Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
He was such a gentleman, he insisted on carrying her surfboard, which she found kind of sweet, considering she’d been carrying her own since she was five years old. She must have walked this beach, run this beach, and done cartwheels on this beach a million times. But she’d never walked it beside Herschel Greenfield.
When he put out his hand, she interlaced her fingers with his and was almost shocked at how comfortable it felt. As though they’d walked hand in hand for years, and yet, at the same time, it was all so very new.
She could sense Hersch already getting nervous as they approached the tide line. Rather than looking forward, he tilted his face toward the sky. She figured that was where he felt most at home. It was still early, still dawn, and the moon was a pale crescent. To distract him, she asked, “Do you know much about the stars?”
He looked puzzled by the question, but then pleasure overtook his expression. “I know a fair bit. Not as much as I’d like.”
“Do you have a favorite constellation?”
Now he grinned. “Favorite constellation? But they’re all perfect in their own way. The ancient Greeks gave us most of the names.”
She nudged him with her elbow. “Hersch, don’t answer me as a scientist. Answer me as a man who loves the stars.”
“Orion,” he answered without a moment’s hesitation. “It’s visible in both the north and south hemispheres and contains some of the brightest stars in the sky.”
She grinned and then couldn’t help herself—she leaned forward, tilting her chin a little, her mouth softening in invitation. When he kissed her, she felt the electricity, and the instant connection made her press her body hard against his. She just couldn’t get enough of him.
When they pulled away, Hersch took a deep breath and said, “You sure are good at making me forget my fears.”
She brushed his cheek with her fingertips, and then he kissed the tips of her fingers. They stood together at the water’s edge. Hersch looked out, a grim expression on his face.
“Remember how well you did last time,” she said. “You know as well as I do that your recovery is about putting the pieces together. I used to drive my surfboard down to the beach when I couldn’t surf yet and just sit there with it and watch the waves. It was my way of reminding myself that I’d get back there one day. That’s what you’re doing. Just taking it one step at a time.”
“When you’re with me, I feel like it’s possible.” With that, he took a step forward without her. The water rushed over his feet, but he stood strong. This time, she let him take the lead and watched as he steeled himself and moved forward another inch.
“You’re doing great,” she whispered. “I’m right here.”
Inch by inch, he kept going, and then to her delight, he made it in up to his knees. She strode out to meet him and took his hand. It was shaking. She turned him to face her and kissed him again, a passionate kiss that she hoped he would feel all the way through his being.
When they pulled away, he said, “I want to go in up to my waist, but I don’t think I’m ready.”
She wanted to hug him. “Don’t push it. You’ve already smashed this week’s record. Be proud of yourself. I know I am.”
He shook his head. She could tell he was both pleased by and disappointed in his progress. She knew exactly what that felt like, and her heart went out to him.
“I’m going to head in and take a seat on that log over there. What I’d like most is to watch you surf. Is that okay? You look incredible when you’re out there doing what you love.”
She was delighted. “Of course. I’ve missed having an audience, and now I have a super sexy one.”
* * *
Hersch settled himself on the log and breathed a huge sigh of relief. With Mila’s help, he’d managed to go farther into the water than he could have imagined. He slipped on his sunglasses to shield his eyes against the rising sun and followed Mila’s progress as she rode the waves. She was so beautiful and so brave. Right there, he made the decision to go to the beach with her every morning. He vowed that he would go deeper each time.
When she emerged from the water, he leaped to his feet and went to kiss her.
“You were amazing out there. Can you spend the day with me?”
“I wish I could, but I’ve got appointments this morning, then I’m tasting wedding cake and food with Tessa, my mom, and my sister.”
“Tasting wedding cake?” He looked puzzled. “For Archer and Tessa? But they just announced their engagement. I’m sure I saw something as I was flipping channels last night about a wedding in Scotland.”