Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
A dam realized a month wasn’t going to be enough time with Mattie after their first jam session with the guys, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it. Plans to sweep her off her feet seemed too rushed and pushy, but if he didn’t let her know how he felt soon he thought he might explode.
When she suggested they take a day off to do something as a group, he’d enthusiastically agreed, even though he’d rather have her to himself. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable when she was finally starting to relax. They all settled on a tour of the island by Jet Ski, which he thought at least gave him a chance to experience something with her besides music, even if they did it while surrounded by the rest of the guys.
He walked up to the personal watercraft station with Brandon and Flynn with a growing sense of suspicion. A white storage shed with paddles, vests, and various equipment leaning against it sat on the dock. Down below, Jet Skis with racing stripes and flames bobbed up and down with the waves.
He counted six, but there would be seven, possibly eight, people riding, not including the guides. The math didn’t add up.
One of the dock workers, a woman in her late forties named Bayo, approached him with a friendly smile. “Good morning, Mr. Adam, Mr. Flynn, Mr. Brandon. The weather is perfect for a day on the water. Nassor and myself will be with you as guides for the day. That is him, with the white cap.”
She indicated a twenty-something with braids, a face like Denzel, and arms built by heavy lifting. Nassor waved at them in acknowledgment.
Adam shook Bayo’s hand. “We’re looking forward to it. Are there more Jet Skis? I think we have eight.”
She glanced at Brandon, then back at Adam with a knowing look. “Ah, it will be fine, I think. Some ride two by two, yes?”
Adam pictured himself sharing a Jet Ski with Mattie and realized exactly what his friends had planned. He didn’t know how Mattie would feel about being so close to him, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to find out. She finally trusted him to not treat her like the last guy. He didn’t want to ruin it.
He glanced at Brandon. “What are you up to?”
“Me?” Brandon blinked with feigned innocence.
Flynn bumped into Adam’s shoulder on his way to talk to Bayo. “What’s the speed limit on these things?”
The two of them walked toward the end of the dock, out of earshot.
Adam watched them, then studied his brother’s expression. “Seriously. What did you do?”
“I worked hard on a new song, that’s what. We all did. We deserve a day off. And we deserve to spend it on Jet Skis.” Brandon pointed at the first one, a one-seater with bright red flames along the sleek black body. “And I deserve that one right there.”
Adam took in a breath of patience. “Brandon. This isn’t helping.”
Brandon raised an eyebrow. “Helping what? Your sudden obsessive need to pretend you don’t like your high school crush? Please. It’s absolutely helping. Did you see her face when I suggested we go Jet Skiing today? I’ve never seen that shade of pale.”
“So?”
“So, that means she’s scared and she needs a big, strong man to cling to. It’s like taking a girl to a horror movie, only it’s three dimensional and with actual sharks. She’ll stick to you like a barnacle.” Brandon patted him on the back. “You’re welcome.”
Adam clenched his jaw to rein in his frustration. “Dammit, you guys have to stop this. I told you, I have to keep it hands off around her.”
Brandon scoffed. “Group dating is a really bad strategy. How are you going to get her naked if you’re never alone?”
“Get every thought of her naked out of your head.” Adam narrowed his eyes. “She’s not an idiot, Brandon. She notices when all of you get up and leave at the same time when we’re not done with dinner, and she sure as hell noticed that you were all an hour late to the session yesterday. What did you do, tie Flynn to a chair? He hates being late. When you finally showed up I thought he was going to break the drum.”
“I didn’t tie him to anything.” Brandon beamed. “I switched the time zone on his phone. Can’t do it again, though. When he figured it out, he changed the passcode.”
Adam stepped closer. “This. Stops. Now.” He poked Brandon in the chest for emphasis. “She’s going to think I’m some kind of stalker if you keep this up.”
“Hey! Knock it off.” Brandon slapped Adam’s hand away and rubbed his chest. “If you’d just get out of your own way, she’d see you for the overly assertive, clueless-around-women man with a fantastic circle of friends that you are.”
“I’m not clueless. I’m a professional performing artist in need of new material.”
“Uh-huh. Because it’s so professional to whisk your crush away to a tropical island so she can’t be distracted by the men she left behind. Right.” Brandon glanced over Adam’s shoulder. “Someone’s coming. Seriously, if you don’t make a move soon we’ll leave this sideshow before you even get to third base. We’ve all decided to take pity on your barren love life and give you a hand.”
“I’m trying to—” He registered what his brother just said. “Give me a hand how?”
Brandon rocked back and forth on his feet and looked so smug that Adam felt a knot tighten in his stomach. The last time he’d looked like that, he’d taken Dad’s car without permission, dented the fender, then blamed it on Adam.
“Brandon…” He put as much warning into his voice as he could without shouting.
Flynn rejoined them looking satisfied. “It’s all set.”
“What’s all set?” Adam narrowed his eyes at Flynn. “Whatever you have cooking, knock it off.”
Flynn and Brandon exchanged looks. “Bayo says she’ll make sure it works.”
The golf cart driving up the path carried a single rider with long, honey-gold hair.
Anticipation and nervous energy surged through his gut. “Make sure what works?”
“Operation Help a Brother Out is on.” Flynn leaned in and spoke in low undertones like he was in a spy novel. “Bayo will offer us two activities. All we have to do is let Mattie choose what she wants first. Whatever she picks, the rest of us do the opposite. Got it?”
“Perfect,” Brandon said. “Then we all get lost for the rest of the day and they can have some quality alone time.”
“No.” Adam saw exactly where this was headed. He and Mattie would wind up alone on a beach somewhere just like he’d tried to do before. Every bit of trust he’d built with her would be gone. “We can’t do that. She’ll be so pissed! Just stick together.”
“At least this time you can’t be thrown into the ocean. Not if you’re driving.” Brandon chuckled. “Though I’d pay a million to see it. I wonder if we can get her to do it again just so we all can watch?”
“If you bring that up to her, I’ll break your arm.” Adam bared his teeth.
Brandon grinned back without a hint of shame. “You’d have to catch me first.”
Flynn’s eyes widened, and he waved at someone behind Adam. “Hey, Mattie.”
Adam turned to see Mattie coming up the walkway. She wore a long-sleeved rash guard covered in pink flowers and black shorts. Without the usual flowy fabric covering her body, she looked athletic and strong.
He could imagine those legs wrapped around his waist—
No. He could not think like that right now.
Mattie waved back at Flynn, and a soft smile curved her lips, but something about her walk was less buoyant than usual.
“She looks nervous,” Adam said in a low voice.
“Yes!” Brandon pumped his fist in triumph. “Remember, make sure you’re driving so she can hold on tight.”
“This plan is ridiculous.” Adam wanted to pace back and forth like a caged animal, but it would make Mattie even more nervous if he did that. “She’ll see right through it, and I’ll look like an asshole. ”
“Not if you play your cards right.” Flynn grinned. “I mean every other girl seems to want to bang you so I don’t see why this should be so hard.”
“Hard,” Brandon repeated, then turned away, shaking with laughter.
“You two are forever stuck at fifteen, aren’t you,” Adam muttered.
“It’s a fantastic age,” Flynn said. “You should try it sometime. I think you missed yours.”
“Good morning,” Mattie said when she got closer. She bit her lip as she looked at the Jet Skis. “I’m not so sure I should be doing this. I’m not a strong swimmer.”
“Don’t worry,” Brandon said, with only a hint of giggle. “We’ll have two guides and life jackets, and you’ll have a big, strong—”
Adam jumped in before his brother could finish that sentence. “You seem to be missing something.”
Mattie cocked her head. Her eyes sparked with amusement, as if she knew exactly what Brandon had been about to say. “What? Sunscreen? I put it on before I left.”
“The bag,” Brandon said.
“Yeah,” Flynn chimed in. “I thought it was permanently attached.”
Mattie laughed and patted her side like the bag was still there. “I know, I feel naked without it. But I thought it might be a bad idea to bring my notebooks along for the ride. Paper doesn’t do so well around water.”
A golf cart carrying Cooper and Tina pulled up. They hopped out, and their driver backed the cart off the dock. Cooper smiled brightly at them as they reached the group. He’d dressed down for a change and wore swim trunks, a white T-shirt, and sandals. Tina, on the other hand, wore a frown and a string bikini that didn’t hide much of anything. She looked at the Jet Skis and wrinkled her nose.
“Hey, Coop,” Adam said. It was obvious Tina wasn’t happy. The sooner they got going the better, but they were still missing someone. “Where’s LT?”
“LT isn’t coming,” Cooper said. “He’s busy following his island sweetie around. Apparently they aren’t allowed to go on activities with the guests unless they’re one of the guides.”
“Coopie.” Tina hugged Cooper’s arm in a way that made her breasts push up and out. “Aren’t there any boats? Jet Skis are so loud and rough.”
“This will be fun.” Cooper put on his patient face, the one he used with overly demanding girlfriends or small children. “And afterwards we have a picnic at Lanmou Bay, just you and me.”
Tina sniffed. “I really shouldn’t be out in the sun this much. I have a photoshoot the week we get back.”
“I have another rash guard, if you’d like to borrow it,” Mattie said. She smiled politely at Tina.
“Those things chafe.” Her tone made it obvious that she thought Mattie was low class and stupid for offering.
Adam started to object, but Mattie responded before he could.
“So do wet seats.” Mattie gestured at the Jet Skis. “Maybe you should put on something to cover your, um, thighs?”
Adam snorted a laugh. Tina would never wear something that covered that much skin,
Tina tossed her hair back. “I have to avoid lines for the camera. That’s why I shouldn’t be out all day in the sun.”
“It’s not going to be all day,” Cooper said. “And you bathed in sunscreen this morning. You’ll be fine.”
Adam exchanged looks with Cooper. “You don’t have to go with us. You could hang out on the beach or something. ”
Cooper’s expression hardened. “We’ve had enough hanging out.”
Adam glanced at Tina. The look on her face said she’d had enough of just about everything, but she didn’t make any other comment, so he let it go.
Flynn tapped Cooper on the shoulder. “Hey, man, come help me with the vests.”
“Sure.” Cooper and Flynn sauntered toward the tour guides, talking in low whispers. Flynn must be filling Cooper in on the throw-Mattie-at-Adam plan.
Adam turned away before his impulse to stop them made him do something foolish.
“Adam,” Mattie said, “have you thought about where you want to go with the second song? I have some snippets and thoughts written down from our sessions…” She patted her hip and grimaced. “In my notebook. Which is in my bag. In my room.”
“I thought there would be no work today,” Tina said with a petulant pout. “Coopie promised me it would be fun.”
“It’s going to be fun all right,” Brandon said. He wiggled his eyebrows for emphasis.
“Right, no work.” Adam winked at Mattie.
Mattie smiled, and a calculating look crossed her face. “You know, when you love what you do, work is a reward, not a punishment. Maybe that could be the subject of the next song.”
Adam scratched his chin. “Says the girl who ripped half the pages out of her notebook yesterday because they weren’t cooperating.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t annoying sometimes,” Mattie flashed a pointed glance in his direction, “just that it’s worthwhile.”
Tina made a tsk sound with her tongue. “I’m here to play, not work. I do plenty of work at home. ”
“Lucky you aren’t in a band, then,” Brandon said with heavy sarcasm. “You know us musicians. It’s work, work, work all the time.”
Adam pictured Tina on stage. She was at home under spotlights, as every model would be, but she didn’t seem to like music very much, and she couldn’t sing any note on key.
Mattie, on the other hand, was a natural on stage. She didn’t need a spotlight. The crowd could find her in the dark.
He turned away to hide the grin and saw Bayo, Nassor, Flynn, and Cooper striding back toward them carrying life vests.
“We are all here, yes?” Bayo asked.
“Yes,” Cooper said. “All set.”
“Good, good, then we will have a quick demonstration of safety before we set off on our adventure.” Bayo gestured at Nassor.
Before Nassor could speak, the staff photographer they’d met on the tarmac days ago stepped out from behind the storage building with a fake smile on his face and a camera in his hands.
“Good morning everybody,” Don said. He wore the same bright white as all the other staff, but he’d turned up the collar on the shirt like he thought he was Elvis.
Mattie stiffened beside him and drew in a quick breath.
Adam instinctively took a step toward the guy and put himself in between the camera and Mattie.
Don held up a hand in surrender. “I know, I know. You said no photography.”
“Right, we did,” Adam said.
“I just thought I’d check in with you, since I doubt any of you brought your phones for this outing,” Don said. “Wouldn’t want them to get wet, right? Sure you don’t want a group shot before you head out? No problem if you don’t. Just wanted to ask. It’s part of the service.”
“Hey, sure,” Flynn said with enthusiasm. “That’d be cool. We could put it on the wall at the studio.”
Adam exchanged looks with Mattie. “We don’t have to.”
She took a deep breath and relaxed her shoulders. “It’s okay. I mean, a group photo can’t hurt, right? All of us together?”
“It’s just for us,” he assured her. “Nobody will see it unless you show them or if they go into the studio.”
Don beamed at them. “Great. Let’s group up here, where we get the skis and that bit of island in the background.”
The photographer moved Adam to a spot next to one of the Jet Skis, then placed Brandon on his left, Mattie on his right, then Cooper and Tina in front. Flynn, as the tallest, stood behind the group between Mattie and Cooper.
“That’s perfect,” Don said. He clicked constantly, moving the camera slightly each time and uttering encouraging noises along the way.
Adam fell into his usual pattern of poses. He stared off into the distance, tilted his chin down and smirked, and tossed his arm around Mattie to get in closer with the group.
The longer the shoot went on, the sillier they all acted. Flynn kissed Mattie on the cheek, then Tina. Mattie giggled, and Tina made model pouty faces. Flynn came around front. “Come on, let’s do a really fun one. Everybody make kissy faces, then Brandon and Cooper pick me up and I’ll act like a dead fish.”
“You are a dead fish,” Cooper said.
Brandon laughed. “Yeah, let’s hang him upside down like they do the really big ones.”
They shuffled around, but in the end Brandon and Cooper weren’t tall enough to hang Flynn upside down so they wound up holding him lengthwise, with his body stretched in front of Mattie and Tina. Adam stood behind the girls and puckered his lips.
Mattie giggled the entire time, and even Tina smiled with genuine amusement.
“Fantastic! You are going to love these shots, I guarantee it.” Don put the lens cap back on his camera. “I’ll make sure you get prints for your wall and a thumb drive to take home before you leave.”
Adam shook his hand. “Thanks, man. That would be great. Maybe we could try another one tomorrow night. We need one with LT.”
“You got it,” Don said. He nodded and waved to everybody. “If you want more shots, just ask any of the staff. I’m always around. Have a great time, everybody.”
Bayo stepped forward. “And now we are ready, yes?”
Nassor stepped forward and passed out the life vests and safety tips, and then Bayo helped everyone board the Jet Skis. Brandon and Flynn claimed the one-seaters before anyone else could while Cooper put Tina on one of the two-seaters, then climbed on behind her. She beamed at him as he put his hands on her hips.
That left one two-seater for Adam and Mattie to share.
Mattie stared at it doubtfully. “Maybe I should just…”
Brandon revved his engine. “Come on, Mattie, it’s fun.”
“No way we’re leaving you behind,” Adam told her. He climbed on, taking the front position while he avoided his brother’s knowing gaze. He held out a hand. “Come on. I’ve got you.”
“No need to worry, Miss Mattie. It is like riding a bicycle. You can do that, yes? Here, I will help.” Nassor held Mattie steady while she climbed on behind Adam .
She slipped onto the seat and grabbed Adam’s life vest with both hands. “I’d feel better if it didn’t rock so much.”
“Just hold on tight.” He glanced back at her. “Don’t worry. I won’t bite. Yet.”
She huffed out a nervous laugh, then wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed.
“Ack. Can’t. Breathe,” he teased.
She let go with a giggle. “Sorry!”
“Around my waist.” He guided her hands until they rested below the vest, where she could squeeze without cutting off his oxygen. “There. Think of it as a horse on water. Roll with the motion.”
“There’s no chance of drowning if you fall off a horse,” Mattie grumbled.
“No chance of being eaten by a shark either,” Flynn called out in an overly cheerful tone.
Adam glared at him. “That’s not helping.”
Flynn glanced at Mattie and winked.
“Don’t listen to him,” Adam told her. “He’s an idiot who won’t be alive much longer.”
Mattie tightened her grip.
Bayo waved her hand to get their attention. “Ready?”
Everyone nodded and shouted, “Yes.”
“Here we go,” she called out, then pulled away from the dock and out onto the open water.
One by one, they all took off. Brandon and Flynn got an early lead as they raced each other in the general direction Bayo indicated.
Adam stayed behind their guide for a little while to let Mattie get used to the bouncing movement of the waves. Cooper and Tina trailed behind them, and Nassor brought up the rear.
At first, Mattie’s grasp on him was so tight it was hard to breathe. She shrieked when they hit a rough patch of water, then giggled when she got splashed.
“This is terrifying!” Mattie screamed in his ear. “Go faster!”
Adam laughed and sped up.
Mattie snuggled in closer, her arms tight but no longer constricting across his stomach. She was warm and soft against his back, and it made him want to turn around and kiss her. He leaned into her a little and grinned like an idiot as the sea spray slapped his face.
They went from one tip of the island to the other before Bayo stopped and gathered them all in a circle.
“Now is the time for decision. There are two sites to see. One is Aldabra Bay, around the south tip of the island. It is a breeding ground for the giant tortoise that grace our waters.”
Mattie made a little squeal sound, like a little girl in a candy store. “I would love to see them!”
Adam squeezed her hand. “Then that’s for us.”
“The other site is a short ride to the island you see over there.” She pointed to a bit of land in the distance. “It is the home of a beautiful underwater sea cave. We will split into two groups. Nassor will lead those who wish it to the cavern, and I will take the rest to see the Aldabra. Now who would like to go to the cave?”
Cooper turned to speak to Tina. Brandon and Flynn looked at each other, then at Adam. “What are you two doing?”
“Turtles,” Adam said.
Flynn’s hand shot up. “Caves.”
Brandon raised his hand. “Sign me up for caves too. Coop?”
Cooper appeared to be arguing with Tina. Adam exchanged glances with Brandon and Flynn .
Mattie leaned in close and whispered, “Why didn’t she stay home?”
Adam snorted a laugh. “An all-expense paid trip to a tropical paradise? Who would pass that up?”
“Good point,” Mattie said.
“Hey, Coop,” Flynn shouted. “Which way you going, man?”
Tina glared at him.
Cooper stared off in the distance as if he were counting to ten, or maybe twenty. “Caves.”
Tina hit Cooper’s arm. “I want to see the turtles.”
Brandon and Flynn exchanged glances.
A few seconds ticked by, and tension mounted with every wave that rocked the skis. They couldn’t keep staring at each other like this. Mattie would wonder what was going on. But he couldn’t exactly say, “Don’t worry about ruining our carefully manufactured alone time. The more the merrier.”
“Oh good,” Mattie said brightly. “I thought I’d be the only one wanting to see cute animals. We’ll have a great time.”
“I do not think…,” Bayo said at the same time, then stopped before she finished the sentence.
“Hey, Coop,” Flynn said. “Man, the caves sound fantastic. And you love scuba diving.”
“Yeah, come with us,” Brandon said. “You could always do the turtles later.”
The innuendo Brandon managed to put into that sentence made Adam cringe.
Bayo and Nassor looked at each other.
Adam cleared his throat, relieved that the plan had been thwarted. “So we have our split then. Coop, Tina, Mattie, and me to the turtles, Brandon and Flynn to the caves. Have fun, guys. ”
“Okay. We are decided,” Bayo said. She looked at Nassor. “We meet back home, yes?”
Nassor agreed with a happy nod. He raised his hand. “All seeking underwater adventure, follow me.”
Brandon cast an irritated glance at Cooper, then saluted Adam. “See ya, bro.”
He sped off after Nassor.
Flynn followed Brandon, shouting, “Later!”
Bayo smiled. “Please follow me. This way.”
Adam gave Cooper a quick look of sympathy before taking off after Bayo. Cooper’s expression was carved from stone. Tina, however, seemed satisfied with the outcome.
Bayo led them along the southern tip of the island to a large cove similar to the one he’d taken Mattie to before, except this beach was dotted with several giant sea turtles.
Bayo led them to a small dock located on the far end of the cove, around the tip of an outcropping that blocked the turtles from view.
She cut off the engine and climbed up onto the dock. “We stop here, so that we do not disturb the nesting mothers. Follow this path to the right for facilities, food and drink, and resting places. When you are ready, I will show you the turtles.”
After a quick break, the four of them fell in line behind Bayo as she led them to the protected breeding ground. Mattie rounded the corner first.
Before Adam caught up with her, Cooper tapped his shoulder. He paused to glance back at his friend.
Cooper looked apologetic. “Sorry, man. I tried.”
“Don’t sweat it,” Adam whispered. “Stupid plan anyway.”
“Still.” Cooper studiously avoided looking at Tina.
“Boys, you’re blocking the way,” Tina said.
Adam patted Cooper’s shoulder to show him it wasn’t a big deal and kept walking down the path .
While he might wish he were alone with Mattie, the last thing he wanted was for her to think he’d planned this on purpose. Though he had to admit, if he’d thought of it himself, he would have done it; he just wouldn’t want her to know that.
Bayo and Mattie stopped in a clear portion of sand several feet ahead.
“This is so cool,” Mattie breathed. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Look at that one, she has a huge gash on her shell.” Cooper pointed to one only a few feet away.
Bayo nodded. “Yes. Procreation for these mamas is quite rough. The males will nip and tug, seeking permission to climb aboard, and once they are there, they latch on, while the other males fight for her attention. She is forced to swim with the male attached to her, sometimes twenty-four hours. After he is done, another will take his place until all her eggs are fertilized. Then it is her turn to bite, yes?”
Bayo winked at Mattie. “Enough is enough?”
“If I had to go through all that to make a baby I’d bite back too.” Mattie laughed.
“Where’s that one going?” Tina pointed to an enormous turtle nearly at the water.
Bayo nodded. “That is our most famous lady. She is called Amani. She returns to this beach every year, for almost twenty years now. She is returning to the sea, her work done. See? The section over there, near the trees? That was hers. She dug the hole and put her eggs safely away to grow during the night. She has one other clutch, over by the rock, there. See?”
Bayo pointed to a group of large stones across the cove. “She is a good mama. She will come back next season. But for now, she rests.”
All of the turtles looked exhausted to Adam. Some still worked to bury eggs, while others appeared to be sleeping. “They don’t stay with the eggs?”
Bayo shook her head. “No, they do not. The babies are on their own. Though we will look out for them, yes?”
“They go through all that pain,” Mattie said. “All that work, just to leave it behind. I wish I had my notebook right now.”
She settled down cross-legged on the sand and stared with wide eyed introspection at the turtles.
Bayo smiled. “I leave you to watch as long as you like. When you are ready, lunch will be served at the rest area.”
Bayo walked quietly back the way they’d come.
Adam leaned against the rock wall behind Mattie, but he was more interested in watching her than the parade of prehistoric creatures in front of her.
Tina glanced around. “Is this it? I thought we could pet them or something.”
“No, don’t,” Mattie cried out. “If you touch them, they’ll feel threatened and they won’t finish laying their eggs.”
“How do you know?” Tina looked at Cooper. “She can’t know that.”
“I watched a documentary,” Mattie said wryly.
“I’m hungry,” Cooper said. “I’m going for something to eat.” He turned to leave, then looked at Tina. “Coming?”
“I guess.” Tina clicked her tongue. “I told you we should have a spa day instead.”
“We should have gone to the caves,” Cooper said.
Tina snapped something in response, but Adam couldn’t make it out.
He waited until he couldn’t hear their voices over the sound of the surf, then settled onto the ground near Mattie with his back against the rocks.
They sat in easy silence for a few minutes. The turtles basked in the sun, reaching a level of relaxation he only dreamed of experiencing. He was hyperaware of the woman sitting next to him. The shirt she wore hugged her body like a second skin. He wanted to trace her curves with his hands and discover the real woman underneath. His fingers twitched, but he forced himself to stay put.
“I don’t think they’re going to last much longer,” Mattie said in a voice so low the wind almost swept it away. “Cooper and Tina, I mean. She seems unhappy.”
“I’ll be shocked if she lasts two more days.”
Mattie looked at him with troubled eyes. “Poor Cooper.”
He shrugged. “It won’t be the first time one of Coop’s relationships tanked while on vacation. One girl ditched him during dinner the first night to go off with some actor from Australia. She had the hotel move her stuff out before he got back. On the plus side, at least she didn’t trash the room. He has bad luck with women most of the time.”
“Maybe he just hasn’t found the right one.” Mattie scooted back until she leaned against the rock next to him, pulled off her shoes, and dug her toes in the sand.
“Maybe he should stop taking his girlfriends on vacation.” Adam shook his head. “They just don’t get it. I think they all expect to be the center of attention on trips like this, but with a guy like Cooper…”
“The music comes first,” Mattie filled in.
He smiled and bobbed his head. “Yeah.”
“I get that.” She watched the turtles with a faraway look in her eyes. “It’s hard, when you love something so much to pay attention to anything else sometimes.”
“Yes,” he agreed. He studied the curve of her face, the slight flush in her cheeks, and the smooth line of her neck, memorizing every detail. “Yes, it definitely is.”