Nikki rolled over and looked at the clock for about the hundredth time that night. It was nearly four and she hadn't slept a single minute. Every time she closed her eyes the image of a blond, blue eyed man filled her mind.

"Ugh! This is ridiculous." She threw back the covers and got out of bed. It was going to be a long day but since she wasn't sleeping, she might as well get a little something done. A run on the beach might help her mind get settled some.

Twenty minutes later, she parked her car in one of the city lots near the fishing pier and made her way to the boardwalk. The sun was just barely making an appearance over the horizon, splashing reds and oranges over the calm ocean waters. A few other runners were out but the tourist area, usually so full of life, was eerily quiet. Feeling for the knife she had tucked in the pocket of her running shorts, Nikki took off down the boardwalk.

The fresh ocean breeze felt good against her skin as she worked up a good sweat. For not having slept all night, she was wide awake and making great time. At the end of the boardwalk she turned and headed back toward the pier. The beach remained empty as the work day crept in. Nikki took advantage of the emptiness and jogged down onto the sand. Stopping first to kick off her running shoes and pull off her socks, she continued on to the wet, packed sand where the tide was slowly coming in. As water swirled in around her feet, Nikki closed her eyes and once again the image of the handsome man she had seen the day before filled her mind.

You so need to get laid.

She really did. Groaning, Nikki turned to jog back to the boardwalk and ran right into a man's arms. Her running shoes flew from her hands as the two of them tumbled to the sand in a tangle of limbs.

"I'm so sorry. I—" Holy crap.

"Are you okay?" Two of the bluest eyes she had ever seen looked up at her, concern darkening their depths.

"Yes. I—I—um—" Of all the people in Virginia Beach, she had to trip and fall into the one man who had kept her awake the entire night. What were the actual chances of that happening?

A wave came up, surrounding them in foamy salt water as Nikki wished it would just carry her out to sea. "I'm really sorry, I didn't realize anyone else was out here."

He laughed. "It's okay. Really. Do you mind if we get up now?"

"Oh. Geez. I'm sorry. You must be all wet. I know I am." Why did I say that? She scrambled to her feet wishing for death to save her from the embarrassment. "I'm really sorry."

The man jumped to his feet brushing sand out of his hair and off of his ocean soaked jeans. He was wearing exactly the same thing she had seen him in out at the old farm.

"I suppose brushing off the sand is an exercise in futility."

"Yeah, uh—about that. I don't usually lose control of my surroundings that way. I couldn't sleep, so I came down here to take a run. I was watching the sunrise." Stop rambling!

The man chuckled and extended his hand. "Name's Keegan James. It is a lovely sunrise and I don't make a habit of complaining when a beautiful woman tackles me to the ground."

She felt the heat in her cheeks as she accepted his outstretched hand. "Nikki Swenson." The contact between them was brief yet electrifying. Nikki yanked her hand out of his as the electricity surged between them.

"So, you couldn't sleep either?" The very sound of his voice made her skin tingle.

"No. I uh— had a lot on my mind." She wanted to scream You! You were on my mind.

"Yeah, me too." He took her elbow and offered support as they trudged across the sand.

"The beach is peaceful this time of day, isn't it?"

"It is. Lately, I've spent a lot of all-nighters walking the boardwalk."

"I've been known to take a late night stroll myself. It sort of puts things into perspective doesn't it?" They had reached the steps up to the boardwalk. Nikki dropped down to sit on the top step and put her running shoes back on.

"It does, at times." Keegan looked out over the water. The sun had risen and was already warming the air. He looked like a man with a lot on his shoulders and no one to talk to. She knew from the previous day his mother probably wasn't the listening type.

Ugh! Why did he have to be involved in her case? Fate was a bit of bitch. I bet she was having a good long laugh right now.

You don't know that he has anything to do with that.

True. But she also didn’t know for sure that he didn't. She finished tying her shoes and rose to her feet. What she wanted to do was give the guy her number and tell him to meet her for dinner. What she actually did was extend her hand. Keegan accepted, taking it in both of his.

"It was a real pleasure meeting you, Nikki."

"Likewise, Mr. James."

"Keegan, please. Mr. James was my father."

"Okay. Keegan. I've got to get home and get ready for work now. I'm really sorry for knocking you into the sand."

"I'm sure I will recover perfectly once I get out of these wet clothes."

Need some help with that? That's what she wanted to say. Instead she said, "Maybe I will run into you again sometime. Not quite so literally though, next time."

Keegan laughed and the laughter reached his crystal blue eyes. "I don't know. I don't think I'd mind."

Nikki waved and jogged away before she totally forgot that he might be involved in her case and threw him back on the sand to have her way with him.

I really, really need to get laid.