Chapter 15
An hour later Darcy dashed out the front door and down the steps to where Carter stood in the driveway. He was already talking
with Derek and Haven next to Haven’s Honda CR-V.
Carter turned and grinned as she joined them. “There’s the woman who woke me up this morning.”
“She woke me up too.” Haven laughed.
“And this one,” Derek began, wrapping his arm around Haven’s waist, “woke me up.”
“I’m so sorry.” Heat bloomed in Darcy’s cheeks as she set her backpack and rolling suitcase down beside the CR-V.
Carter grinned at her. “You can wake me up early anytime, especially if you’re inviting me to go to the beach with you.”
Haven and Derek agreed.
Darcy met Haven’s bright smile. “Are we ready to go?” she asked.
Carter pointed to his Suburban. “Wanna take my truck?”
“That reminds me,” Darcy said. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something. Why do you always call your SUV a truck?”
“Well, it’s a truck to me. It hauls all my stuff, but nothing gets wet in the back. Plus it will tow a trailer.” Then his
crooked grin appeared. “And, you know, big vehicles are more manly, so that’s why they need to be called trucks.”
Darcy laughed. “If you say so.” She shrugged and handed him her key fob. “How about we take my car instead of your truck to save on gas? You can drive.”
“Sure.” Carter shrugged. “You know my Chevy is a gas hog.”
“We’ll drive Haven’s car in case we decide to head home early,” Derek said.
“All right,” Haven exclaimed. “Let’s go to the beach!”
Carter popped the trunk with the key fob, and he and Darcy set their bags in before he pushed it closed. They climbed in the
car, and Carter adjusted the seat for more legroom.
“Do you know how to drive this thing?” Darcy teased as he hit the start button. “Or do you only know how to drive manly vehicles?”
She couldn’t stop her grin.
Carter’s light-brown eyebrows rose as he met her gaze. “Boy, you wake me up early and then you pick on me, huh?” She spotted
a flicker of humor in his eyes. “You’re awfully full of yourself today.”
She laughed and turned on the radio as he backed out of the driveway. “How about a country station?”
“Whatever you want to listen to is fine with me.”
Darcy found a country satellite station and turned the volume up before settling back in the seat and taking in his handsome
profile. “What exciting plans did I keep you from this weekend?”
“Hmm. Let’s see.” He tapped the stubble on his chin. “Sleeping in, doing some laundry, seeing if you wanted to hang out again,
and sleeping in some more.” He gave her a quick glance. “No matter what, I hoped to see you again.” He held his hand out to
her, and she took it. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“I’m just grateful you could fit me in your schedule.”
He laughed, and the sound warmed up her insides. This weekend at the beach would be one to remember.
***
Nearly four hours later, a gasp escaped Carter’s mouth as he nosed Darcy’s Lexus into the driveway of a sprawling light-pink beachfront home. He blinked as he took in the two stories sitting on stilts. With its large windows and white shutters, the house was at least twice as big as Shauna’s, he guessed, if not more so. He couldn’t imagine how much a home like that cost, and he couldn’t fathom ever being able to afford something so impressive.
“Endless Summer,” he finally said, reading the sign on the side of the home. “What a great name for a beach house.”
Darcy pushed the door open. “My mom loves it here. Well, they both do, and they couldn’t wait to retire and have their endless
summer. Come on inside.”
Carter opened the trunk and slung her backpack and his duffel bag over his shoulders before lifting her small suitcase.
“I can take that,” she insisted.
He shook his head. “You just lead the way.”
Derek and Haven parked beside the Lexus, then climbed out of her CR-V. They gathered up their own luggage and met Carter and
Darcy at the stairs to the front entrance.
The sky above them was clear, the sun was bright, and the air was humid. Seagulls flew by while calling to each other, and
the sound of the waves pounding the shoreline echoed around Carter.
“You’re not going to believe this place,” Derek said as he and Carter started up the stairs behind the women.
Carter shook his head. “I’m already overwhelmed.”
“Just wait until you see the inside, man.” Derek grinned. “It’s enormous.”
Carter’s posture sagged. What if he didn’t fit in? He still remembered the feeling of not being at home in Gabby’s world.
“Come on!” Darcy stood by the open door and bounced on the heels of her sandals.
Derek and Carter stepped into the foyer, and Carter’s mouth dropped open as he took in a large family room that stretched all the way to a wall of sliding glass doors leading to a deck. The room had white walls and was decorated with light-blue accents. One wall featured a mural of a beach at sunset, complete with dunes, beach grass, and the sunset reflected on the rolling waves. A light-blue sectional sofa sat in the middle of the room alongside two matching recliners, all facing a huge flat-screen television attached to the far wall.
He walked over to a credenza sprinkled with family photos. Most included Darcy on the beach as a little girl, posing with
her parents at different ages.
Darcy placed her hand on his bicep. “Leave the luggage here. I want to show you the deck.”
He set the bags and her suitcase down, and she took his hand and yanked him out onto the sweeping deck. The two-story deck
stretched out over the dunes toward a set of stairs leading down to the beach, where knots of people were out enjoying the
perfect afternoon.
A group of young people played volleyball, while others bobbed in the water. Some lounged in chairs or on towels in the sand,
and others walked along the shoreline. He spotted sailboats boasting colorful sails moving in the distance, along with a few
Jet Skis. The light breeze brought with it the scent of salt air mixed with cocoa butter.
Darcy steered Carter to the far end of the deck, where her parents sat at a table drinking glasses of lemonade.
Her mother popped up from her chair and hurried over to meet them. “You made it!” She pulled Darcy in for a hug.
“Mom,” Darcy began, “this is Carter.”
Carter shook her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs.—oh, um— Dr. Larsen.”
“Call me Josie.” She gave him a once-over and then smiled at Darcy before turning her attention back to him. “We’ve heard
so much about you.”
Darcy frowned and rubbed her forehead. “Mom.”
He laughed. He didn’t think she could be any more charming than she already was. “Likewise. Thank you for inviting me. Your
house is phenomenal.”
“Thank you,” Josie said.
Ross shook his hand next. “Welcome, Carter.” Then he looked past Carter to Derek and Haven. “We’re so happy to have you all
here this weekend.”
“Have you eaten lunch?” Josie asked. “We have plenty of lunch meat and rolls.”
“Thanks, but we stopped to get something on the way,” Darcy said.
“Well, you all get settled and then come back out here. Carter, Darcy will show you to your room.” Josie waved them off. “Haven
and Derek, you already know your way around. Make yourselves comfortable.”
“Let me give you a tour.” Darcy escorted them back into the house. “The kitchen is over there,” she said, pointing to her
left. “Beyond it is a utility room, laundry room, and my parents’ suite.” She pointed to her right. “The other bedrooms and
the stairs are over this way. You and Derek can stay in the rooms upstairs, and Haven and I will be down here.”
Carter picked up his luggage. “Lead the way.”
They walked through the tremendous family room to the hallway, where Darcy pointed out two bathrooms and two bedrooms. Then
they climbed a set of stairs, and Darcy motioned to the doorways. “There are two bedrooms up here with a bathroom between
them.”
Carter entered the first bedroom while Derek and Haven headed into the second one. After dropping his bag on the queen-size bed, he took in the room, silently noting that it was at least twice the size of his room at Shauna’s house. It was decorated in a nautical theme with a life preserver and a painting of sailboats hanging on the wall, blue-and-white sheets and blankets, a shelf housing miniature boats, and a mirror decorated with anchors. The blue walls were adorned with a border peppered with starfish.
Carter pushed open the sliding glass door in his room and stepped out onto the deck. He leaned on the railing and looked down
on the beach and the magnificent Atlantic Ocean. He drew in a deep breath and blew it out. He felt as if he were living a
dream.
He didn’t belong here. If Darcy and her parents knew his situation, surely they’d agree.
Darcy appeared beside him. “Mom said this view is what sold her on the house.” She made a sweeping gesture. “She said she
knew that with the house at this angle, she could see the sunrise and get an impressive glimpse of the sun setting in the west.”
She turned and pointed behind her. “From here we can also see the bay side of Coral Cove. If we turn toward the bay, we can
see the entire sunset stretched across the sky.”
He studied Darcy’s beautiful profile, taking in her high cheekbones, her gorgeous lips, and those green eyes. His palms itched
with the desire to kiss her. He touched her shoulder. “This is really nice, Darcy. I’m so glad you invited me.”
“I’m grateful you’re still talking to me after I woke you up at eight thirty this morning.”
He looped his arm around her waist and towed her to him. “I meant it when I said you could wake me up at any time.”
The waves lapped against the shore as their gazes met. She rested her hands on his shoulders. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as
her expression became serious.
His blood heated as he moved his hand over her cheek, and he thought he heard her breath hitch. The urge to kiss her nearly overcame him. “Darcy,” he began, his voice sounding rough, “I wanted to—”
“Carter!” Derek bellowed from inside the house. “Are we hitting the beach or what?”
Darcy spun out of his arms and started toward the door. “That’s a really good idea.”
Carter bit back a groan. He should have just told her how he felt about her and kissed her, but the moment had been stolen
by Derek— again !
He was determined to gather up his courage this weekend to tell her what she meant to him—and if she felt the same way, he
would kiss her. But he had to find that perfect moment.
Darcy stood in the doorway and beckoned him. “Come on, Carter. We shouldn’t waste this perfect beach day.”
He joined her in the bedroom and unzipped his duffel. “You’re right. I’ll change into my suit.”
“See you downstairs,” she sang before disappearing through the door and closing it behind her.
He dug out his suit and a t-shirt, then hid his daily pill holders in a dresser drawer. He planned to keep the medications
tucked away so he wouldn’t have to explain why he took so many.
He changed into black swim trunks and a white t-shirt sporting a Chevrolet logo. As he jogged down the stairs, Darcy’s and
Haven’s voices floated toward him from the kitchen.
He took in the pine cabinets, white-and-gray granite, matching white-and-gray backsplash, and stainless-steel appliances.
A long oak table surrounded by six chairs sat in a nook, and through the sliding glass door, he spotted Darcy’s parents still
sitting on the deck.
Darcy and Haven were at the large island in the center of the room, filling a cooler. He couldn’t keep his eyes off Darcy, clad in a modest, vintage-style black two-piece bathing suit under a sheer floral cover-up. Her blonde hair was styled in a long French braid that fell to the middle of her back. She turned toward him and smiled.
“Give me something to do,” he said.
Haven pointed toward the doorway. “You could go tell my boyfriend to get moving. He was in such a hurry to go swimming, but
now we’re waiting on him.” She wore a large sun hat that matched the pink lacy cover-up hanging loosely over her pink bikini.
Carter jammed his thumb toward the doorway. “I’ll light a fire under him.”
“Hey, no need for that,” Derek announced before walking into the room in gray swim trunks and a tank top. He rubbed his hands
together. “Are we ready?”
Darcy closed the top of the cooler. “Let me just grab some towels and a blanket.”
“Is the umbrella still in the utility room?” Haven asked.
“Yup.”
Derek crossed the kitchen. “I remember where it is.”
While Darcy collected a blanket and towels, Derek grabbed the umbrella, and Carter carried the cooler as they stepped out
onto the deck.
“Enjoy your time at the beach,” Josie said.
Ross pointed to the large grill near the table. “I’ll grill up some steaks for us later.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Darcy said, and everyone chimed in their own thanks. Then they started down the length of deck that stretched
out over the dunes.
“Is this your parents’ beach, or is it public?” Carter asked.
“It’s a public beach,” she told Carter. “They only own the lot where the house sits.”
Carter, Haven, and Derek followed her down the steps to the sand. Carter enjoyed the feel of the warm sand between his toes as they strolled out toward the crashing waves. They passed groups of people lounging on chairs and soaking up the hot afternoon sun. Two small boys built sandcastles, while a couple of older children flew kites shaped like dragons in the sky.
Darcy stopped near the water. “How’s this spot?”
“This works.” Haven took the blanket from her and began to spread it out. Then she pointed to Derek. “Don’t just stand there.
Put up the umbrella.”
Derek eyed her with feigned annoyance. “So bossy.”
Carter put the cooler down and helped Derek set up the umbrella. When he turned toward Darcy, he did a double take when he
realized she had already removed her cover-up. She rubbed sunscreen over her legs, arms, chest, and abdomen. His mouth dried
as his eyes raked over her curves.
She pulled her braid over one shoulder and held up the bottle of sunscreen. “Havey, could you put some lotion on my back?”
Her best friend glanced over at Darcy and Carter before shaking her head and pulling a tube of lotion out of her bag. “Sorry,
but I need to put lotion on myself. Why don’t you ask Carter?”
Darcy hesitated and gave Carter a sheepish look. “Would you help me?”
“Uh, yeah. Sure.”
She turned around, and he poured a copious amount of sunblock onto his hand. Then he moved his hand over her back, rubbing
it in and enjoying the feel of her soft skin. He took his time, doing his best to prolong it. When he finished, he handed
her the bottle.
“Thanks,” she said before pointing the bottle at him. “Would you like me to rub it on your back too?”
He nodded a yes, then reached behind his neck, pulled off his shirt, and dropped it onto the blanket. When he turned around, he was surprised to find her staring at him. He peered down and hoped she wouldn’t notice the dimpled scar beside his belly button. He would bear that scar for the rest of his life due to the tube he’d endured during his year spent on peritoneal dialysis. Thankfully, his swim trunks covered the larger scar farther down on his abdomen from his transplant.
When she continued to study him, he swallowed. “Is something wrong?”
“No, of course not.” Darcy moved to stand behind him and began rubbing the lotion onto his back. He glanced over at Haven
and found her grinning at Darcy. As Darcy’s hands moved over his skin, his mouth turned to cotton and his body came to life.
Passion rippled through him—down each limb, all the way to his fingers and toes.
Darcy slathered more lotion on his shoulders and down his biceps before handing him the bottle. “You might want to put some
on your chest and legs before we swim.”
“Good idea.” He quickly finished applying the lotion, and when he peeked over at Darcy, she was staring out at the ocean.
Had she liked what she’d seen? He felt like a teenager again, all awkward limbs and body, hoping the pretty girl at the pool
thought he was cute. Carter thought hard and couldn’t remember the last time he was in a swimsuit like this out in the open.
Not since his surgery. It felt good—scary, but good.
Haven took Derek’s arm and towed him in the direction of the water. “Let’s swim!”
“Are you ready?” Carter asked Darcy.
She ran past him. “Race you!”
They bolted into the water, both of them hooting as they rushed out past where the waves crashed.
Darcy splashed him and laughed as he splashed her back. She dove under the water and then popped back up beside him. Happiness overtook him as he smiled at her.
She floated on her back, and when he yanked her leg, they crashed into each other. Laughing, she grabbed him, and they held
on to each other longer than they needed to, hugging in the water. Carter stared into her eyes, and his pulse rocketed.
As they bobbed in the water together, he looked out toward her parents’ enormous beach house. His spirit languished at the
sight of it. He could never give Darcy the kind of life her family had given her—but he also couldn’t deny that he was falling
in love.