“Abso-fucking-lutely.”
And before he could unleash any more commentary, I dove into the water.
Chapter Eleven
LENA
At the southernmost tip of Hilton Head, South Beach hosted the largest open mic on the island. The tourist-trap of the Salty Dog Café always drew a crowd, and tonight was no different. Elias hadn’t mentioned it during our date two nights ago, but it was well attended, so I had no doubt he’d be there.
I liked him. And after the past few weeks, I trusted him, which should have scared the hell out of me. But I’d gotten to know him, and found him genuine, empathetic, and sincere.
And sexy, Lena. Don’t forget unlawfully sexy.
Memories of his voice alone began a trembling ache deep inside me. And the way the moonlight highlighted his sun-streaked hair as I ran my fingers through its silky waves. How he’d kissed me, gently at first, but then raw and hungry. How he’d ripped off my thong… I shivered at the memory.
I had a weakness for athletic bodies, but my attraction to Elias went far beyond lust. His passion for life, his energy and positivity, the ease and carefree abandon with which he walked through his days, had dredged my sunken spirit up from the depths. His bright energy shined like the sun over everyone around him, and I wanted to soak up more of his vitality.
I walked past the swimming pool, across the parking lot, and into a wall of people packed into the shopping and dining complex surrounding the marina. There was a tennis tournament in town, and the restaurants, shops, and bar of the most popular spot on the island bustled with nightlife.
I couldn’t wait to see him. We’d texted a couple of times since our date, but with all the tourists in town, he’d been busy with work, so this would be a nice surprise.
I weaved my way through the throng and wedged myself into a sliver of space at the bar. I ordered a drink and leaned against the sticky surface to people watch.
A sound tech adjusted the mic atop the stage. Long lines of couples and families extended from the entrances of both restaurants. Impatient kids vibrating with excitement awaited their turn with a clown making balloon animals. And my ex-husband…
Oh no.
Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
What the hell is he doing here?
I hid my face with my drink and watched him. He strolled through the crowd with irritating overconfidence and turned his head down and to the side to a young woman in a tennis skirt swinging her hand in his. A young woman half his age. A young woman who was not the young woman he’d left me for. What an asshole.
He glanced at the bar, and our eyes locked.
Damnit!
My head snapped to the bar to break eye contact, but it was too late. He’d seen me. And in the heartbeat our eyes met, he’d scowled, only to plaster the fake smile I’d lived with for nearly a decade across his face a moment later. He bent down to his “friend,” whispered in her ear, and lifted his chin in my direction. She glanced at me and nodded, then stalked off in a huff, flipping her hair as she went.
I rolled my eyes and slugged down the rest of my drink.
He stopped in front of me, hands shoved into his shorts, and rocked up onto the balls of his feet and back down again. “Lena,” he said.
“Rob.”
“I heard about your grandma. Is that why you’re here?”
I held up the dregs of my drink and plastered “duh” across my face.
He nodded. “Sorry to hear she passed. She always liked me.”
Typical. Always about him. “Until she didn’t.”
He shrugged, and the gesture did not have the same endearing quality it had when Elias did it.
“What are you doing here, Rob?”
“Heidi—” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “—is in the tennis tournament. She invited me down. Decided to make it a vacation.”
