“I went with my parents a few times when I was a kid, but I haven’t been much as an adult. To be honest, I prefer the sun and sand to snow.”
“So do I,” Lucas agreed. “That’s why I love LA. Missouri has very cold winters, and I really don’t miss them.”
“I bet.” Kendra rolled onto her back again. “Anyway, there’s no city better than LA.”
“Spoken like a true California surfer girl.”
She laughed. “After today, you can call me that if you want, Missouri farm boy.”
They lay on the beach a little longer, side by side, talking about surfing and teasing each other. Lucas was less of a mystery now. Kendra knew where he was from, that he was an only child, and the kinds of things he liked to do. There was still a big piece missing, though: the event, whatever it was, that had brought him to Mexico. She was more and more certain that it had something to do with his job. After all, Lucas clearly loved hiswork, but he avoided going into details with her. There must be a reason for that.
Kendra was curious, but she wouldn’t push him. It was enough, for now, that they were talking and laughing and mostly getting along with each other. It was enough that, when she looked at him, her heart fluttered in her chest like a butterfly trying to break free. Kendra had never met anyone who made her feel quite like this, so she was going to enjoy it while it lasted. She wasn’t going to worry about returning to LA and her life. She wasn’t going to worry about Lucas keeping something major secret. She was just going to enjoy a little flirting and all the activities of her pretend honeymoon.
CHAPTER 15
LUCAS
“This way, do you think?” Kendra asked. She was wearing another pretty sundress, this one white and printed with tiny lemons, paired with flat sandals. Her hair was down around her shoulders, and her cheeks sparkled a little, probably from some kind of makeup. Though Lucas wouldn’t put it past her to be sparkling all on her own. He was in another pair of shorts and a button-up, not what he would have chosen for a date with a beautiful woman. Not that this was a real date.
“Probably.” Lucas squinted through the darkness. “Yeah, I think I see something.”
After their surf lesson and lunch, Susie had taken them to play a mini-golf game, which, it turned out, neither of them was good at. After that, she’d instructed them to follow signs to Seaside Cove for their dinner. They’d both assumed it was a restaurant, but the signs were leading them toward the beach. The light was fading as the sunset lit up the sky above, and it was hard to see where they were walking.
“Do you think this is Susie’s way of taking us out?” Kendra asked. “Like, by luring us away from the others to kidnap us or something?”
“Yes, definitely. It’s always the really enthusiastic ones who have a dark side.”
Kendra looked a little worried, so Luke nudged her with his shoulder. “I’m obviously kidding. See? There’s light up there.”
They descended a short wooden staircase onto the beach. Kendra tripped on the last step, and Lucas instinctively grabbed her arm to keep her upright.
“That’s the second time I’ve saved you,” he said. “Or the third, if you count me coming to the resort in the first place.”
“I’ll be forever in your debt,” Kendra joked, threading her arm through his. “That must be it, right?” She pointed ahead, and Lucas nodded.
“Definitely.”
In front of them, on the beach, there was a small table surrounded by white curtains that billowed in the evening breeze. Several candles waited for them, unlit, and the delicious smell of food wafted back to them. Kendra and Lucas picked their way across the beach to the table, where Lucas pulled out Kendra’s chair for her.
“Okay.” Kendra swept her gaze over the table and the ocean. “This is very romantic.”
“Would you like some wine?” Lucas asked, taking a bottle out of an ice bucket.
“Sure.” She opened the serving dish on the table, and the scent of fresh fried fish wafted out. “Fish tacos!”
Lucas smiled at her enthusiasm as he poured a little wine for her and some for himself. They toasted each other and each took a sip.
“Not bad. Now let’s have some tacos.” Kendra took a fresh tortilla and began filling it. Lucas did the same. Even he had to admit that this beautiful atmosphere — and the beautiful woman across from him — were making him feel… something. He struggled to put into words exactly what it was. His instinct was to play it off with a joke, so he did.
“Fish tacos on the beach must have been a nightly dinner for you, growing up in LA,” he joked.
“Sure.” She winked, but she didn’t seem as happy about the teasing as she had previously.
Lucas bit his lip and took a sip of the wine.
“You know, times like this, when the sun is setting on a good day, it always makes me a little reflective.” She waved a hand as if dismissing her own words. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Lucas hesitated. “What are you reflective about?”
