10. Lark
LARK
That night I had a fitful night’s sleep where I imagined how differently things would have gone had I accepted Wyatt’s invitation. The dangerous rumble of his voice when he ground out “Inside” still sent a shiver through me.
Stupid. Stupid, Lark.
I stepped out of Bluebird Books and into the afternoon sunlight. Of all the places I’d traveled, none had been quite as picturesque as Outtatowner. I breathed in the warm, humid air and tipped my face to the sun.
Who would have thought?
After stopping at my car, I slung the small bag with my bikini, a cover-up, and a towel over my shoulder. I ditched my shoes and socks. A lazy afternoon on the beach was calling me.
In the short time I’d been there, more and more tourists had descended on the small town every day.
Happy families and groups of teenagers walked along the sidewalk that passed the marina, cafés, and other little shops that led down to the water.
I dipped into the small building that served as a restroom and concession stand, the Sand Dollar, to peel off my jean shorts and tank top.
My bikini was cute, with a bright-yellow top that wrapped around my boobs and made them look bigger than they actually were.
It dipped low in the back, and the ties crisscrossed into a big loopy bow.
The bottoms were my favorite part—a navy background with lemons and leaves gave off the perfect, happy summer vibes.
The high sides and ties at my hips, combined with the peekaboo cut in back, was sexy without revealing my whole ass.
It also packed well, and I could dig it out of a suitcase and throw it on whenever I pulled up to a beach town.
Over the top, I threw on a knitted cover-up that was more like a giant long-sleeved shirt.
The large boho knit allowed a breeze to float through and also didn’t give me weird tan lines.
I’d forgotten flip-flops, so when I cut across the full parking lot, I had to run on tiptoe to keep the bottoms of my feet from burning.
It was no surprise that on such a gorgeous day the beach was packed with people, even though it was only midweek.
I wove between coolers and large umbrellas and little kids building sand castles and digging moats.
When I smiled at a little blond-haired boy, he gave me a sandy, gap-toothed grin, and I felt lighter than I had in days.
My toes dipped into the cool Lake Michigan water, and I exhaled.
My stress melted away, and I let the waves lap over my feet.
For a moment, it felt like summer and its endless possibilities were just beginning.
To the right was a long concrete pier with a lighthouse on the end.
On the other side, as far as I could see, the beach stretched on and on.
Rocky outcroppings jutted into the water where the land refused to be taken by the vast Great Lake.
Behind me, massive sand dunes loomed overhead.
Hundreds of feet above the water, it was like nothing I had ever seen.
I walked around one of the fallen trees that dotted the shoreline.
Its massive roots jutted into the air, water and time having stripped it of bark and leaves and life.
The waves from the lake had cut into the earth in places, and with a brush of my hand, sand trickled down and fell to become a part of the beach.
I could come back in a year and I bet nothing would be the same.
It was amazing how much time changed things—even those things, like earth itself, that seemed so constant.
On top of the dunes people walked through the tall grasses, exploring and looking out over the beach from above. Older kids were running, arms and legs flailing, down the huge sand piles and splashing into the water below with roaring laughter.
I made my way up toward the dunes and found a small worn-down footpath that climbed up, up, up, to the top of one of the dunes. My calves burned, and my toes dug into the soft, shifting sand.
Holy crap. I need to work out more.
I bent at the waist to catch my breath and calm my overexerted heart.
The roots of the wispy beach grass stuck up in places, poking my feet, and the sun heated the sand.
It was a wonder anything could grow where there seemed to be so little nutrients in the arid sand itself.
Finally, at the top of the dune, I looked out onto Lake Michigan.
It was breathtaking.
The water stretched out forever, disappearing into the horizon.
People below me were nothing more than little ants, dancing and moving around the beach.
From that vantage point, I could see that the main strip of beach was packed tightly with families and umbrellas and volleyball games, but farther down, it was far less crowded.
In the distance, large buildings that looked to be condos or really expensive vacation homes dotted the shoreline.
Between the two, there were quiet stretches of beachfront that seemed cocooned from the chaos of the public beach area.
Intrigued, I headed in that direction, searching for a way to return to the shoreline. I smiled at a couple hiking and stopped to watch more kids hurl themselves down the dunes. They laughed and jeered at each other as one by one they raced down the steep slope.
No. Freaking. Way.
When I’d gotten to the quieter section of beach, there wasn’t a clear way to make it down to the water. Much farther along a set of wooden stairs zigzagged down the dune, but it appeared to be private property, and the last thing I needed was to get into trouble when I was so new in town.
I peered over the edge of what felt like a gigantic cliff.
I tested my footing with a little bounce.
If I could just get down to the water, I could explore a little and then walk my way back up the beach toward town.
I searched a little more until I found where the sand dune wasn’t quite so steep.
It seemed stable enough, so with a final deep breath, I carefully stepped down.
The sand was dryer and more like quicksand than I anticipated.
“Shit!” I plopped to my butt and inelegantly slid part of the way down the dune.
My bag bounced behind me as I tried my best to not face-plant.
It slipped from my shoulder and careened off the dune, landing below me with a plop.
Finally, my heels dug into the moving sand and slowed me to a stop about two-thirds of the way down the dune.
Embarrassed, I looked around to see if anyone had seen me make a fool of myself, and—thankfully—no one was nearby. I caught my breath and looked for a safer way to get to the beach. Preferably one that didn’t include breaking my neck. I could always walk up the beach and retrieve my bag.
I tried to stand, but the earth shifted below me.
Well, shit.
Going back up wasn’t an option, and straight below me was a harsh drop-off that would certainly end in a broken leg or two.
I hugged my knees and clutched the grass, trying to figure out how to get myself out of yet another mess I’d thrown myself into. From around a fallen tree, voices floated up. I ducked behind the tall grasses.
Clambering over the trunk of the tree, little Penny came into view. My heartbeat ticked faster as I looked for her dad.
Then I heard his deep, commanding voice before I saw him. “Just be careful, Pickle.”
I hid lower, praying they would just walk by and I wouldn’t have to admit that I’d gotten myself stranded on the side of a sand dune that was determined to kill me.
Wyatt had on dark sunglasses and a pair of swim trunks that did nothing to hide his ridiculous body.
His languid movements came into view, and my breath hitched.
His hair was tousled and lifted in the breeze.
He was so much more than cute —he was absolutely, ridiculously gorgeous.
His brother Lee walked beside him, and the pretty redhead from the book club—Annie, I remembered—bent to look at something Penny had found in the sand.
My thighs burned from crouching, and the heat from the sand was starting to become unbearable.
“Please keep walking. Just leave,” I whispered to myself.
It was a quiet stretch of beach, but I hoped none of them would spot my bag or look up and see my helpless and stupid self, clinging to dear life on the grass.
I’d rather die.
The group moved closer and I closed my eyes. Maybe if I pretended to be invisible, they’d just keep walking and I could succumb to my death in peace.
“Planning to stay up there all day?”
My eyes opened to see Wyatt directly below me, his hands on his hips and a frown across his stupid face. He looked like a cranky dad—Penny’s incredibly hot, cranky dad, actually.
“I’m fine.” The fake cheeriness I tried to infuse in my voice sounded crazed in my ears.
“Looks to me like you’re fucked.”
I adjusted my feet, and more sand trickled over the cliff. Wyatt sidestepped the curtain of debris that fell and let loose a heavy, annoyed sigh.
He held up his arms. “Come on.”
“What?” I stared down at him as I clutched the grasses that were the only things keeping me from falling off the dune.
Wyatt flicked his wrist. “I said come on. I’ll catch you.”
I shook my head. “No way.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Fine. Break a leg. Just don’t come hobbling over for help or you’ll scare my kid.” He turned away.
“Stop!” More sand shifted below me, and panic started to set in. “Okay, fine. Please.”
He turned, and a ghost of a smirk crossed his face. “Come on then.”
I stared down at him. If I continued forward, Wyatt could reach up and pull me down, but my boobs would be right in his face. If I turned around, he would get a face full of my ass. Indecision gnawed at me.
“What are you waiting for?”
I looked around and noticed we’d caught the attention of Lee, Annie, and Penny, who were now watching the whole scene play out.
Of fucking course we did.
“Give me a minute!” I tried to adjust my grip on the grass, and a small squeak escaped me.
“What are you doing? Just come down.”
I swallowed hard. The firm line of his lips was making my insides all gooey, and I couldn’t get the image of his large hands wrapping around me out of my stupid head. “Boobs or butt?”
“What?”
“You’re about to get a face full of something. There is no graceful way to maneuver this so... boobs or butt?”
This time he was grinning right at me. “Well, I am kind of an ass man.”
I rolled my eyes. Wyatt was definitely enjoying my discomfort and the fact that I had, yet again, made a fool of myself.
Still gripping the sand and grass, I inelegantly rolled onto my belly. “You are the worst.”
He chuckled softly. “I know. Just shimmy down here.”
I shot him a glare over my shoulder and faced the sand. My eyes squeezed shut. “Please don’t drop me.”
“I got you, Lark. I promise.” The confidence in his voice was comforting. I believed Wyatt wouldn’t let me fall.
I wiggled my hips and started to lower myself. My cover-up rode high as I moved down, and my legs began to dangle over the cliff.
“Where are you? I don’t feel you!” I wiggled my foot and it connected with the side of his face and nose. “Shit! Sorry!”
Wyatt spit, unaffected. “You’re fine. Keep going. You’re almost there.” His hands connected with my calves, and warmth spread through me.
Higher and higher his hands smoothed over my legs.
In any other circumstance it would have been delightfully sinful.
When his palms reached my hips, he gripped me tightly, fingers digging into me.
Sure enough, my butt was inches from his face.
His strong arms took over, and when I let go of the grass and sand, he lifted me effortlessly until I was planted on the ground.
I closed my eyes and steadied my breath, thankful to be on solid ground again. Wyatt’s large frame hadn’t moved and was still enclosing me between him and the dune.
A hand ran down my back. “See? You’re fine.”
I could barely breathe. I turned and had to practically tip backward to look him in the eyes. In the reflection of his sunglasses, I could see how owl eyed and breathless I looked.
“Thank you.” My hands rested on his forearms.
I stared up at him, and everything around us fell away. The air stuck in my lungs. For a moment I forgot where we were, what day it was, and that we had an audience. Somehow his hands were back on my hips.
Wyatt’s chin tipped down. I glanced at his lips as they tipped up in a smile.
“Dad, you’re a hero!”
My toes curled into the solid ground.
I stepped away as Penny ran up and hugged her dad from the back, shoving him a step forward.
“Yeah, a knight in Coppertone armor.” Lee smirked in our direction and crossed his arms.
Annie joined us, and I took two more steps away from the group of Sullivans, who were looking at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Okay. Thanks. Sorry about that.” I ran my hands through my hair and brushed the thick layer of sand off my stomach and thighs.
What an epic disaster .
“Hey, Lark,” Annie called out. “Let’s do lunch sometime, okay?”
I raised my hand and nodded as I hurried away. “Yep, lunch sounds great. Bye!”
Wyatt was still staring at me as Penny kicked at the waves with laughter and Lee and Annie talked and meandered along the beach.
I knew he was still staring even as I made my inelegant exit—I felt his heated gaze on my back the entire walk up the beach.
Why did I like that so much?