Page 17 of Secrets at Seaside
“He’s not a total alpha,” Jenna said. “I think only a beta would turn down sex with you.”
Amy rolled her eyes.
“What?” Jenna grabbed Amy’s orange foam noodle and hung on to it beside her.
“He’s totally not a beta. He’s just being thoughtful.”Too darn thoughtful. “He was doing the right thing. I’m so sick of doing the right thing.” As the words left her lips, they tasted acidic and wrong. She knew all too well what doing the wrong thing could lead to.
Leanna and Bella positioned themselves in front of Amy and Jenna and held on to their noodles.
“So this is it? You’re giving up on him?” Bella asked. “Because I’m on the fence. Well, on the noodle really.” She chuckled.
“I don’t think I can ever give up on him, but I want more. I’m ready for real, reciprocated love. A real relationship. I am ready for what each of you have. I don’t know if I can ever open myself up to any other man, but I have to try.” Amy gazed up at Tony’s cottage. She’d spent countless hours on his deck, in his kitchen, sitting on his couch.Mooning over him.She thought of the way he protected her, how he looked at her when the others were talking and something secret and silent passed between them, like they could read each other’s thoughts. Like when any of the girls were so into snuggling with their guys that Amy wanted to turn away, and Tony caught her eye and flashed that smile that said,She’s your friend. Smile and suck it up.
Only that wasn’t what Amy had hoped to see. She wanted to see the devilish grin that was dark and naughty. The one that she’d dreamed of that said,Come here, baby. Let’s show them how it’s done.
TONY HAD NEVER felt like a stalker before. Not in all the years he’d watched over Amy to ensure she got back to her cottage safely after she was out late. Granted, he’d never waited beside her deck, lurking in the darkness before tonight either. He wasn’t actually lurking. He was waiting beneath the tree beside her deck so the others didn’t see him. He’d heard them go down to the pool. Heck, who hadn’t? They laughed like schoolgirls when they were together. It was one of the things he loved about all of his friends at Seaside. The camaraderie of the group and friendship they could all count on. He couldn’t even blame Bella for coming after him like she had at the beach.
Amy and the girls walked up the hill practically on top of one another, clutching their towels and whispering, then bursting out in bouts of laughter. Amy looked adorable with the ends of her hair wet, sticking to her lean shoulders, but even from the short distance away he heard a difference in Amy’s laugh. It wasn’t the carefree laugh he’d come to love. It was laden with emptiness or sadness. Loneliness, maybe? He felt all of those things, but she seemed to be detaching herself quite easily from him, which was why he was there. Waiting. Hoping to explain where he was coming from so they could…What? Go back to the way they were? Yeah, well, that would be a start. He wasn’t certain exactly where tonight would take them, but he was determined to find out, and the missing spark in her laughter made him want to take an even closer look.
“See you guys for breakfast.” Amy’s sweet voice carried in the night air.
Tony waited until the others had gone inside before stepping out of the shadows. He hated that they didn’t wait for her to reach her deck before heading in themselves, even though he knew Seaside was safe. He was wearing his favorite jeans, worn thin on the thighs and threadbare on the bottoms, a black shirt, and a pair of Corona flip-flops. He was probably near invisible in the dark.
Amy was humming a little tune as she approached her deck.
“Amy.”
Startled, she stumbled backward, her eyes wide and fearful.
“It’s okay. It’s only me.” He slid an arm over her bare, chilly shoulder and out of habit drew her trembling body against his chest.
“You scared me.” She clutched his shirt, then flattened her hand and stroked his ribs. He’d forgotten he’d worn her favorite T-shirt. She loved its softness, and seemed to cuddle up against it every time he wore it.
Okay, so maybe he hadn’t forgotten.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to talk.” He lowered his hand to her hip and led her up the stairs of the deck. “Come on. Let’s get you warm first.” He followed her inside and almost immediately felt the tension in his shoulders ease. He was surrounded by her essence. Her simple, feminine touch was everywhere. In the pale blue walls and cream-colored sofa with white and pink accent pillows and the light wooden floors with shaggy throw rugs overtop. Even the photos of the Seaside gang mixed in with beachy, textured artwork felt veryAmy.
Amy sat on the couch, shivering, and Tony settled in beside her.
“Don’t you want to get dressed?”
“Yeah, but…” Her teeth chattered, and she lowered her voice. “Why are you here?”
He rose to his feet. “Let me get you a sweatshirt; then we’ll talk.”
She took his hand and pulled him back down to the couch. “Tony, please.” Her whisper wasn’t seductive. It was something between anxious and put out. The way she gently held his hand and the trusting look in her eyes coalesced with the gravity of the years they’d been friends, and it brought him back to the couch beside her.
He cupped his hands around hers and brought them to his lips, then breathed warm air over her cold fingers. He scooted closer to her and drew her body against his, warming her as he stroked her back. He heard her uneven breathing caused by the cold, and he assumed—hoped?—by the heat between them that he couldn’t ignore. He held her until her trembling calmed. She felt so good, so right in his arms, and even covered in chlorine she smelled likeAmy. He reluctantly drew away from her, and she shivered again.
He knew he was sending her mixed signals, but he couldn’t stop himself from being close to her or taking care of her. He was drawn to her, and it was getting more difficult by the second to maintain his distance. He pushed from the couch. “At least let me get you a blanket.”
She shook her head and pulled him down beside her again. She could be so sweetly stubborn. He reached behind him and tugged his shirt over his head, then pulled it gently over hers and lifted her arms through the sleeves. The shirt billowed over her petite frame. The sleeves hung to her elbows. He settled it around her body, then loosened her towel beneath, careful to keep her covered but wanting to get the wet towel away from her skin. She gazed up, and her eyes stilled on his bare chest. Tony knew how other women reacted to his muscular physique, but all he cared about was how Amy reacted to him. Her breathing quickened, and she dropped her eyes, nibbling on her lower lip. At least he still had some effect on her. All hope wasn’t lost. He wasn’t even sure exactly what he was hoping for, but he knew he didn’t want Amy to stop being part of his life.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Amy…” He touched his forehead to hers and breathed her in. “This is so hard.”
“Tell me about it.”
