Page 19 of Summer with a Navy SEAL

She smiles. “So you have.”

For a few moments, we don’t speak. “So what’s the plan now, Cinderella?” I ask. “Fancy a moonlit stroll back to the beach house?”

Willy laughs. “That was my plan.”

“I like your plan.” I kick off my shoes and peel off my socks, relishing the feel of cool sand between my toes. “There, now we match.”

As we start walking, I can’t help but steal glances at Willy. The moonlight catches in her hair, making her look almost ethereal.

I nudge her gently with my shoulder. “For what it’s worth, I think this beats any stuffy yacht party.”

She looks up at me, her almond eyes twinkling. “You missed your dance with Beatrice.”

“I prefer dancing with you.”

We continue our walk, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore drowning out the lively music on the yacht. I don’t even care what’s happening over there. All I care about is right here, walking next to me and looking stunning in her red dress, the slit parting to reveal a slender leg with every step.

“You didn’t go to our prom,” I say after a few moments. “I would have thought you’d have gone with Crystal.”

“If the quarterback hadn’t asked her, maybe I would have.”

“So why didn’t you?”

“No one asked me,” Willy replies, her answer snapping me back to the present.

“I’d have taken you.”

She scoffs. “Yeah, right. Crystal told me you took Sandy Hansen–”

“-only because she asked me to in case her crush didn’t,” I say. “And the idiot never did.”

“Who was the idiot?”

“Preston,” I reply as we laugh. “He was already at Stanford by then, so she got the next best thing.”

Willy rolls her eyes. “I doubt anyone could call you the next best thing, Hollister.”

I almost tell Willy I’d searched for her that night. Without him in the same room meant I could talk to Willy without Preston making fun of me. But I don’t.

“Dance with me,” I say instead, turning to face Willy.

“But there’s no music.”

“We don’t need music.” I take her shoes from her hand and set them on the sand next to mine before standing to face her again. “May I have this dance?”

As she laughs, I can see the blush creeping down her cheeks. “You’re crazy.”

Crazy for you, I almost say out loud. “Why do you think I joined the Navy?” I hold out my hand. “What do you say, Genaro. One dance.”

“Let me think.” She squints her eyes as she studies me as if reviewing her options. “Alright. Just one.”

“The trick is not to think too much.” As she takes my hand, I tug her toward me, pulling her close. Her bodyfits perfectly against mine, and I can feel the warmth of her skin through the fabric of her dress.

“I design interiors for a living, Hollister. It’s part of my job.”

“Just for tonight, let your thoughts take a holiday then.”

As if on cue, the moon peeks out from behind wisps of clouds casting a silver glow on the waves.

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