Page 42 of Falling for the Wrong Guy

Dex started the bike, and I placed my hands on his muscular shoulders and climbed on behind him. It was a tight, cozy fit, and I had no qualms about pressing against his back and wrapping my hands around his waist. His tight abs felt like steel under my hands.

“Ready, boss?”

“I need a better nickname.” I had to talk loudly over the motor. “Let’s ride.”

I was bundled enough that I felt nice and warm, especially tucked in behind the large man in front of me. He was like a wall, a wall of muscle and rugged hunkiness. We rode along the coastal highway, a two-lane stretch of asphalt that ran parallel with the coast for about ten miles. A half-moon was trying to remain significant, casting an unearthly glow through a thick layer of fog. The ocean looked endless and black under the dark sky.

I held on tightly and watched the landscape and occasional headlights blur past. It was a unique way to spend our first date, clasped together on a motorcycle with no way to communicate. Yet it still felt intimate, as if we were getting to know each other better with each passing second, even without words. I felt safe and comfortable behind him as if we’d already known each other for a long time.

We hadn’t made a plan, only to cruise along the coast, but when we reached the public beach turnoff, Dex turned the bike. We rolled down the road to the empty parking lot. Dex parked the bike. I braced my hands on his shoulders and swung my leg over to get off. I wriggled my cold nose and instantly remembered that a cold, red nose was not my best look.

Dex pulled off his helmet. His thick hair instantly revitalized in the breeze. I fussed with my helmet buckle for a second until Dex stepped forward to lend a hand. He lifted it off my head, and I was imagining myself with helmet hair and a bright red nose. I casually fluffed my hair and rubbed my gloved hand over my nose. I even added in a discreet cheek pinch. I was acting like a self-conscious, lovestruck teenager. I hoped the ridiculousness would pass quickly. I just wasn’t sure why it was happening in the first place. I’d had other first dates. The only variable was that this first date included Dex.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Dex said. “I’ve been wanting to check this beach out.”

I could feel my posture deflate. I’d convinced myself he was up for a romantic walk on the beach, but he was here to look for whatever it was he was missing. The thing that brought him to Whisper Cove.

Dex must have noticed my disappointment. “We could get back on the bike.”

“No, it’s fine. I guess I thought we were—that you brought me to this nice, secluded beach—” I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. Maybe if you told me what you were looking for, I could help. There are some caves just past that outcropping—” I started toward the caves, but he took hold of my hand to stop me. I turned to look at him.

“You’ve caught me. My motive for stopping here was two-fold. I wanted to check the area out, and I also wanted a quiet, romantic spot, here under the yellow moon on this ivory stretch of sand so I could do this.” He pulled me closer. His hands were warm on my skin as he took hold of my face and lowered his mouth to mine.

My knees turned soft. I pressed my hands against his chest, curling my fingers into the soft leather of his coat, just to keep upright. The kiss lasted long enough for me to feel slightly dizzy from it all. He lowered his hands and wrapped his arms around me for a hug, which was as head-spinning as the kiss.

We parted, but he held onto my hand. “All right, sir, you might just have saved the evening with that kiss. Now, will you tell me what you’re looking for?”

“I will and you’re going to think I’m making it up, but I promise you, I’m not. Let’s walk toward those caves. I hadn’t even been thinking about rocky caves.”

The tide lapped against the rocks, sending cold, salty mist through the air. Dex’s phone light led the way. “My friend, Quinn, got himself involved in a heist of sorts. Two old friends from our past, Sam and Victor, guys who were always looking for quick money, talked Quinn into joining them in their plan to steal a box of gold coins—old ones, Spanish doubloons or something like that—from a wealthy collector. Sam was a pool man for the rich owner. He showed Sam the coins. That got the gears spinning on a plan. I reminded Quinn that Sam and Victor rarely succeeded in anything in life, but the lure of gold coins was too much. After the heist, Quinn hid the coins before he was arrested. It’s really important for everyone’s safety, Aria, that you don’t tell anyone … not even your sisters.”

“Oh my gosh, so we are literally looking for pirate treasure. I’m on a dark beach with a man who occasionally stands on the deck of his boat with a big bird on his shoulder, and now we’re searching for his lost gold. If you knew how often twelve-year-old Aria dreamt of just this scenario, and let me add that the pirate in my daydreams was not nearly as handsome.”

“Huh, take that, daydream pirate. Kind of feelin’ like I need to start saying things like ‘shiver me timbers.’”

I stopped to consider the suggestion. “Nope, that makes the whole thing cheesy.”

“Right. Then I’ll stick to just being handsome and looking for coins.” We reached the spot where the outcropping of rocks jutted away from the cliffside before ending in the water. We stayed close to the cliffs. Dex climbed up first and then turned to offer me his hand. It took some concentration to get across the jumble of rocks with only a phone light to lead us, but we reached the other side and dropped down. The sand was always wet in front of the caves. They weren’t so much caves as deep recesses in the side of the cliffs.

Dex shone his light into the deep crevice. “Boy, I’ll bet this is a nice teen hangout for kisses and, well, other things teens do.” He looked at me pointedly.

“Don’t look at me, I need to concentrate. I once walked in here barefoot and got pinched by a crab. It latched onto my little toe. So, there are no memories of stolen kisses for me in these caves. Only grumpy crabs. Besides, we didn’t come here often. It was too far from home, and we had our own slice of beach just a five-minute walk from the back door.”

“It must have been so cool growing up in that cottage. The only thing I had five minutes from the back door was an abandoned laundromat. Although there was a gas pump and mini-mart ten minutes away. That’s right, baby, blue raspberry slushies whenever the craving would strike. Walked around with a blue tongue all summer long.”

“Not too shabby. Are these coins in something? A Ziploc or a shoebox?” I asked.

“Well, to add to the pirate theme, I believe they’re inside a wooden box.”

I clapped with delight. “I was hoping you’d say that. Now, if only you had a treasure map with a big red X.”

“Trust me, matey, I wish that, too.”

“Matey!” I said excitedly. “You have full approval on that nickname.”

His dark brow arched. “Yeah? I was thinking something a little sexier, but we’ll give it a trial run for a bit and see if it sticks.Matey.” He pulled me in for another kiss. “This might be the world’s best treasure hunt. If only we could find those darn coins.”

I stopped before following him into the cave. He turned back to see why I’d stayed put. “Are you planning to keep the coins?”

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