Page 20 of Sunsets at Seaside
“You sure, Gram?” Jamie helped her into the car.
“Quite sure, dear.”
Jamie opened the car door for Jessica. “What do you say? Want to hit the beach for a while?”
You in a bathing suit? How on earth will I keep my lips off of you?
“Sure. I’d love to.”
Chapter Five
JAMIE HAD BEEN to the beach in the rain, fog, sweltering heat, and on gorgeous days such as today, and regardless of the weather, there was always a crowd. Cell phones didn’t work on the ocean beaches of the lower Cape, which made days spent there even more relaxing. This was his first time at the beach with Jessica, and he was especially glad that cell phones didn’t work there. The last thing he wanted was to be interrupted when he was with her. Besides, he worked hard, and he deserved a little private relaxation time without being tethered to emails and texts.
Jessica lay on her back in her light pink bikini, looking like she’d slipped off the page of a glossy magazine right onto the blanket. The bottoms tied on the sides and, thankfully, she wasn’t wearing a thong, given that Jamie’s body reacted to her every time they were close.
He lay on his side, perched on one elbow with a book beside him, although he hadn’t made it through a single page. He was too drawn to Jessica.
“What are you reading?” Her eyes were closed, the edges of her lips were curved in that sweet smile she sometimes tried to suppress, and she was so incredibly beautiful that it was hard for him not to stare.
“I’m not getting much reading done, but it’s one of Kurt Remington’s thrillers,When Evil Comes. Kurt is Leanna’s fiancé.”
She turned toward his voice and opened her eyes, shading them with her hand. “He’s an author?”
He nodded. “Bestselling author. He’s really good.”
She rolled onto her side, and her bikini top shifted, exposing the milky white fullness of her breast. He tried not to stare, but his eyes kept revisiting the view.
“That’s so cool.”
“That’s why he’s not around much this summer. He’s on a tight deadline, but I’m sure you’ll meet him at some point. He’s a great guy.” He wanted to touch her, to lay his hand on her hip, to kiss her lips, but he didn’t want to take a chance of embarrassing her on the beach. Instead, he set his book aside and moved closer, leaving only inches between them.
“I hope you didn’t mind that Vera was with us this morning. I’m glad you came along.”
“I really like your grandmother. She’s so nice, and you’re so sweet with her. I think I had more fun watching the two of you than looking around.” She was leaning on her elbow, just as he was.
Jamie moved his fingertips on top of hers on the sand and smiled. “Do you want to go in the water?”
“Maybe in a minute. Right now I want to just lie here with you.” Her eyes darkened, narrowed a little. “I like spending time with you.”
As if his other hand had a mind of its own, it landed on the hot, sun-kissed skin of her hip. She narrowed her eyes in an inviting, seductive way, and he inched closer, bringing them thigh to thigh.
“I like spending time with you, too. When we get back to Seaside we’ll see if you heard back from the seller of that baseball.” He loved that family was important enough to her that she wanted to track the baseball down for her father.
“I’d like that.”
“Do you mind if I ask where you’re taking a hiatus from? Where do you play your cello?”
A group of teenagers ran by and kicked sand on her legs and back before she could answer. She leaned forward, against his chest.Man, she felt good. Instinctively, he began brushing the sand from her legs, butt, and back. She leaned back, her hand still on his chest, her lips slightly parted. He flattened his hand on her back and pressed her to him as he lowered his lips to hers. She pressed her fingers into his chest and he deepened the kiss. Their tongues met in long, passionate strokes. He slid his hand up her back and buried it beneath her hair, cupping her head. She had the most sensuous lips he’d ever kissed, and as he angled her head, she opened them further and rolled onto her back. He slid his leg over hers. If he didn’t stop he’d never be able to, but she smelled like warm coconut and tasted hot and sweet. He couldn’t help but rock his hips against her thigh. The last thing he wanted to do was tear his lips from hers, but it’s what he needed to do, because in his effort to keep from embarrassing her, he was practically making love to her right there on the crowded beach, just feet from the lifeguard chair.
Her eyes fluttered open and her lips curved up. There wasn’t a hint of regret in her eyes. He loved kissing her, loved the way she looked at him. He touched her cheek, then pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
“I’m not even going to try to pretend that I don’t want to keep kissing you.”
She blushed. “I’d like that.”
She opened the door and he walked right in. Their lips met in another heated kiss. His resolve to back off liquefied, and his hand slid down her ribs to her hip and over the soft swell of her thigh. He eased back, softly kissing her lips a few times before forcing himself away again.
“Now I’m going to pretend I don’t want to kiss you, or we’re going to get kicked off the beach for indecent activities.”
