Page 25 of Beachy Sweetheart
Andy goes pale. “Oh, Trevor, I’m so sorry.” He takes a few steps towards me, but stops. “Maybe he’ll help?” He rushes to the bed and pulls something pink from under the covers.
“Bandit! You saved him.” My bottom lip trembles and I reach for Bandit, but drop my hands. “I’m all gross. Can you keep him safe until the end of my shift?”
“Absolutely. When’s that?”
“Noon. Would you like to go out for lunch? I can take you where locals go if you want. Or someplace touristy. Your pick.”
“Local place would be lovely.”
“Do you really need towels?” I lift the pile.
“No, I just wanted to make sure housekeeping came in. I hoped it would be you.” He snorts. “Silly, I know. I probably could have just asked the front desk, but that felt creepy.”
I snort. “As if waiting for me isn’t?” I cock a brow, but can’t contain my chuckle.
Andy laughs, and the sound is so rich it reaches my soul. My shoulders relax. I want to crawl into his lap and take a nap.
“I didn’t think everything through.” He looks around. “I can see how this might look stalkery, but I promise, I was already going to be here.”
“I believe you.” Bandit looks so right in his arms. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Andy gives me another grin, and it takes all my willpower to leave the room.
18
ANDY
There’sa tentative knock at my door, and I look up from my book. Bandit’s cradled in my arms exactly how I’ve held him since I started the novel. Slowly, I rise from the bed to open the door to a nervous Trevor.
“Hi,” he says softly.
“Come in, sweetheart.” I move out of his way, and he dashes to the bed to scoop up Bandit. He rubs his head against the stuffie and I can’t hear what he’s saying, but the entire scene is adorable.
“Maybe you just needed your stuffie back,” I say and sit on the bed across from him.
“Maybe.” Trevor squeezes Bandit tight. “I should have turned around to get him, but I didn’t want to confront anyone on my way back. I had to hope that someone would save him from being lonely.”
“I kept him company. He rode in the front seat and I told him stories.”
“Bandit loves stories.” Trevor pulls away from the bed and holds out his hand. He teeters between Big and Little and Idon’t know if he notices it. “I owe you lunch. And probably an explanation?”
“You don’t owe me anything, but I’d love to spend time with you.”
Red splotches from Trevor’s face to down under his collar. I take his hand. He leads me to the door, arm looped around Bandit.
“I’d like that, too.” We get all the way to the front desk before Trevor remembers he’s carrying his toy. “Wait, I don’t want him to get dirty.” He releases my hand and rushes to the person at the front desk. They take the stuffie and nod. “They’ll take good care of him,” Trevor says when he returns to me. Again, his hand is in mine. The tiny bits of affection make my heart sing. I’ll cherish these moments forever.
The heat and humidity make us both suck in a breath as soon as we exit the building. I don’t know why the fuck I chose a beach vacation when I don’t care for either, but it was worth it to see Trevor again.
I take in every little flex of his fingers in mine. The way he looks both ways to cross the street. The confidence in his stride.
“What kind of food do you like, Andy?” He looks up at me, waiting for my answer before continuing. “Do you like seafood? Or do you like landlubber food?” He squints an eye and hooks a finger. I think he’s attempting to be a pirate. It’s adorable and silly.
I pull him closer and brush a kiss to his knuckles. His eyes grow wide and there’s a hitch in his breath. I catalogue each reaction.
“I’m not a picky eater. I enjoy seafood as much as landlubber food. Argh!”
His smile lights up the entire world. “I got the perfect place. Sandie’s Seafood & Grill is so yummy. It has everything.” He tugs me to the right and walks faster.
