Page 30 of Late to Love

Devon looks at me over her sunglasses. “Pretty sure it’s time to get our girl here out of the sun.” She stands and gestures to Amanda, who is about to fall asleep under the umbrella that Betty and Agatha brought with them.

I stand and brush the sand off, shoving my legs into my jean shorts and sliding my feet into the softened beach flops I’ve had for literally a decade. “I’ve got her,” I wave Devon off.

“You sure?” Devon gives me a dubious look. “I’m sure you can handle her, but she’s…” she laughs. “Absolutely wasted.”

I chuckle. “It’s okay. We’re all allowed to get a little twisted sometimes. She’s safe with me.” I finish packing all our stuff and lean over to her, nudging her awake. “Hey, sleeping beauty. Let’s get you home.”

Amanda turns a bleary eye on me. “You sure? I thought we’d stay for the fireworks.”

“No way will you make it to the fireworks, my love,” I giggle. “Come on. I’ll get you home and tucked into bed.”

It takes double the time to get to my car as it did to get onto the beach, but half of that is because there are even more people than there were before. Soon enough, I’ve got her buckled up and we’re heading to her house, the windows down and no sound but the wind coming through the open windows.

Another half hour and I’ve gotten her through the shower and tucked into bed, a bottle of water and two Ibuprofen on her bedside table for whenever she wakes up.

I check my watch. I don’t really want to go home, and I’m not feeling heading back to the over-crowded beach for the fireworks. Which, of course, means I’m heading to my secret beach.

Traffic is bonkers, with more people streaming into the area to see the fireworks. And I don’t blame them—I’ve not missed the fireworks in twenty-four years and I’m not going to now.

I finally find a place to park and begin the walk to my sanctuary. As I crest the dunes and look down, it’s easy to see just how high the tide has gotten. The sun has already disappeared, and the sky is steadily turning purple, with streaks of orange and pink streaking through. I exhale, relishing the comforting familiarity of where I am, the beauty of the sunset. Ahead of me, a shadowy figure sits on the thin strip of beach, their back to me and angled towards the spot where the fireworks will go off.

I don’t want to startle them, so I call out as I get closer. “Hey! Sorry—I’m just gonna?—”

The words die on my mouth as the figure turns. It’s Anthony.

Because of course it is.

Chapter14

Anthony

THIS HAS TO be another cosmic joke. Because there is no way in hell that the very woman who’s ruining my life is coming my way in the dusk, hips swaying far too deliciously against the backdrop of sand, lips turned up as if she’s in on the joke and knows I’m at the end of my rope.

Swallowing and standing, I give her what I hope is a friendly smile. “Darcy Belle. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Her smile widens, and the joy on her face is the sweetest hit to my solar plexus. “Anthony Hall. To what doIowe the pleasure? Shouldn’t you be manning your fine establishment?” I don’t miss the way she scans me head to toe, and I’ve never been more grateful to be shirtless.

I shake my head. “Nah. Harrison always takes over for the Fourth. He doesn’t like the fireworks, and I love them, so…”

“Harrison is afraid of fireworks?” The gleam in her eye is positively endearing as she closes the space between us.

“I didn’t say that,” I hedge.

“But you didn’tnotsay that,” she fires back.

All I can do is shrug and smile.

“There you are,” she murmurs.

I frown.

She laughs. “No, don’t do that!” Setting her tote down and sliding off her flip-flops, she laughs more. “I finally see one of those rare smiles and then you instantly frown!”

Naturally, my frown deepens.

She giggles, then undoes her shorts and drops them to the sand before pulling her shirt off.

My mouth dries. She’s wearing a retro-style two-piece, bright red with stripes, her curves on display more than any time I’ve seen before, and it takes everything I have not to pull her to me. When I lift my gaze back to her face, she smirks, and I know I’ve been caught.

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