Birdie gives a detailed theory about barometric pressure, and I try to listen but my mind wanders to Wendy.
She returns with an orange juice pitcher and refills Gale’s glass.
“Only halfway, sweetie. Gotta leave room for the champagne.”
Wendy nods.
When she leans across the table, her forearm passes within an inch of my shoulder. There’s no contact, just the ghost of it.
“More coffee?” she asks, and her brown eyes land on mine.
The gold flecks are bright in the sun, and the mug instantly gets heavier in my hand.
“Please.”
She grabs the carafe and pours the steaming liquid into my mug. Her wrist is close enough to reach.
“Are we starting surf lessons today?” I ask.
The Bees perk up, and Gale giggles.
“Surf lessons?” Lucille asks with her brows lifted.
“Thought you’d given up on that,” Wendy tells me begrudgingly.
“Not a chance,” I say. “Can we meet on the beach in an hour?”
Gale turns to Wendy, and I know I’ve backed her into a corner, but I don’t care. I need to be alone with her.
“Fine.” Wendy walks without a second glance.
I think she thought she might get out of it. Not a chance in hell.
After breakfast, I help Rose clear the plates from the table. The Bees ask several personal questions that I dodge with ease. Thankfully, all the media training I’ve gone through over the years makes dealing with them child’s play.
“It’s been a pleasure, ladies,” I say with a grin. “I have a surf lesson.”
“Same time tomorrow?” Gale asks.
“Potentially. Depends on how I feel.” I give her a wink and move up the stairs.
The three of them start whispering when I’m out of earshot. I wonder what they know.
I change into some board shorts and walk onto the balcony. Wendy is already on the beach below, standing by two surfboards by the waterline. Regardless of what I decide about the summer-fling proposition, lessons are happening.
I shake my nerves away and head down to the beach. She’s waxing the board with her dark hair in a braid. The short-sleeved black surfer top and the tiny bikini bottoms have me thinking things I shouldn’t. She looks … gorgeous.
“You’re late,” she says without looking up.
“Actually, I have two minutes.”
She moves over to lay the board flat on the sand but avoids eye contact. “Before we get in the water, we need to practice pop ups. It’s a fundamental maneuver that you need to understand. Just remember. Hands. Toes. Jump.”
I cross my arms over my chest as she demonstrates.
She lies with her stomach down on the board that’s raised on a few rubber rings. Her palms are by her chest, and then she’s up and on her feet. Her body does it so naturally that it almost seems easy. I know better.
“It’s one fluid motion. Notice where my hands are?” She moves to her feet. “That’s where my feet land. Your feet should land soft and balanced. Keep your shoulders open. See how my body is neutral and I can move forward or backward? Notice my back leg and the positioning?”
