Chapter 32 #2
“I do,” I answered him. “Obviously, since I have one foot constantly in your world, I see that all you people do is perform and never truly enjoy the extravagant things your wealth has brought you.”
“You intrigue me, Catalina Veléz.” He stood and extended his hand to me. “Care to join me for a walk on the beach?”
“I would love that,” I said, taking his hand.
I should’ve instinctively pulled my hand away when he interlaced his fingers with mine and kept holding it as we walked down toward the wet sand.
But I didn’t. Instead, I leaned into the moment, inhaling the salty ocean air, feeling the warm breeze kiss my face, all while being with a man who was as mysterious as he was intoxicating to me.
Interesting. A man capable of buying anything in the world had forgotten how to simply live in it.
“What do you think about—”
“If it’s not the man looking for another place to build a luxury hotel…” a familiar male voice called out behind us.
I turned to find Jake Mitchell and Collin Brooks standing barefoot in wetsuits with surfboards tucked beneath their arms.
Titus closed his eyes briefly beside me. “Dear God…”
Collin stared at Titus. “Holy shit. He’s wearing boardshorts voluntarily.”
Jake looked equally amused. “And smiling.” He pointed dramatically. “Sweet Jesus.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Collin said. “This man is one sunset walk away from writing poetry.”
“I will throw both of you into the ocean,” Titus said calmly.
I couldn’t help but softly laugh at the two doctors who somehow turned into monkeys after they took off their scrubs.
“No, seriously,” Collin continued, looking me over, “what exactly did you do to him? Because three days ago, this man looked one inconvenience away from launching hostile takeovers for stress relief.”
I shrugged. “Got him out of his suit?”
“You got him out, period, you little vixen,” Jake smirked at me. “But does the man have what it takes to dominate the ocean like he does a boardroom?”
“You speak as if I’ve never set bare feet on sand before,” Titus retorted.
“Have you?” Collin asked with sincere curiosity.
“That’s not what I’m referring to,” Jake said, sizing the man up.
“What exactly are you referring to, aside from destroying the start of a peaceful walk Catalina and I were just enjoying?”
“I love the way you say her name,” Collin taunted. “It sends shivers up my spine.”
I laughed at how Collin’s mocking of Titus was pretty much exactly how I felt whenever he said my name. Though I don’t think I’d give that away to Titus just yet. Better to let Collin make an ass of himself than me.
“All right. All right. Let’s calm the fuck down before I start getting chills up my spine, too,” Jake said. “Now, if the man really wants to impress the woman who insisted on a beach day, he needs to get his sorry ass in the water and surf.”
“How the fuck did you two manifest yourselves out of the goddamn ocean like mischievous water nymphs and end up here with Cat and me?” Titus asked with a hint of humor.
“I bet he doesn’t surf,” Jake said to Collin.
“If it will make you leave, then yes,” Titus started, “I can surf.”
Jake pushed his surfboard toward him. “Then get in the water and stop flirting with me as if I personally invented happiness.”
“You surf?” I asked in shock.
“Catalina, I spent half my childhood surfing in the Mediterranean,” Titus answered smoothly. “My brothers and I weren’t discussing quarterly projections in the waves.”
Jake barked out a laugh. “Jesus Christ. Listen to this man flirt.”
I started laughing as Titus dragged one hand down his face. “This was a mistake,” he muttered. “We should’ve acted like we didn’t know them.”
Though I could tell Titus was somewhat annoyed by the interruption, I couldn’t stop smiling.
It wasn’t because the men were ridiculous—which they absolutely were—but because Titus was letting them do this to him.
He wasn’t barking commands and hiding behind the cold, untouchable billionaire I’d first met.
He looked lighter, more human, and genuinely happy. Somehow, that was far more dangerous to me than the terrifying amount of power attached to his name.
“Time to bring your best self to the game and get out in that water, Hawk,” Jake pressed again.
“I’d love to see your handsome ass out there giving it your best shot,” I said, knowing this would most likely bring Titus back to his youth and let him feel that nostalgic, happy feeling again.
“Rule number one, always listen to the lovely lady or kiss her goodbye…” Collin said as we all stood here, wondering whether Titus would actually do this.
Titus took the board easily, then looked over at me.
My God, it was unfair for a man to look at a woman this way.
“You truly want to see this?” he asked. “It’s been quite a few years…”
“I really do,” I admitted.
A slow smile spread across his face before he began backing toward the shoreline.
“Careful, Catalina,” he called out. “You might end up liking me too much by the end of today.”
Jake chuckled. “You going to spot butter buns in the water, or am I?”
“I’ve got him,” Collin said, tucking his board under his arm and jogging toward Titus.
“Sorry we stole your date away,” Jake said with a wink.
“Not at all,” I smiled over at him, guiding us up to softer sand so we could watch Titus try to pull this shit off.
“Are you two having a good time?”
I chuckled. “Believe it or not, it’s as if I’ve met an entirely different side of this man. I couldn’t have dreamed up this version of Titus if I were drunk and alone on a Saturday night.”
He laughed. “My brother Jim used to be just like that guy,” Jake said, more serious now. “He almost lost Avery in the beginning because Mitchell and Associates had an anchor around his neck, slowly drowning the man in numbers and takeovers.”
I looked over at Jake. “Titus sort of admitted that to me earlier,” I said. “What helped Jim?”
Jake smiled and opened his arms. “All of us dipshits who learned not to let our professions dominate our lives.”
“Did you make him go surfing, too?” I laughed, trying to picture Jim Mitchell on a surfboard.
“Nah,” Jake said. “He surfed, then got on the bikes with us, but his heart was never really in it. His brain was always calculating the next acquisition instead of the next wave.”
“Being around men like Titus, I can see how the brutal side of that life and the constant chase for the next big thing would consume their thoughts.”
“It’s when they learn it doesn’t define their identity that they, too, can enjoy happiness along with the toys,” Jake smiled and nodded out toward the water. “Your stud is about to show you what he’s made of.”
I glanced out to the water and watched Titus as if he were a damn natural, eyeing the wave he was about to take. I was expecting the man to lose it on the first attempt, but I was starting to wonder if there was anything he couldn’t do brilliantly.
“Fucking natural, man,” Jake said, then called out to cheer him on.
The waves weren’t enormous, curling waves, but they were just enough to push the board at a speed where adrenaline would surface. I clapped twice, smiling and rooting him on. I swear to God, this was definitely not the man I imagined him to be.
I felt my heart race with excitement after he flexed a bicep and slowly sank into the water as the wave brought him in.
“That, sweetheart,” Jake said, “is the sign of a man in love.”
I nudged Jake. “Oh, please. He doesn’t even know me.”
“Men are different. We’re not emotional creatures like you lovely ladies. We’re black and white.” He paused, then smiled. “I just hope you like him, because I don’t think that motherfucker is going anywhere.”
“Get your head out of the fantasy clouds.”
“What are you kids planning tonight?” Jake asked, turning to watch Titus and Collin swim back out for another wave.
“I’m just going home,” I said honestly.
“Going home? What are you, thirteen?” he laughed.
“We haven’t planned anything for tonight,” I chuckled.
“Why don’t you both come over to our beach house tonight? Ash and I are having everyone over.”
“I’m honestly dressed in this one-piece bathing suit and beach pants. I’d have to go home to Newport first.”
“So, have Point Break send his chopper for you and bring you up to the beach house after you freshen up,” Jake smiled. “A romantic chopper ride and an evening with all of us clowns will jump-start you two in the right direction.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun,” I glanced back out at the water. “Who knows? If he keeps surfing like that, he might get lucky tonight.”
“Ah,” Jake smiled at me. “Young love and destiny working for the greater good.”
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d lived so spontaneously. It felt like a breath of fresh air, and it wasn’t just because Titus was sexy as hell. I was actually starting to like the man—the softer side of him, hidden beneath the hard exterior I’d only known until now.