Page 3 of Tide and Seek
I glanced at the clock on Royce’s side of the bed.“It’s 4:00 a.m.here, and we’re two hours ahead of California.Probably too early to call my insurance.”
“They should have an emergency number.Not all accidents happen during working hours.”
“True.”I scowled.“God, I’m so frustrated.I really, really don’t want to fly to LA right now.”
Royce narrowed his eyes.“You’ve been wanting to run back there since you arrived in Rainy Dale.I’d think you’d be thrilled to go back for a visit.”
I sniffed.“Well, you’d be wrong.I have no real desire to go back there.Especially alone.”
He pursed his lips, studying me.“What if I came with you?”he asked softly.“Would that make it better?”
I glanced at him in surprise.“Really?You’d be willing to go with me?”
He lifted one shoulder.“Sure.Why not?It’d be great to get away together, just the two of us.The only trip you and I ever took together was to Giggly Elves Farm.I think we can both agree that wasn’t much of a vacation.”
I shuddered.“No.I’d even go so far as to say we’re lucky we survived that excursion.”
He grimaced.“Yeah.”
“Would you be able to take the time off?”I asked hopefully.
“I’ve been known to take a week or so off this time of year on occasion.You know, just to reset the old batteries.A man can’t work all the time.”
“That’s what people say.”
His smile was cajoling as he took my hand in his.His firm, calloused skin was warm and comforting against mine.“It might be fun to go on a little adventure with you, Max.We could turn a bad thing into a good thing.”
I smirked.“You’re always so optimistic.Are you going to tell me we should make lemonade out of lemons, Royce?”
His grin was sheepish.“What if I am?”
“I’d expect nothing less of you.”I smiled.“You know, if you’re coming with me, we could make it a real vacation.”
“Meaning what?”
“Well… could you maybe manage to take ten days off?”I held my breath.I knew it was a lot to ask.
He hesitated.“Hmmm, ten days?”
“We can do less if you’d rather.”I tried not to show my disappointment.“It’s just that two of the days will be eaten up with travel, so they don’t really count as vacation days.”
“That’s true.”He pursed his lips.“Should we do it, Max?”
“I think it would be amazing.”While I was frustrated my beach house had been broken into, the idea of going to LA with Royce was exciting.That truly would make a crappy situation better.“I’d love to take you back to LA with me.”
“Yeah?”He looked pleased.
“It’ll be fun to wine and dine you at some of my favorite restaurants.Plus, my beach house has a private beach.Well, mostly private.There are three other houses in the colony, but it’s way more private than a public beach.We could skinny-dip in the Pacific Ocean at night.Doesn’t that sound fun?”
He gave a nervous laugh.“Not sure about skinny-dipping in the ocean at night.Aren’t there a bunch of sea creatures lurking?”
I laughed at his obvious reticence.“I suppose in the deeper water that might be a concern.But we wouldn’t venture far from shore.It’s a wonderful experience.Very freeing.I’ve done it lots of times.”
He narrowed his eyes.“Is that right?I’m assuming you weren’t alone?”
My face warmed.“All I’ll say is it would be more fun with you.”
He hesitated and then seemed to shrug off his concerns.“I guess that might be fun.Probably wouldn’t kill me to broaden my horizons a bit.Unless of course a shark eats me.”
