My brow quirked. “So much for letting me pretend you don’t exist.”
Up close, I could make out the sexy laugh lines which kissed the edges of his mouth, making him appear to be around my age, possibly a few years older.
“I’m running short on time.”
“Sharing a meal with a stranger isn’t something I’m known for.”
“Let’s not be strangers, then.” He held out his hand. “I’m Kier.”
Tentatively, I took it. “Waverly.”
He held on longer than was necessary or customary, stroking his thumb back and forth along the top. Eventually he let go; the remnants of his touch lingering in the chills which skittered down my spine.
“So, dinner?”
Throwing caution to the wind, I answered, “Sure, why not.”
He pushed up from his seat, once again gathering his meager belongings. “I’ve got a conference call in twenty minutes I need to prepare for. Are you staying here at the resort?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent.” He donned a pair of expensive-looking brown sunglasses, covering up those exquisite blues. “I’ll meet you in the lobby at six. In the meantime, try to contain your enthusiasm.”
With a dip of his head, he walked away, never looking back. I knew because—once again—I watched like a total freaking creeper.
What in the actual fuck was happening to me?
Maybe I was coming down with some rare tropical disease. Dengue fever? Malaria? Oh, who was I trying to kid? I wanted what each of my agents had found over the last year. Love. Or at the very least, someone who could take away the pangs of loneliness.
For a short while, I had Mac to occupy my thoughts and my bed. MacEntire Jones was a fellow law enforcement officer in a town nearby. We only dated for about two months before we both realized we were better friends thanlovers. Since then, there hadn’t been anyone else who’d captured my attention.
It was difficult to meet someone who understood the demands that came with my job title. For me, work didn’t stop when the clock struck five or six or even seven. Besides the fact, I was extremely picky about the men I allowed into my life.
Right as I was getting ready to head back to my room to cool off, my cell phone dinged with a notification. Very few people had my number, so I felt obligated to check. Digging the device out of my beach bag, I smiled when I saw the time and the text. One o’clock. She was right on time. Shayne Black was a detective with the Huntington police department and had become one of my best friends over the years.
Shayne: Please tell me you’ve done more than sit on the beach.
Me: I went for a swim.
Shayne: Let me rephrase. Get off your fine ass and do something fun.
Me: I’m on vacation, Shayne.
Shayne: Exactly. I thought you said something about scuba diving?
Me: I’m claustrophobic.
Shayne: Bullshit. Stop making excuses. There’s a whole world out there waiting for you to explore.
Shayne: You’re allowed to have a life, Waverly.
Her words were like a punch to the gut, mainly because she hit the nail on the head. For twenty years, I’d gone through the motions, but something inside me broke that day when Aunt Carolyn died.
Me: I have a life, thank you very much.
Shayne: When was the last time you went on a date?
Shayne: Hell, when was the last time you had sex? You’re probably gonna have to dust off your vagina.
