Highly Charged! by Joanne Rock Page B

uselessly swiped her gritty hands on her equally filthy thighs then gave up and shook hands. “Nikki.”
    â€œAnd you’re here with Brad, I’m assuming.” Her fullthroated chuckle was infectious, making it impossible for Nikki to feel embarrassed. “You could have swallowed him whole with those eyes.”
    â€œThat obvious?” Nikki laughed.
    â€œDefinitely. I was lucky enough to find it twice in mylife.” She looked back up toward the volleyball court as the game disbanded and crowds started circling the grills.
    Brad detached himself from the rest along with a tall, dark-haired man in red Hawaiian surfer shorts who looked like he hadn’t shaved in two weeks. The guy wore aviator shades that he flipped up onto his head as he spied Ashley and Nate. He smiled and jogged down toward them, wrapping an arm around Ashley.
    â€œThis is Joe Staley, my fiancé.” Ashley took care of the introductions as Brad joined them.
    He winked at Nikki before planting a hard kiss on her mouth to leave her breathless. Then, never missing a beat, he half-tackled Nate, spinning the boy into an airplane position so they could race up and down the beach, Nate’s arms extended wide. Dog tags swung wildly from his small neck, the reflective metal flashing in the setting sun.
    Still trying to gather her bearings after a kiss that made her heart beat faster, Nikki watched Brad crashland them both into the surf before diving him into another rushing wave. She could believe that for the right man, risking your heart would absolutely be worth it. But seeing so many couples off and young families playing at the beach would make anyone feel a little sentimental toward romance.
    â€œCongratulations to you both,” Nikki offered before Joe joined Brad and Nate in the water. A lot of the volleyball players had jogged down to the water for a quick dip before dinner.
    â€œThank you.” Ashley gathered up a few shovels and pails that Nate had used, putting everything in a grocerysack. “I feel really fortunate to have found Joe. It was a hard few years after I lost Frank. I went home for a couple of years because it hurt to be around all this.” She gestured toward the heart of the party, apparently referring to the tight-knit group around them. “But I brought Nate last year to see where his dad had worked and Joe and I—well. I was lucky.”
    â€œNate seems really at home here,” Nikki observed, understanding the appeal of an extended family, even if you weren’t related by blood. She would have appreciated having this kind of network when she was a kid.
    â€œHe loves Virginia. And he took to all of the guys in the unit right away, especially Brad.” Ashley stepped back as a Frisbee headed their way, followed by a squealing girl in a local college T-shirt. “I really hope it works out for the two of you.”
    Nikki shook her head as she watched a young man from Brad’s unit tug the girl into the bushes for a kiss. “It’s not like that between us. He’s just been helping me renovate before he ships out in a couple of weeks.”
    Ashley’s unique, full-throated chuckle erupted. “With the way you two were eyeing each other? Highly unlikely. And don’t waste your time denying it. One thing I’ve learned is that every moment is precious and there are no guarantees you’ll get them back.”
    Ashley’s words struck Nikki’s heart like a gong, echoing everything Chloe had ever preached about life. The message had a serendipitous feel as she watched Brad and Nate arrive with a spray of sand. Ashley’s fiancé lumbered up a few steps behind.
    â€œMommy, were you watching? Brad flew me realhigh and he’s gonna take me to the fair before he goes back.”
    Ashley extricated Nate. “I’m sure he will, honey. Now, it’s time we get going. Almost bedtime.” She turned to Nikki. “It was nice