Beth

They only lasted in the water for probably two minutes but it had been worth it. Beth was always of the belief that screaming and laughing were good for one’s soul, and she didn’t do it nearly enough. She was still giggling when Parker dragged her out of the water.

“Okay, the next time I have a ridiculous idea please talk me out of it,” Beth begged pulling her wet hair back into a ponytail.

“No way, that was awesome. I’m gonna sign you up for the polar bear plunge.”

“Um, no thanks. One freezing swim was enough.”

Parker laughed. “Still, I’m impressed. I didn’t know you had it in ya.”

Beth smirked at him. “It’s good to know I can still surprise you.”

Parker’s blue eyes twinkled as he shook his head. “Only a fool would ever dare to think they had you all figured out.”

Beth’s heart skipped a beat and she felt herself warm despite the goose bumps dotting her skin. She loved when Parker said things like that. Sometimes he reminded her of an old Hollywood movie star. He certainly had the good looks for it. He could’ve been a young Gene Kelly or Carey Grant. Beth had never met someone who spoke like Parker did—not in real life anyway. It made her want to hold onto him even harder.

She stiffened as Parker unceremoniously stuffed his t-shirt over Beth’s head and let it fall over her slim frame. He didn’t even give her a chance to put her arms through the sleeves before he pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. Being so close to him made her heart pound, but she tried to play it off. “You’re choking me,” she teased, her face mashed against his chest.

“Judging by the size of your goose bumps, I think you should choose choking over freezing to death,” he joked. But then he released her and gave her ponytail a tug. “Better?” he asked, rubbing warmth back into her arms.

“Yes, but what about you?”

“I’ll survive,” he said. “Let’s walk awhile. We’ll dry off faster that way.”

“Or we could go buy towels and sweatshirts that say Tybee Island at the touristy beach shops.”

Parker narrowed his eyes. “What happened to the adventurous girl that just dove into the ocean?”

“She’s freezing!”

He laughed and put his arm around Beth’s shoulder bleeding warmth into her. She closed her eyes and leaned in, sighing in delight at being so close to Parker. Suddenly, Beth found herself wondering if it felt that good when Jared put his arm around her. It worried her slightly that she couldn’t recall.

They walked back down the beach in the opposite direction of the car and Beth decided she didn’t mind at all—not if she was cold or late getting Brenna’s stupid wedding favors finished. She wanted to savor this moment on the beach with Parker. Tybee Island had always been theirs. It only felt right that they would get to have one more perfect day together there.

* * *

Parker was right. Between the sun and the ocean breeze, they dried off quickly on their walk. After a while they decided to sit down in the sand and soak up some sun. Beth lounged, resting on her elbows and tilting her head back for maximum exposure. It felt deliciously indulgent to relax under the hazy blue sky. The warmth of the sun made Beth’s bones feel drowsy. She could’ve easily laid down and taken a nap right there. But too soon a shadow disrupted Beth’s bliss.

She opened her eyes, startled to see an old woman grinning down at her and Parker.

“Hello,” the woman greeted with a warm smile.

Always the gentleman, Parker stood, brushing the sand off his palms to shake the woman’s hand. “Hello, ma’am.”

Beth climbed to her feet too.

“Oh don’t let me disturb you,” the woman said. “I just can never resist saying hello to honeymooners.”

Beth blanched. “Oh we’re—”

“Pleased to meet you,” Parker interrupted.

The woman grinned. “My late husband and I honeymooned here, ya know?”

“Really?” Parker asked.

“Oh yes. We loved it so much we moved here,” she said with a wistful look in her pale eyes. “Spent fifty great years together on this island before he passed.”

Parker took the woman’s hand in his. “I bet you have lovely memories here.”

She smiled wide. “I certainly do.” Patting Parker’s hand she said, “Well, I won’t take up anymore of your time. I just wanted to say you make a beautiful couple and wish you many blessings.” She leaned in and whispered to Parker, “I can always spot the ones who are truly in love.” With that she gave them a wink and strolled off down the beach.

Beth plunked back down in the sand, her heart pounding with overwhelming emotion. Parker settled beside her and she slipped her hand into his. “That was really sweet of you, but you didn’t have to pretend to be my husband.”

Parker shrugged. “I’m here as your date, aren’t I?”

“Date, not husband,” Beth corrected.

“Semantics.”

Beth laughed. “Well, for what it’s worth, I like this husband-date version of you.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. He’s nice and caring. Everything my real boyfriend is supposed to be.”

Parker frowned. “How are things with Jared?”

“I don’t know. I mean I thought I’d miss him like crazy because I was looking forward to Aspen for so long. But I don’t. I’m here with you and . . .” She paused, unsure if she should say what she really felt.

“And what?”

“And everything feels like it’s supposed to,” she whispered. “Is that weird?

Parker faced her, his blue eyes boring into hers. “I don’t think so.”

The way he was looking at her made her nervous. She fidgeted, raking her fingers through the sand. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m the problem. I don’t think this is how I should feel. He’s been acting so strange lately and, I don’t know, we should miss each other, shouldn’t we?”

Parker continued to stare at her and it made her chest ache.

Beth looked down at the sand, chewing her lip. “He hasn’t even called me once,” she said in a small voice.

Parker took her hands in his. “Beth, you’re not the problem.”

She met his gaze. “Then what is?”

Parker didn’t say anything and something began to unravel in Beth’s chest.

A hot tear rolled down her cheek. “He’s cheating on me, isn’t he?”

“He’s an idiot, Beth. He’s a God damned idiot if he doesn’t know how lucky he is. If you were mine . . . I would never . . . Beth if you were my girlfriend. . . ” Parker’s expression was pure anguish as he scrubbed a hand over his face in frustration.

But she had to know. “What?” she whispered. “What would you do if I was your girlfriend?”

Park dropped his hands and a flood of words came pouring out. “If you were mine I would spend every day making sure you knew just how much I love you. You would never doubt it for a second, Beth. You would know how madly in love with you I am. You would know you’re the most important person in the world to me. I would tell you how perfect and beautiful you are. I would protect you and never hurt you. I would never let you go, Beth. If you were mine—”

But she didn’t hear the rest because her lips found his and Parker didn’t hesitate. His fingers slipped into her hair, holding her in place as his lips tasted hers. Their kiss was salty and sweet, and it swept Beth away. She’d imagined what it would be like to kiss Parker a million times, but never had it been like this—so sure and natural and spectacular. It was so much better than she ever could have hoped.

Parker was gentle but passionate, as though he too was unleashing years of longing in that one endless kiss. The wind picked up and sand bit at them, but Parker only pulled Beth closer, sheltering her with his body. They were both on their knees now, their bodies pressed together as their kiss deepened. Beth’s hand rested over Parker’s hammering heart, the other caressed his jaw as he kissed her like it was the only way to draw breath.

It wasn’t until thick drops of rain started splattering them that Beth pulled away from Parker. They looked up as thunder rumbled in the distance. The heavy gray rain clouds had blown onshore, and the way they flashed and crackled gave Beth a prickly feeling in her gut. She wasn’t someone who believed in signs, but this was hard to ignore. She’d finally kissed Parker and the heavens themselves seemed angered.

“Come on.” Parker pulled her to her feet and they took off running toward the car.

Parker

Parker clung to Beth’s hand as they bolted down the beach. But the sky opened up, pouring down stinging rain. He could hardly see even as he tented a hand over his eyes. Thunder roared and Beth shrieked. Parker could smell the lightning in the air. He needed to get Beth somewhere safe. He gave up their mad dash to the car and changed direction, pulling Beth toward the nearest lifeguard tower.

Parker didn’t stop until they were up the ramp to safety. The door was locked but they were sheltered enough under the narrow awning. Beth shivered and Parker instinctively put his arm around her, but she flinched. She actually flinched away from him.

His heart was slamming in his chest, and it wasn’t from the dash on the beach. What the hell had he done? He’d kissed Beth. And she’d kissed him back. She’d more than kissed him back. And for a few seconds the world was perfect. But now Beth was flinching away from his touch and she was looking at him with a sadness he’d never seen before.

“Beth . . .”

“Don’t,” she warned. “Don’t say anything.”

“I think maybe we need to talk about what just happened.”

“No! If we talk about it then it makes it real.”

Parker gawked at her. “It is real, Beth. We kissed.”

“No! I have a boyfriend. And you’re my—”

“Do not say friend,” he begged.

Again she stunned him with the sorrow in her eyes. Had he really ruined everything for one kiss?

You’d do it all over again, his subconscious chided.

Parker rubbed the back of his neck. “Beth, I’m sorry but I can’t pretend it didn’t happen. It meant something to me.” Tears began mixed with rain on her face and Parker gently wiped them away. “I think it meant something to you, too.”

“I know,” she whimpered. “But I can’t. I just can’t, Parker!”

“Beth . . .”

“No!” she said pulling away.

A strange voice echoed into their space. “Is everything alright?”

Parker looked down the ramp into the beam of a flashlight. A lifeguard stood halfway up the ramp staring between Parker and Beth.

“We’re good,” Parker replied.

“I wasn’t asking you,” the lifeguard replied sternly.

“We’re fine,” Beth said. “We just got caught in the rain.”

The lifeguard lowered his flashlight. “This storm’s not letting up anytime soon. I can give you a lift into town.”

Beth quickly skirted past Parker to follow the lifeguard down the ramp and into his waiting truck. And just like that Parker’s world slipped through his fingers faster than a grain of sand.