He gave me a dimpled grin. “Yeah, Sun. I’m gonna take it easy on you.”
I held his hand in the elevator and leaned my body against his. I didn’t know what was going to happen on Saturday morning when we had to leave Iredia, but for the days I was on the island, Spencer was mine. I was going to enjoy him and the way he had me feeling like I could both rest and fly in his attention and care.
The resort had a path that ran parallel to the shoreline. We both donned our headphones and started running at an easy pace. My playlist started with “Good as Hell” by Lizzo. I wasn’t even surprised when I noticed that Spencer had moved ahead of me. I wanted him to get a real workout in, and there was no wayI could hang with his elite-athlete ass, so I did me and let him do him. Although I would admit that he held back. It was obvious that he could’ve lapped me three hundred and twenty-five times, but he didn’t. He maintained a reasonable distance that let him go harder but still allowed any onlookers to realize that we were together.
I liked being a bit behind Spencer because, that way, I could watch him, and what a sight he was. Those thick-ass thighs were tight as his legs pumped, and those arms? They were huge and steady as they helped carry him forward.
“Ooh, this man,” I mumbled, fanning myself. I wished I had more coordination because I would’ve loved to get a video of him. Me, the video, and my Rose could’ve made something explosive happen. I laughed at myself.
Toward the end of the run, Spencer led us off the resort’s property and into town. We jogged to a stop in front of a small café. My hands were on my knees as I sucked in restorative breaths. He stood beside me, less winded but still breathing hard. The town was just starting to come alive. Vendors were opening their booths while deliveries were being made to restaurants and stores.
“You did good, baby,” he told me with a grin.
I matched it, mostly because he called me baby. “I tried. I needed to make up for the crab cakes I ate last night.”
“Look.” He pointed out over the water, and I looked up just in time to see the sun take her place in the sky, showing off with shades of pink, orange, red, and yellow.
“I love it here.”
His chuckle brought me out of my trance. “The café is open. Let’s get a protein shake or something.”
Once we had our drinks, we sat side-by-side on a colorful bench right outside the café.
“You have a lot planned for today?”
I shook my head, then thought about it. “Well, I signed up for golf lessons with a group of other women.”
“Golf lessons? Okay.”
I blushed a little. “Yeah. When I found out I was taking this trip by myself, I promised myself that I would get out of my comfort zone—that I would try to sayyesmore than I saidno. This is me sayingyesto something I would normally saynoto.”
He smiled. “Cool. Try to sayyesmore than you sayno. That’s good shit, Sun. I like that. And it’s cool that you’re holdin’ yourself to that.”
“Thanks. Anyway, we’re supposed to be on the course at 11:00 a.m. After that, I’m doing lunch. I rescheduled my facial for this afternoon, and then a nap.”
“You’re not playin’ about your daily nap, huh?” he teased.
“Whatever.” I waved him off playfully.
“I’m tryna see you tonight.”
“I’m tryna be seen.” I gave him a flirty wink, then bumped my shoulder against his arm.
“Dinner?”
“Yeah, but I’m not trying to get all dolled up for the masses. Let’s order in.”
“Say less. My room. 7:00 p.m. good?”
“Yep.”
He stared at me while I sipped my drink. “What?” I asked finally.
“Nothin’. I really like you.”
“Same.”
Spencer’s words about himreallyliking me stayed with me throughout the morning. I was still thinking about them whenI stepped into the lobby to join the other ladies waiting for the shuttle to take us to golf lessons. There were about ten of us standing there. The lessons had been billed as “Beginner Ladies Sip & Swing,” which meant we were expected to bring wine, iced coffee, a cocktail, or what have you onto the course. Our lesson started at 11:00 a.m., and apparently, that was wine o’clock for some of the ladies because they had wine. I had an icy, milky, and sweet coffee drink that I’d picked up from the café in the resort’s lobby.
