Chapter 12
chapter twelve
Mia
The Coconut Beach Boys, a local band that sings Beach Boys songs, performs in the lobby as Luke and I make our way back to the hotel room after breakfast. We stand there for a few moments, watching the older gentlemen rock their hearts out in their bright Hawaiian shirts and shorts.
We’re standing next to a couple of kids, who are obviously on holiday, as they chow down on watermelon spears.
Luke and I exchange a glance as the young boy drops his spear on the ground, quickly picks it up, and stuffs it back into his mouth.
Luke grins at me, and we share an unspoken memory of when he was twelve and stuffed his face with so much watermelon one summer that I had to give him an ultimatum—share it with me or I’d not share my cookies.
“Shall we head up?” he asks after a few minutes when the band finishes “Good Vibrations.” He drops a twenty-dollar bill into a top hat sitting atop a small table in front of them.
“Sure.”
We make our way to the elevator and wait for it to arrive. A group of tourists in sun visors and Life’s a Beach T-shirts walks past us, and I lean forward to whisper in his ear.
“Juniper designed those shirts,” I say proudly as I nod toward them. “Aren’t they cute?”
“Real cute.” He watches the tourists as they walk past and turns back to me with a smile. “She’s always been so artistic.”
“Yes, she designs most of the postcards that we sell as well.”
“Outstanding. Today went okay, don’t you think?” His familiar blue eyes gaze into mine, questioning me in such an earnest way that I smile at him as I nod my confirmation.
I’m trying to ignore the way my heart is racing and the fact that my body is more aware of him than it has ever been in my life.
I’m noticing things about him I’ve never noticed before, like the way his bushy eyebrows are silky but could do with a slight waxing, or the way his blue eyes are so deep and vibrant, or the way his lips are just that perfect touch of pink, and his hands—they’re elegant, slender, and soft.
I tremble, just thinking about them on my body.
What they did to me the evening before still has me trembling.
I felt like I was floating in the air in a state of perpetual bliss, and I very much wanted to feel the ground beneath my feet again.
This is a new level in our relationship, and my overanalytical brain isn’t sure what it meant.
I loved feeling so happy, but I wanted to know what it all meant.
“Earth to Mia. What did you think?”
“Oh, yeah, it went really well, I think. Rex was giving us odd looks, but thank God for Andi and her being so touchy-feely with him.”
“She definitely wanted his full attention.”
“Well, it was the official breakfast to start off the two-week festivities.”
“I cannot believe that my brother is having two weeks’ worth of festivities for his wedding. Like, we’re not the royal family, and we’re not—” Luke groans as his expression tightens. “I still can’t believe he never told me he was seriously dating someone.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” I say, touching his arm, enjoying the ripple of his muscles beneath my fingers.
“We can both still work if we really have to, and we’ll just take part as best as we can.
Plus, we get to stay in that really gorgeous hotel room.
” Hopefully he wouldn’t have to work too much though.
We hadn’t spent much time with each other in ages.
I bite down on my lower lip. Why? Why did I bring up the hotel room? Will he think all I want to do is spend nights in bed with him, practicing and exploring? Why didn’t I think before I spoke?
“How did you sleep last night?” he says as we step into the elevator.
My heart flips at his comment, and I feel my face flush as I press the button for our floor.
I look up at him through lowered eyelashes.
I really hope he will not ask about what went on again.
I don’t want to discuss it—not because it wasn’t amazing and not because I am upset, but really more because I am confused about how to process everything.
I am confused about what we did. Not because it didn’t feel amazing, but more so because I found his touches to be achingly sexy and sweet.
And I’d never expected to experience passion and lust for Luke.
He is Luke. My Lukey. My best friend forever.
He was the first boy to see me cry. The first boy to hold my hand.
The first boy to tell me I was pretty. He was the boy I spent nights on the phone with, talking about other boys.
And now … now I’ve done things with him that made me blush.
I’d never looked at him like that before, though as I gaze at him, standing there with his muscular, lithe body, all I can think is, Why not? How have I never noticed how gorgeous he is? I know if I’d seen him at Cocktails & Chaos on a night out, I would definitely have tried to get my flirt on.
“So, before you forget, I’m going to go to my apartment in a little bit and grab more clothes because Juni didn’t bring me PJs. Nor enough underwear …” My voice trails off as his lips twitch. I know exactly what he’s thinking, and I blush. “So, I’ll get all that good stuff …”
“Important pieces of clothing.” His expression is serious as he nods. “Don’t want to forget your panties.”
“Luke, never say panties again. It sounds so pervy.”
“Panties sound pervy?”
He takes a step closer to me and gazes down into my eyes. There’s mischief in his gaze, and I wonder what he’s going to do next. My stomach curls in expectation, but he just stands there, looking dashing.
“You know it does when you say it like that. Anyway, after I grab some new underwear, I’m going to head to the beach and help Juni for an hour or so and then take some photos of some tourists.
I should be back by late afternoon, and we can go to Cocktails & Chaos tonight with everyone. Does that sound good?”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” he says in a dry voice. “You seem like you have a busy day. Already had enough of my presence back in town?” The elevator pings before I can respond, and he holds his arm out. “After you, my lady.”
“Thanks. When did you become such a gentleman?”
“I’ve always been a gentleman. I guess you just didn’t notice.”
“I guess not,” I say as I step out into the hallway. I am acutely aware of him as we walk toward the bedroom, and I groan as I realize I left my door key inside the hotel room. “Don’t suppose you remembered your key, did you?”
“Would I forget?” he says as he pulls his key out of his dark leather wallet and opens the door. “Who woulda thought that your hero saves the day again.”
“My hero?” I giggle as I step inside and decide against asking him what that word means to him.
For all I know, he’ll pick me up and carry me across the room, pretending he’s Tarzan and I’m Jane. While I’ve always enjoyed our playful antics, it feels different now.
It is different now.
Not that I’m going to dwell on that fact.
I’m surprised to see that the housekeeping service has already made our bed. I’m reminded of the evening before as I stare at the lush pillows and the silky sheets. Memories of delicate touches, sultry moans, and illicit heat fill me.
It was just some fun, Mia. Get a grip. It was practice. You and Luke are consummate professionals, preparing for the role of a lifetime. Get it together now!
“I should get going now. Do you want to come with me, or are you going to stay here and work?”
Or do you want to take me real quick so we can make sure we have the right amount of passion flowing?
Get your mind out of the gutter, Mia.
“I think I’d like to see your place,” he says. “I can bring my laptop with me, and then I’ll work at Salty Sirens afterward. Hopefully, there aren’t too many tourists there.”
“We are in peak season, Luke. You know tourists love to come here for the summer. It will be busy.”
“I know. I thought it just used to be snowbirds, but I guess word got out, and now everyone from all over the country comes for the summer as well.”
“You know the surf contest is coming up, and there are—”
“Don’t tell me. Lots of hot surfers you want to say hello to.” He rolls his eyes. “You upset you can’t flirt with any this summer?”
“No, why would I be upset?”
He’s giving me a weird look, and I don’t want to ask him why he’s looking at me like that. I also don’t want to talk about flirting with other men right now. I need to break the awkward moment, so I change the subject.
“Don’t you need to go to your grandparents’ house and pick up your suitcase?”
“No, my grandfather told me my luggage was in his car, so he’s going to give it to the concierge, and they’ll just bring it up for me.”
“Oh, nice. Did you notice that our grandmothers were giving us a look?”
“I did notice how they were staring at us. Everyone was paying attention to us, almost more than they were Rex and Andi.”
“Do you think everyone bought we are together?”
“I don’t know, but what I do know is that our grandmas love puzzles and trying to figure stuff out. By the way, what’s the note that you got for the treasure hunt?”
“Oh, I forgot to show you. Let me grab it.”
I dig into my pink-and-purple cotton bag and dig through the numerous contents.
My fingers brush past Tic Tacs, lipstick, my wallet, goggles, dried tissues, a small notebook, some random shells, until I feel the stiff envelope that contains the note card with the treasure hunt information.
I slide the card out of the envelope and stare at the colorful, illustrated map.
“So, it has this map, and there’s a typewritten clue on the back.” I hand it to him. “I’m not really sure what it means or how to figure it out.”
“Who sent it to you?” He looks at the front of the card and then turns it over, scanning it quickly.
Luke has always been the smart one. The analytical one. When we played board games, he always won, but I didn’t really care. I wasn’t competitive like that.
“I have no clue. It was anonymous.”