Page 63 of Lowering His Guard

She narrows her eyes on me. “I hate you.”

“Love you, too!” I blow her an air kiss before skipping toward the exit.

At the surf shed, I drop my bag on the sand and stare out at the ocean. The wind is barely whispering. Just enough to keep the air cool. The ocean resembles glass. It’s a lie because every few seconds another clean set rolls in. Not too big. Not too small. Just enough to make your heart race.

I inhale a deep breath and let the smell of ocean and sand fill my lungs. This is what I was made for.

Do I miss being on the pro circuit? Sometimes. But I love this little piece of ocean.

I notice the staff setting out the beach furniture. I better get to work before my students arrive.

I’m pulling the rack of surfboards onto the sand when I hear. “Let me.”

I shiver. I know that deep, grumbly voice. I step away from the rack and beam up at Brock.

“Good morning, giant. How’s the alien doing?”

He shakes his head at me, but his lips are turned up. He doesn’t want to find me amusing, but he can’t help himself. I’m just that funny.

“Here’s good,” I tell him when he’s pulled the rack halfway to the water. “Thank you.”

He grunts.

“You can do better than that. Try it. You’re welcome, May, surfing goddess of the resort.”

He cocks an eyebrow.

“Say it together with me,” I speak slowly. “You’re welcome, May, surfing goddess of the resort.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You forgot to mention the surfing goddess part.”

A group of about ten young men and Jace wander toward us. This must be my new group of students for the advanced class. I hope they’ve all actually surfed before. There’s nothing worse than cheating the other students out of class because I have to spend time with a beginner who thought he was advanced.

One of the men whistles as he approaches. “Our surfing instructor is a sexy little thing.”

Brock growls at him. I pat his arm. “This isn’t the first time a male idiot objectified me. And it won’t be the last.”

“Don’t like it,” he grumbles.

I smirk. “Wait until he wipes out on his board and screams for help. I will have my revenge. I always do.”

“I should stay.”

I shoo him away. “Go. Big football players need to practice scurrying around on the field.”

“Scurrying around?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I don’t watch football. There’s a field. I assume players run on it. Don’t they?”

“You should come to practice someday.”

I would love to watch him play. I bet his body is beautiful in motion. But guessing by the way his eyes widened, he didn’t mean to invite me.

“Maybe some day,” I evade. “I need to start class. You staying or going?”

He scoots to the side and crosses his arms over his chest as he glares at the young men. The blond who called me sexy squirms under Brock’s gaze. Good.