over and kissed the top of her head. Eyeing the sunscreen in her hand, he added, “I’d offer to help you with that, but, you know…there are people around.”
She laughed, relaxing slightly. “Good point. I guess today we’ll just have to talk.”
“And eat,” he added, opening the cooler with a flourish. “I wish I could take credit for this, but I had my sous-chef prepare lunch. He makes great chicken salad sandwiches.”
“Sounds awesome.”
“Wine?” he asked, holding up a chilled bottle of Chardonnay.
“Wow,” she said, raising her eyebrows. “Fancy. Sure, I’d love some.” She accepted the plastic wine glass. “Wait, you’re not going to make me drink alone, are you?”
He poured another glass. “I have to go back to work, but I can have one glass. I brought water and soda too. Also grapes, pasta salad, and cookies. I hope you’re hungry.”
Nodding, she bit her lip. “Max, this is great—really. Thank you.”
He shrugged. “I’m sorry it can’t be a nice dinner at a restaurant. Soon, though, I promise. Sean’s getting more confident every day.”
“A picnic on the beach is perfect. It’s better than dinner and a movie.”
He held out his glass, touching it to hers. “To our first date.” His eyebrows pulled together behind his sunglasses. “That sounds strange, given our history.”
She smiled as she sipped. “We were never what you’d call traditional, anyway.”
“How’s this for traditional—let me take you to see the fireworks on Wednesday night. I know you’ll be at Dan’s cookout for dinner, but I think I’ll be okay to leave the tavern by 7:30 or so. Can I come and steal you away?” He leaned back on one elbow and flashed her a lazy grin. “There’s a great spot to watch them from over by the lake. It’s very secluded; none of the tourists even know how to find the trail to get there.”
A flood of heat that had little to do with the warm July sun surged through her. How was it that this man aroused her so? Sexual tension swirled between them, thick and heady. “I’d love that,” she said softly, dipping her head down to hide her flushed
Chapter 15
The beauty of the Cape Cod National Seashore never ceased to take her breath away. She lingered at the top of the majestic dunes, letting her gaze wander down the steep drop to the flat stretch of sand below. Colorful splashes of towels and umbrellas dotted the beach, and small waves curled toward the shore.
She maneuvered carefully down the switchback trail that led to Gull Hollow Beach. Glancing at her watch, she unfurled a blanket in an unclaimed spot near the water’s edge. Max should be meeting her shortly, but she understood the nature of his business made being punctual a challenge sometimes.
Apparently it made dating a challenge as well. He’d been very apologetic when he’d asked her for a lunch date, but she thought it was sweet. His nights were busy, and a picnic lunch on the beach sounded heavenly.
Dropping her flip flops on the blanket, she picked her way through the sun-baked sand to cool her feet in the surf. The waves crashed around her calves, wetting the edge of her sundress. She looked around at the crowd of vacationers, relaxing under the bright sky in bathing suits. Should she take off her cover-up to reveal the strapless bikini underneath?
She was nervous. It was ridiculous—she’d been spending the better part of a month around Max at this point. Years ago, they’d been inseparable. But now, suddenly he calls lunch a date, and she was paralyzed with indecision.
Returning to the blanket, she tugged the dress over her head. He’d seen her body a million times. Still, she pulled her beach bag onto her lap as she saw Max approaching, carrying a large blue cooler. Her pulse quickened, and she rummaged through her bag, pretending to search for her sunscreen.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he said, plunking the cooler down in the sand. He bent over and kissed the top of her head. Eyeing the sunscreen in her hand, he added, “I’d offer to help you with that, but, you know…there are people around.”
She laughed, relaxing slightly. “Good point. I guess today we’ll just have to talk.”
“And eat,” he added, opening the cooler with a flourish. “I wish I could take credit for this, but I had my sous-chef prepare lunch. He makes great chicken salad sandwiches.”
“Sounds awesome.”
“Wine?” he asked, holding up a chilled bottle of Chardonnay.
“Wow,” she said, raising her eyebrows. “Fancy. Sure, I’d love some.” She accepted the plastic wine glass. “Wait, you’re not going to make me drink alone, are you?”
He poured another glass. “I have to go back to work, but I can have one glass. I brought water and soda too. Also grapes, pasta salad, and cookies. I hope you’re hungry.”
Nodding, she bit her lip. “Max, this is great—really. Thank you.”
He shrugged. “I’m sorry it can’t be a nice dinner at a restaurant. Soon, though, I promise. Sean’s getting more confident every day.”
“A picnic on the beach is perfect. It’s better than dinner and a movie.”
He held out his glass, touching it to hers. “To our first date.” His eyebrows pulled together behind his sunglasses. “That sounds strange, given our history.”
She smiled as she sipped. “We were never what you’d call traditional, anyway.”
“How’s this for traditional—let me take you to see the fireworks on Wednesday night. I know you’ll be at Dan’s cookout for dinner, but I think I’ll be okay to leave the tavern by 7:30 or so. Can I come and steal you away?” He leaned back on one elbow and flashed her a lazy grin. “There’s a great spot to watch them from over by the lake. It’s very secluded; none of the tourists even know how to find the trail to get there.”
A flood of heat that had little to do with the warm July sun surged through her. How was it that this man aroused her so? Sexual tension swirled between them, thick and heady. “I’d love that,” she said softly, dipping her head down to hide her flushed
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