Page 6 of Married to Murder
“Okay.” He stood and held out his hand to me.
I grabbed it, my stomach clenching at the warmth of his palm. Once I was on my feet, he let go of my hand and we picked up our boards and slogged our way through the sand back toward his shop. I couldn’t help but watch him as he walked ahead of me. His wet suit hugged his broad shoulders and strong thighs, and it was impossible not to feel a nudge of arousal. I had no idea where this dinner would lead us, but I was excited at all the possibilities.
When we reached his shop, he unlocked the door and turned to take my board from me. “Go ahead and change while I put the boards away.”
I nodded and went into the shop, making my way to the dressing room. I peeled off the wet suit and the trunks and got back into my business suit. I had to smile at how strangely enjoyable the day had turned out. I’d been in such a horrible mood when I’d come into Seth’s shop. Now I was in a great mood and looking forward to the evening.
I left the dressing room and found Seth out front with his wet suit pulled down around his hips. His smooth chest and stomach made my gut tense with attraction, but I tried not to stare. “So if you want to give me your address, I’ll pick you up later.”
He laughed. “I live here. In the back of the shop.”
I raised my brows. “Oh.”
He studied me. “Does that change your mind about having dinner with me?” His expression was guarded.
“No.” I frowned. “Why would it?” While I hadn’t realized he lived in his shop, I’d had no illusion he was rich. He’d made enough jokes about paying his rent that I’d realized he didn’t have much money.
He shrugged. “Just making sure.”
“I still want to have dinner with you, Seth.” I held his gaze so he’d know I was sincere.
“Okay.” His easygoing smile returned. “See you at seven, then.”
I left his shop and walked back to my car, feeling intrigued by my future dinner companion. On the surface he was very happy-go-lucky, but there was a definite undercurrent of wariness I was curious about. I knew everyone had a past, and I was interested in his. I couldn’t seem to help myself. I decided that at dinner tonight I’d try and dig a little deeper and find out more about him. Hopefully he’d be willing to share more of himself with me because, for whatever reason, Seth had captured my attention in a way no man had in years.
Chapter Three
Seth
As I showered I began to regret agreeing to have dinner with Tanner.
I never dated my surfing students. I’d had lots of invitations to get together after lessons in the past, but I’d always turned them down. Mostly because I hadn’t wanted to confuse my work with my private life, but Tanner was a slightly different case. He didn’t live locally, and odds were I’d never see him again after tonight. I guess that fact had made him seem like a safer bet than anyone who lived locally.
Of course, while I was nervous about having dinner with him, I had to admit how fucking sexy he was. That had made it really hard to say no. My cock warmed at the thought of his brown eyes and beautiful body. I was pretty good at keeping my lust at bay. I enjoyed people, but I tried not to see guys in a carnal way. It made me uneasy to give in to my lust. It made me feel out of control, and I hated that. I didn’t really go on dates, and I tried to avoid getting myself in situations where a guy would hit on me. If I did give in to lust, I never saw the guy twice. It was easiest that way. When people got too close, they asked questions.
I had a past—a distasteful past that most people wouldn’t understand or forgive. I’d done things that would turn most guys off if they knew. I hadn’t always been a carefree beach bum. I’d been kicked out of my home when I was sixteen, and I’d done whatever I’d had to in order to survive. I’d been angry and closed off emotionally. I’d used drugs for a while to dull the pain, and I’d been arrested for prostitution and petty theft so many times I’d lost track. I winced, picturing what Tanner would think or say if he knew any of that about me.
It didn’t matter that I wasn’t that scared kid just trying to survive anymore. Most people would judge me because they couldn’t comprehend being at rock bottom. Rich guys like Tanner especially wouldn’t understand why me or anyone would live the way I had. They had safety nets and families that would love them and help keep them safe. I’d never had that. Not until I’d met my friend Gordon.
Gordon was the one person who knew everything about me. Gordon Montgomery. My friend and savior. I’d met Gordon after four years on the streets. He was the kindest man I’d ever known, and his kindness and charity toward me had gotten me clean and off the streets. He’d taken an interest in me because he’d lost his son to drugs. I still remembered the first day I’d met Gordon. I’d been on my favorite corner, high as a kite and trying to lure in horny guys. He’d picked me up and fed me. I’d been confused and waiting for him to try and fuck me, but he never had. He’d had no interest in having sex with me. He’d wanted to help me. Pure and simple.
I owed my life to Gordon.
I got out of the shower and dried off. I ran some smoothing cream through my hair and went into my small bedroom to dress. The restaurant we were eating at was very casual. I realized in hindsight maybe I should have told Tanner not to dress up. Hopefully he’d know that this was a beach town and suits were optional.
As it neared seven, my stomach buzzed with butterflies. My afternoon with Tanner had been so easy and stress-free. But dinner felt more structured, and that made me anxious. I couldn’t shake the feeling that dinner with Tanner was probably a huge mistake. I was way too attracted to him, and I knew it was mutual. I reminded myself that no matter if we ended up in bed together or not, he didn’t live in town. That thought helped me to relax.
There was a soft knock on my shop door, and I sucked in a steadying breath and went to open it. Tanner was on the doorstep, wearing jeans and a soft-pink collared shirt. My pulse immediately spiked, and I tried not to stare. It was hard not to, he was so beautiful to look at. “Hey,” I said softly.
“I’m starving, how about you?” He smiled.
His spicy cologne wafted toward me, making my gut tumble with arousal. “Yep. I’m always hungry.”
“Then let’s go eat.”
I followed him outside, locking my door behind me. He started to move toward the street where I assumed his car was parked. “We can just walk. The restaurant is really close.”
“Really?” He hesitated. “Okay. I guess that works.”
