Page 77 of The Shell Collector
The very air around him seemed electrified. She found herself fixated on his bare chest. The enthusiasm with which he lived pulled at her senses. Would she ever feel that way again?
The kids ran at breakneck speed to catch up with him, although he was just taking long, languid strides. It took him no time to get the kite in the air, and as it lifted higher and higher, the squeals coming from Hailey and Jesse did too.
She jumped to her feet, clapping. The kite with the playful monkeys soared above them.
“I’m impressed!” Amanda shouted.
Paul and the kids made their way back and forth along their little stretch of beach. Occasionally, he’d tug on the strings and make the kite swing through the air, even accomplishing a pretty artful loop the loop at one point, which she had a feeling was complete and utter luck. Not that he’d admitit.
“You must have been pretty sure you’d get that kite up in the air to bring along that much string.”
“I did spring for the premier line reel. Go big or go home.”
No surprise there.“Once a Marine, always a Marine,” Amanda said, but there were the intangible things about a Marine that had always impressed her the most: their uprightness of character and sound moral compass.
“Yeah, worse things to be.” He winked and handed the kite line to Hailey. “Your turn, Hailey.”
She clutched with a white-knuckled grip. “Here we go.” She skittered off-balance for a moment, the kite dipping lower.
Paul uttered a few encouraging words and reeled in the line to urge the kite back in the air.
“You got it,” he said.
Hailey stood there with pride. “I’m doing it, Mommy!”
Amanda loved how gentle Paul was with Hailey and Jesse.
Jesse jumped in the air, then squatted with his hands on his knees and his head tilted straight back, watching the kite hang in the sky.
Paul stepped over next to Amanda. “I thought it would be fun. Jack and I spent most of our childhood on the beach. There’s so much to do.”
“I know. He’d have enjoyed this so much.”
“Yeah, he would’ve. Of course, we’d have had two kites.”
“And it would be a competition.” They both said it at the exact same time, which made them laugh.
“Because everything always was,” she said, searching his expression. There seemed to be something he wasn’t saying.
“Yeah.” A lazy grin spread to his lips. His gaze touched her a second too long.
It was so quick that she almost wasn’t sure it happened.
“Except over you,” he said. “We never competed over you.” His brow arched.
Is he flirting?The realization sent her mind reeling.
“This is hard work,” Hailey called out, breaking the moment.
Paul jogged over to help Hailey. “Your arms are getting tired. Let’s give Jesse a turn to fly it for a little while.” He grabbed the line and did a few tricks with the kite.
Hailey let go and dropped her arms to her sides. “Exhausting.”
“Come over here, you.” Amanda held her arms out. “Was it fun?”
“Yes. So much fun.”
Amanda rubbed Hailey’s arms.
