Page 88 of Just My Luck

“You can.” She smiled, radiating confidence and sunshine. “Or I wouldn’t love you so much. My heart wouldn’t let me.”

His own heart sank a bit. What was she saying, that she didn’t want that role in his life? He got it…she was happy where she was. She didn’t need his problems piled on top of her own.

“Don’t look like that,” she said gently. “All I’m saying is that you don’t need me to be your conscience. I have faith in you, in your heart.” She flattened her palm against his chest. “But there’s something I need from you.”

“I already took care of it. You’re protected, all of you. Your house is paid for. Your⁠—”

“I don’t want your money, dumbass.”

He bit back the next thing he was going to say, which was that he’d set up a medical fund for them all to draw on whenever they needed.

“I want…you,” she said softly. “Your heart. Your sweet, gigantic heart hidden away beneath all those stern frowns. And your body. The way you touch me, like you’re memorizing me, like you never want to forget how it feels when we’re together.”

“I never do,” he whispered.

“And there. Your smile.” She touched the corner of his mouth. “It doesn’t come very often but when it does I turn into a bowl of Jell-o. I want the way I feel when I’m with you. Like the world can be anything we want it to be.”

His heart was pounding so hard he thought it might leap out and land on the sand like a flopping fish. “You got it,” he promised. “All of it. And more.”

They kissed then, with all the passion and longing of two people who’d been waiting their whole lives to find that one person who fit just right.

When they finally drew apart, he tucked her windblown hair behind her shoulder.

“I bought your house in case I didn’t survive this negotiation with Tanaka. I wanted to make sure you were taken care of. But you’re right. I promise not to rely on money in our relationship. I always equated money with worth, because that was how I gained acceptance. But when I look back, it’s people like Vernon who stand out, not any of the billionaires I’ve dealt with.”

“Vernon?”

“You’ll meet him soon enough. He’s going to love you. We’ll make this work, you’ll see. Nothing is more important to me.”

“Not even the CHUM?” she teased.

“Aw, you called it the CHUM. You do love me.”

Laughing, she took his hand to her lips and kissed it. “I think we’ll be okay too, as long as we listen to the Hawaii Board of Tourism.”

“How so?”

“Haven’t you see the billboards? It’s advice for people getting into the ocean. ‘Never turn your back on a wave.’ Meaning, make sure you pay attention, but please do get into that water and play.”

“I like that.” Maybe that was another reason he’d been a boy in all his recent dreams. That was the last time he’d played.

“Speaking of which…” Zara turned to look at the ocean, her hand shading her eyes. “The surf is picking up. Did you see that wave? That was a perfect five-foot left-side wide-open barrel.”

“I have no idea what that means.”

“Oooh good, a rookie. I have so much to teach you.” She rubbed her hands together. “Starting with…did you know there’s a current that swirls around this part of the beach? In about half an hour, I’ll bet you anything that tin will be bobbing back against those rocks over there.”

“Are you kidding me?”

Nothing would make him happier than getting that chip to some weapons experts so they could be prepared for whatever Tanaka managed to develop.

“I am not. Come on, look at those waves. I gotta get in there.” She slipped off her coverup and dropped it onto the sand. “Last one into the ocean buys dinner. And I’m unemployed and nearly broke, so take your time.”

She took off across the sand, her tanned legs practically a blur. He ran after her, ignoring the twinges of pain from his soles of his feet. His shoes were still back in the jungle, on the edge of the lava cliffs, unless someone had grabbed them.

He caught up with her just as she splashed into the water. They had to wade past some rocks along the shore, but when it was deep enough, she dove into the curl of a wave. He followed suit, then opened his eyes underwater so he could find her. Her long hair streamed behind her like a mermaid’s. She swished it over her shoulder and turned his way.

They kissed—the first underwater kiss of his life, warm and just a little salty—then surfaced, gasping for air.