Page 45 of Deadly Waves

Fourteen

James ignoredthe sign on the unisex bathroom door. It stressed that only one person at a time was supposed to be inside. He didn’t care. He had no intention of having sex with his wife in a public bathroom. He didn’t find the idea hot or kinky. He simply didn’t want to be away from her.

James and Mandy packed simple clothing to change into after their shark excursion. Mandy packed panties, a strapless bra and a tie-dyed dress that was long enough to cover her butt while remaining short enough to show off her tanned thighs. It was simple, her blond hair falling in waves past her shoulders and brushing against the spaghetti straps that held up the loose-fitting fabric. She opted to let her hair air dry instead of making a fuss, and even without makeup she was the most beautiful woman in the world. James was sure of that.

“I can’t believe you wore these,” James said, grabbing Mandy’s rounded rear end and giving it a squeeze, his eyes gleaming when he caught sight of her “Jawesome” shark underwear. They were part of a story he told – one Mandy’s wasn’t particularly thrilled with – when asked how he knew he was in love with her. The panties were basically shapeless, more like men’s briefs than anything else, and yet James was convinced they were the sexiest item of clothing she owned. “I thought these were lost or something.”

Mandy glanced down at the panties and shrugged. “They’re not in great shape,” she admitted. “I think they’re going to have to be retired after this. The shark is starting to wash away with each laundry cycle.”

“Don’t throw them away,” James said, nostalgia taking over. “Never throw these away.”

Mandy pursed her lips. “I’ll do my best.” She rolled up to the balls of her feet and smacked a loud kiss against his lips. “Thank you for today.”

James moved his hands from her butt to her waist and tugged her close, burying his face in the hollow of her neck as he kissed the sensitive spot behind her ear. “Baby, I’m the one who should be thanking you. I will never forget this afternoon as long as I live.”

“But you did it for me.”

“And you made it special for me.”

James graced Mandy with a sweet kiss before balling up their swimsuits and tossing them in the small canvas bag he carried to conceal their fresh clothes while on the boat earlier. He smiled as she made a face at her reflection in the mirror. “You look beautiful.”

“I look a little crazy with my hair all over the place, but there’s not much I can do about it. I’m sure I’ll live.”

“You’ll definitely live,” James agreed, giving her another kiss before pushing open the door. Thankfully Grady was the one waiting outside instead of a stranger who would let his imagination run wild. “We’re going to check out a few stores and meet you back here in forty-five minutes. We’re early for dinner.”

“Knock yourself out,” Grady said. “I’m just happy you two didn’t grunt and moan in there while I was waiting outside. You would’ve given me nightmares.”

“And I’m just happy I can’t punch you in public without being arrested because otherwise you would have a bloody nose,” James shot back. “Don’t be a pain.”

James linked his fingers with Mandy’s as they moved through the kitschy shops and kiosks that spread over the island’s main beach park. He generally wasn’t a fan of shopping, but since this would probably be Mandy’s only chance to find a souvenir to mark the day, he had no intention of getting in her way.

“Look at these,” James said, pointing toward a sterling silver ring display. “They’re sharks, baby.”

“Ooh.” Mandy’s eyes sparkled as she leaned closer. “It’s like the shark is wrapping itself around your finger. I like this one.”

James smirked. It was a Great White. He should’ve known. “Try it on.”

The woman behind the counter watched and smiled as Mandy slipped the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. “Do you like it?”

Mandy nodded. “It’s beautiful. How much is it?”

“It doesn’t matter,” James interjected, reaching for his wallet. “We’ll take it.”

“It might be really expensive,” Mandy protested.

“I honestly don’t care,” James said. “That ring was obviously meant for you.”

“But … .”

“Shut up, Mandy,” James chided, handing a few bills to the woman before collecting the receipt. “That’s your ring now. I don’t want to hear another thing about it.”

“Thank you.”

“You can thank me later with nudity and a little dance.”

Mandy snorted as she walked with James. The couple held hands, but James didn’t miss the occasional glance she darted in the ring’s direction. She played with it, experimenting with how the sunlight hit the metal, and James knew she would cherish it forever.

After a few minutes of idle perusing, Mandy broke the silence first. “When do you think Grady is going to propose to Sophie?”