Page 24 of Picking Pismo

Whoosh. The mention of their dreaded timeline brought him back to reality and a list of tally marks in his mind of why things might not work between them. If he was smart and guarded his heart, tonight needed to be their first and last date. But then David glanced at Claire completely at ease and adorable, with her fingers all goopy, chowing down on corn on the cob, and his reasonable self withered away.

“I don’t care.” David picked up a mussel, prying open the shell. His voice became stronger as he pulled back his shoulders. “I’d rather spend the next two months with you, even if that’s all I get, I’ll take it. Because I like you Claire. I love the conversations we have together, and I look forward to learning more about you.”

Claire grinned. “Okay then, it’s settled.” She swept her hair over her shoulder making the silky strands glisten from the sunlight cascading through the window. His chest pinched tight. Shifting forward, Claire continued, “Now, tell me why you wanted to become an orthodontist, because the thought of sticking my fingers into someone else’s mouth makes me want to gag.”

David chuckled. “Good question. Luckily it doesn’t bother me one bit.” He cracked another crab leg with the metal tool. “When I was a child, I listened to a guy speak at career day at my school about being a dentist. He worked with Operation Smile, and I knew right then that’s what I wanted to do.” He took a sip of his water then leaned closer to Claire. “I wanted to help people. Orthodontics came about in dental school. I applied and received one of the few coveted orthodontics residencies.”

“Have you ever done anything with Operation Smile?” asked Claire.

Nodding, David replied, “Every chance I can. It’s very rewarding.” He lightly touched her on the forearm. “But believe it or not, seeing the transformation of people’s smiles after braces is rewarding too. Especially in the teenagers, when they get those braces off and look at their perfect smile for the first time.” He blissfully sighed. “It’s incredible. I could live off that forever.” He removed his hand.

“I’m glad you found something you loved.” Claire shifted her body toward him, only inches apart.

They ate some more, nearly touching, but not quite. It drove him batty.

Then glancing around the table, Claire patted her stomach. “I’m stuffed. I don’t think I can eat one more thing.”

“Me too.” David looked around the restaurant and motioned to the server.

They chatted until the server returned with their check. He couldn’t remember an evening he enjoyed more. The loneliness of the past three years was whittling away. Claire was reminding him of what it was like to have someone you looked forward to seeing.

After paying, they left the Cracked Crab. The last rays of sunlight stretched across the sky. Sunset was minutes from completion. “Do you want to walk to the end of the pier?” asked David.

He didn’t want the evening to end. A taste of Claire wasn’t enough, he craved to be around her longer.

Claire glanced at her watch. “Sure. I need to be home in an hour. I don’t want Alexis to beat me home.”

“I’ll get you home on time,” stated David. “I promise.”

Hiking up her purse on her shoulder, Claire nodded, turning toward the pier. David reached out, interlacing his fingers with hers. She didn’t move away but drew her body closer to his, gripping onto the crook of his elbow with her other hand. Her nearness sent a zing down his back. Breathing in her sweet intoxicating scent, fire raged in his gut.

In a haze, David walked hand and hand with Claire to the end of the pier. When they arrived at the very end, David let go of her hand leaning over the wooden railing, glancing out at breathtaking view. The water glistened with the tiny bit of sunlight. Rhythmic sounds of the ocean waves sounded in his ears. Claire came up next to him, touching her shoulder to his own. She ran her hands over the rough surface of the pier railing.

Both stood watching until the sun completely disappeared, trading the sun for the moonlight and a smattering of stars. It was breathtakingly beautiful, and David appreciated Claire next to him, enjoying and appreciating the view too.

“I’m going to miss it here,” said Claire. Staring out to the vast ocean, Claire’s shoulders stooped. “I’ve missed this place every day since I moved away to Los Angeles. I didn’t realize how much until being here these last weeks.” She gnawed on her bottom lip. “I wish there was a way I could stay here. For Alexis.”

Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, David pulled Claire closer to his body. Mirroring his movements, Claire wrapped an arm around his waist, keeping her gaze at the ocean.

“Alexis is lucky to have you.” His words failed him. David didn’t know how to make the situation better. Claire didn’t have enough money to stay. Her job and life were in Los Angeles. Somehow, he wished he magically had the ability to fix it for her.

Glancing up at the dark sky, the stars twinkled back at him. David cleared his throat, “What about you? You say you’ve missed Pismo since you moved away.” David shifted, leaning his back against the wood railing to face Claire. “Would you ever live here permanently, for you?”

Claire’s hair flew in every direction. Without thinking David reached out, tucking her wisps of hair behind her ear. His hand lingered, cupping her neck. Claire took a step closer, standing between his legs, making him all too aware of the warmth of her body. Claire inhaled. Silence followed, so wide and so vast, it made his temples pulsate. The air between them crackled and sizzled. Her hand found his chest, and she laid her palm flat against it. He tugged her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist bringing them hip to hip.

Tilting her chin up, Claire whispered, “Maybe, if I had someone to stay for. I would stay. Especially if it was someone like you.”

David ran his thumb down the length of her jaw. Her skin was smooth and silky against the pad of his finger. He unconsciously licked his lips. “How about if it was me? In a perfect world, I’d want to be here in Pismo with you.” His gaze bore into hers. Waiting for her to indicate, she was feeling the same heat building between them.

Claire stood on her tiptoes, bringing her face closer to his. David didn’t hesitate. It was all the invitation he needed. Crossing the mere inch between them, he made his lips collide with hers. Immediately, Claire melted against him, running a finger along his collar bone. Her fingertips tucked around the collar of his shirt. His insides did a somersault, making his pulse triple its speed. The worries of the future faded away, because in the here and now, David was kissing Claire. And he never wanted it to end. He tugged her closer, tightening his grip around her waist, supporting her.

As her lips danced with his, David remembered again what it was like to have someone, someone who made the little pieces of your life fit back together, so you felt complete. He remembered how hope could feel, because for the first time in who knew how long, he hoped for the possibility of something—someone.

Since his divorce, David hadn’t allowed himself to believe in anything. Instead, he put a cage around his heart and declared love never lasted, people never stayed, and maybe he was better off alone. But kissing Claire, holding her, David’s prior arguments no longer held their shape. The constant dull ache in his heart, his steady companion for the past few years, fluttered away with the ocean breeze.

Brushing his tongue along her bottom lip, he tasted the fruity tang of her lip balm. Inhaling her scent, his nostrils flared, while his skin ignited. He wondered how kissing someone could feel this right, feel this perfect.

Finally, David forced himself to pull away. Gasping for air, his hand flew to his exploding chest. His chest heaved as he waited to regain control. Kissing Claire on the temple, David wrapped his arms around her, bringing her tight against his chest. Claire mirrored his movements, resting her head in the crook of his neck.

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