Chapter 18 #2
I grinned. “I had this vision of Lacey changing her mind at the last minute, and there I’d be, stuck wearing some hideous taffeta monstrosity. Fortunately, we’re all still on track.”
Eli’s smile was warm. “You’re a good friend, Jules.”
I shrugged, feeling oddly vulnerable. “She’s been there for me. I’m happy to be her maid of honor.”
Talking about Lacey brought her brother to mind. “Any idea what Chase is cooking up for this meeting next week?”
Eli’s playful expression sobered slightly. “Your guess is as good as mine. But knowing him, it’ll be thorough.”
I nodded, my accountant brain kicking in. “We’ll need to be smart about balancing the renovations with our budget constraints. Prioritize areas that’ll give us the biggest ROI.”
“Look at you, all business. You’re right, though. We can’t go overboard.”
I chewed my lip, thinking. “The dive shop could use an upgrade. Hell, so many things do.”
“Yeah. There’s the rub.”
“Who else is coming?” I asked, curious about the family dynamics at play.
Eli ticked off names on his fingers. “Me, you, Chase, Harper, Ben, Braden. I invited Brenna and Austin, but they couldn’t make it.”
I nodded, noting the absences. “What about Helen?”
Eli’s expression turned sheepish. “Ah, about that…” He ran a hand through his hair, mussing it further. “I may have deliberately left her off the invite list this time.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Bold move, Coleridge. Any particular reason?”
He sighed. “She wants to step back from the day-to-day. But you know Mom—she’s having a hard time actually doing it.”
I knew Helen well and understood she had mixed feelings about updating the resort. “And is that the only reason?”
Eli shook his head. “Chase is working hard on this, and I don’t want him cut off at the knees before he’s even started. This is just a preliminary meeting. We won’t make any decisions without her full input.”
Which brought back that she would likely not be pleased about Eli and me seeing each other. I certainly felt guilty about that. So was I agreeing to keep our relationship secret so we could delay the inevitable? Or as an excuse to avoid getting close?
Except I am getting close.
I couldn’t deny that. We’d been together nearly a month now and I still couldn’t get over how two people with such different personalities and outlooks could mesh so well.
Eli picked at a loose thread on the blanket, suddenly fascinated by the worn fabric. The silence stretched between us, broken only by the gentle lapping of waves against the shore. “I almost called you the other night, but I chickened out.”
I cocked my head, trying to hide how shocked I was at his admission. He was so confident! “Why?”
A flush crept up Eli’s neck, but he recovered quickly, flashing me that trademark grin. “What can I say? I’m a coward when it comes to beautiful women who can eviscerate me with spreadsheets. Or rejection.”
My heart did a little flip at the beautiful comment, but I pushed the feeling aside and smiled back. “I’d say we’ve moved past the rejection part.”
“Ah, but how am I supposed to know that?” he replied with an arched brow. Then he placed a hand against his chest. “Can you imagine? Me, the charming beach bum, completely crushed by your indifference?”
“You are nothing if not melodramatic,” I teased, matching his tone, though my heart fluttered at what he’d said. His admission lingered in the air, pulling at something deep within me. Did he care more than I thought?
“Hey, I’m serious,” he continued, the casual bravado slipping just a notch. “It takes guts to reach out when you’re not sure how the other person feels.”
I reached out and stroked his hand, absurdly touched. “Well, for future reference, I would have answered. I would have been happy you called.”
Eli’s smile softened, and for a moment, vulnerability flashed in those dark-blue eyes. “Noted.”
The air between us shifted. “Jules,” he murmured, his voice husky. “I…”
My heart raced. “Yes?”
Instead of answering, Eli leaned in, his lips meeting mine.
His were warm and soft against mine, tasting of salt and sunshine.
His hand came up to cradle my face, his calloused thumb brushing lightly across my cheekbone.
I leaned into him, my fingers tracing the strong line of his jaw before sliding down to his broad shoulder.
His muscles were solid beneath his sun-warmed skin, a reminder of the strength that lay beneath his easygoing exterior.
Eli deepened the kiss, his tongue teasing at the seam of my lips.
I parted them willingly, a soft moan escaping as our tongues met.
My fingers gripped his still damp hair. He slid his hand down to my waist, pulling me closer.
I shifted to straddle his lap without breaking the kiss.
His fingers dipped beneath the hem of my rash guard, tracing patterns on the sensitive skin of my lower back.
“God, woman,” he breathed against my neck as his lips blazed a trail down to my collarbone. “What you do to me.”
The next kiss was hungrier, more urgent. His hands gripped my hair, freeing it from its bun. I ran my palms over his skin, marveling at how good this felt.
How right.
We tumbled back onto the sand in a tangle of limbs and desire. The rhythmic crash of waves echoed the pounding of my heart. Our clothes fell away, and then it was just us—skin on skin, breath mingling with breath. Eli moved above me, inside me, and I lost myself in him.
When it was over, we lay side by side, panting. I stared up at the cloudless sky inching toward sunset, my mind blissfully, wonderfully blank. I nestled into the crook of Eli’s arm, safe and secure. A profound sense of peace settled over me, so unfamiliar it was almost unsettling.
“I can hear you thinking,” Eli murmured, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my shoulder.
I snorted softly as I snuggled closer. “That’s rich, coming from you.”
“Hey, I think!” He feigned offense. “Sometimes. When absolutely necessary.”
I propped myself up on an elbow, studying his face. The sun caught the gold flecks in his eyes, making them glint with humor and something… deeper. My stomach did a little flip. “What are you thinking about?”
Eli’s eyes dropped momentarily. “How… relaxed I feel with you. It’s kinda freaking me out, actually.”
I laughed, but it came out shaky. “Join the club.”
His arm tightened around me, and I let myself melt back into his embrace.
But as the initial euphoria faded, doubts began to creep in.
This was Eli Coleridge—charming, flirtatious Eli who had probably left a string of beach flings in his wake.
And me? I was the uptight accountant who color-coded her planner.
“This doesn’t have to mean anything,” I blurted out, immediately regretting the words.
Eli stiffened slightly. “Is that what you want?”
I bit my lip, warring with myself. “I-I don’t know. You don’t want a relationship.”
He laughed, but there was an edge to it. “And you’re the poster child for emotional availability?”
“Touché,” I admitted, tracing a pattern on the blanket. “I just… I don’t want to get hurt. I can’t go through that again.”
Eli’s hand found mine, intertwining our fingers. “Jules, I may be a lot of things, but I’m not cruel. I wouldn’t toy with you. Or screw around on you.”
I looked up, meeting his gaze. The sincerity there made my heart stutter. “So what are we doing here?”
He smiled, that roguish expression that made my skin feel hot. “Living in the moment? Enjoying each other’s company? Maybe… seeing where this goes?”
I wanted to believe him. Part of me—a growing part—wanted this to be more than a fleeting island romance. But the voice of caution, honed by past heartbreak, wouldn’t be silenced so easily.
“And if it goes nowhere?” I asked, hating how small my voice sounded.
Eli cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing away sand. “Then we’ll still have had this perfect afternoon. But I’m starting to get a feeling it might go somewhere pretty amazing.”