Chapter Ten
“I can’t believe I’ve been here three days, and this is the first time I’ve actually been on the beach.”Amy rubbed sunscreen over her fair skin, swirling the cream onto her legs and other places Ray longed for his hands to go.
“I’m glad to finally have some time alone with you.”Ray looked out over the hordes of couples and families on blankets and beach chairs three deep.“Well, not exactly alone, but—”
“I know what you mean.”Amy giggled.She handed him the tube of sunscreen, shoved the straps of her bikini top off her shoulders, and turned her back to him.“Do you mind?”
Oh, hell no, he didn’t mind.Ray spilled sunscreen onto his hands and gently massaged her back with his fingers.He wasn’t sure, but he thought he detected a soft purr from her throat.The sensual pleasure he derived from touching her was heightened by the realization that this slice of alone time they’d carved out could end at any moment.
He liked Doug and Emily.Ray had enjoyed having lunch with them in Chinatown and touring downtown Honolulu, especially the Iolani Palace and the building across the street used for the facade ofHawaii Five-0headquarters.The famous King Kamehameha statue seemed much smaller than it appeared on the television shots, but they’d all jockeyed for turns posing with it.
Amy’s brother seemed to be warming to him, especially after the football game—as long as Doug was within chaperoning distance of his little sister.So Ray had been surprised, when they’d returned to the hotel, that Doug had gone upstairs with Emily for a nap instead joining him and Amy on the beach.Ray could guess whatnapmeant.
“You have good hands,” Amy said.
He swallowed hard.How was he supposed to respond to that?
“On the football field,” she added hurriedly.“Emily and I were watching you play.You looked so confident, so agile.”
He chuckled.“Emily, huh?”
She turned around, only slightly blushing.“You were so good with those kids too.Explaining things to them at a level they could understand.”She drew up her knees to her chest.“Even I understood, and I know nothing about football.”
“It was fun.”He’d agreed to the game as hisrewardso the boy’s family would no longer feel indebted to him, but Ray had found himself truly rewarded by the experience.It had been a long time since he’d even held a football.The feel of the pigskin in his hands, anticipating the throw and the catch, had brought back a rush he’d thought he’d gotten over but which still filled him with adrenaline.
“Is it the challenge or the competition you enjoy?”
“Maybe both.When you play your best and come out on top, there’s nothing in the world like it.”
She seemed to consider his words.“I’ve never thought of success as a challenge.For me, it’s just what I have to do.”
He nodded.And there was their problem in a nutshell.Amy was on the fast track to success, and he was on the slow train to nowhere.All he could count on was today.He pushed to his feet.“Ready to swim?”
She looked hesitant, even doubtful.
Giving her his most charming grin, he extended his hand.“Come on.Last one in is a rotten egg.”
Amy jumped up and took off running.He gave her a head start, catching up with her just before she hit the water, then scooped her into his arms.
She squealed, “What are you doing?”
“Winning.My feet hit the water first.”
“Cheater.”She pounded her fist against his shoulder.“Put me down.”
“If you insist.”He ran with her several paces into the ocean, then, just as a huge wave came upon them, let go.
Rolling into the surf, Amy bobbed below the waterline, and, for a second, Ray feared he’d thrown a nonswimmer in over her head.In the next second she reappeared, laughing, then swam away.
Three seconds later he felt a tugging at the waistband of his swim trunks.What the heck?In the next second, his feet were kicked out from under him.When he came up abovewater, he reached behind him, feeling only his bare butt.His suit was hooked around his ankles.
A grinning Amy appeared at the crest of the next wave.Pulling up his swimsuit, Ray set his face in a mock grimace.“Now you’ve done it.Game on,” he challenged, swimming after her.
Amy was more slippery than any football he’d ever handled.She struggled, giggling in his arms when he caught her, but he didn’t let go.Her legs wrapped around his waist, and she tried to pull herself up and over his shoulders, but Ray hung on.A huge wave came in and broke as it reached them, knocking them both to the ocean floor.They tumbled in each other’s arms.Ray skinned his knee on the gritty sand but kept his hold on Amy until they were in shallow water.
“You okay?”he asked.
She coughed a second and nodded.Her white bikini top was almost translucent.With her standing so close to him, her nipples pushed into his chest.Ray held his hands to his sides to keep from cupping her ass and pressing her against his blatant arousal.He could just imagine Doug and Emily showing up now.
