Page 43 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

“He wouldn’t. He doesn’t think it’s anyone’s story to tell but ours. Mae was born exactly one hundred days early. One pound, twelve ounces.”

I looked down at Mae. “Are you serious? That’s so tiny.”

Amy smiled at her daughter. “She was. Her whole hand would fit just on the tip of my finger. My wedding band used to be able to fit right up her leg.”

I was completely blown away. I shook my head. “Wow. She’s a little miracle.”

“She sure is, and she’s why I can agree with you about being thankful for the small things. Nothing else matters other than having Daniel and Mae.”

I smiled, happy that she actually got it. “It must be hard, though, having Daniel working away from you.”

She looked at me a little quizzically. “Yeah, it can be, but I try to go with him most of the time. It was something we decided when he retired from the marines.”

A shadow appeared over me and I turned to see Josh, his board clutched under his arm, and water dripping from his body. Holy mother of mercy.

“How was I lucky enough to get three beautiful girls on my beach?”

“Uh . . . whose beach?” I said, cocking my eyebrow.

He laughed as he put his board down, then sat down beside me. I was a little surprised, but happy nonetheless, when he immediately leaned in and kissed me. “I missed you last night,” he whispered against my lips.

“Did you have fun?” I asked. I already sounded breathless.

He didn’t move back from me as we spoke, leaving his lips mere millimeters away from mine. “Not really.”

He kissed me again. This time, long and lingering.

My body erupted with what I now called ‘Josh sparks.’ It was the best feeling I’d ever had.

When he eventually pulled back, his eyes were dark. He seemed to remember himself, though, because he cleared his throat and looked Amy’s way. “Hi, Ames.”

“Hi, Josh,” Amy said with narrowed eyes, although I could see she was amused. “We were having a great conversation before you came and did your whole mind-altering thing.”

Josh put his head back and laughed loudly. “I like the thought that my kisses alter her mind.”

I shook my head at him. I liked Josh like that. He just looked so happy and carefree. Not that I didn’t like him when he had that dark look in his eye. If I was truthful, I liked every part of Josh I’d seen so far.

Amy laughed. “Yeah, we all know what a big stud you are.”

Something clenched in my gut with her words. I had to remind myself that this wasn’t the real world. He had a life beyond the beach, and most probably had girls chasing him everywhere he went. He was an actor, after all. I wondered how many girls he had to kiss for work.

“Come out for a surf with me?”

He saw my indecisive face and gave me his puppy dog look. “Pleeease?”

I smacked him lightly on the arm and laughed. “Stop it! You know I can’t say no to that face!”

He jumped up with the biggest grin on his face. “Good. Now go get your suit on, and hurry up. Bring a change of clothes down, then you can get changed at my house when we’re done.”

I shook my head at him, but the smile on my face gave me away.

It took me ten minutes to race up to the house and change. I grabbed one of my sundresses and some fresh underwear, throwing them in a tote, before making my way back down again.

Amy was gone by the time I got back down there, and I felt a little bad that I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. I hoped I’d get to see her again. She was nice.

Josh was alread

y back in the water, so I dropped my tote near the pile of towels on the sand and ran for the water. I’d been back in the water a few times since that first attempt, and I’d discovered Josh had been right about the running in part. It got it all over and done with quicker.

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