Page 47 of Not that Sea-Rious
Still, no one moved.
Seconds ticked by.How long would their visitor wait?Why couldn’t Marissa bring herself to answer the door?Instead, as panic gripped her throat, her gaze danced from one friend to the other, silently begging them to do what she seemed incapable of initiating herself.
Groaning, Tina marched over.Joyce and Carolyn returned to fawning over Marissa’s hair.Marissa did her best not to hyperventilate in the few seconds she had left.Swallowing down all her reservations, she focused on her reflection again.
She could do this.It was one night, one dinner, one date.The memories of this evening would be hers for the rest of her life.This was it.
Just breathe.
30
Beau
“Hey,”TinagreetedBeau.“Oh!Wow!”
Her eyes widened as she marveled at the arrangement of multicolored flowers he’d brought for Marissa.He’d had them delivered to his room so he could officially offer them to her.Not that he thought anyone else would send flowers to their room, but on the off chance Carolyn’s fiancé, Tina’s wife, or even Joyce’s husband did something nice, he didn’t want there to be questions.
This bouquet was from him, and it was meant for Marissa.
Tina stepped aside, and Beau entered the room.The scent of Marissa’s sweet perfume hung in the air as though she’d recently sprayed it.It delightfully combined honey and musk, offering rich spicy notes.He really liked it.Perhaps he’d ask her about it.
Would it be weird if he bought a bottle and spread it on his pillow or something when he got home?
Yes.It would absolutely be strange.
He wouldn’t do that.It’d be best to not even ask—let it go.
With the clunk of the door shutting behind him, he stopped in the center of the room and shifted his attention to the woman in the pink hibiscus dress, and his jaw nearly hit the floor.
Holy sweet baby Jesus.
Marissa was beautiful in a T-shirt and jeans.He adored her in the bathing suit and life vest while they were swimming with dolphins.Hell, even the lacy black number she wore dancing didn’t prepare him for this sight.
She embodied magnificence.
“Whoa.”The sentiment slipped past his lips as he extended the arrangement toward her.
Her smile tugged at his chest.His heart skipped a beat as she smoothed her hands down the length of the flowing skirt of the dress.
“You like it?”Her question had to be rhetorical.There was no way she doubted how sexy she looked.
“You’re stunning,” he answered anyway.
Dipping her chin with pink cheeks, Marissa fiddled with her earring.
Carolyn stepped forward.“These are beautiful,” she said as she accepted the flowers for Marissa.
“Maybe she should’ve gotten him a boutonniere,” Joyce murmured.
He drew his brows together.“What?”
“Nothing.”Marissa approached him, took his hand, and intertwined her fingers with his.She fit perfectly.“Just something we were talking about earlier.Nothing to be concerned about.”
“You two kids behave.”Tina waggled her finger at them playfully.
Beau chuckled and squeezed Marissa’s hand.
“Have her home by ten,” Carolyn chimed in.
