Page 16 of Mistaken Prejudice

Chapter 7

Miles

Two hours later, with our surfboards in my trunk, we drove our way to the beach. I had enough time to go home, change, and take my car before I picked up Andrei from the club. The guy brought his surfboard with him to work. That’s what I call commitment.

“Mind if I pick a song?” he asked after “Heartless” by The Weekend ended.

“Sure.” I opened my phone and handed him the device.

“Look at you trusting me so easily.” He gave me a wink before picking a song and placing my phone back on the holder. “Circles” by Post Malone started playing.

“I love this song.” I turned the volume up, letting Post Malone take over our ride.

“What other music do you like?”

“You can check my playlist. My phone is right there.” I pointed over to the phone holder where my phone was secured.

“Again with the easy trust? You should be more careful with it, Miles.”

“Sounds like you have some trust issues,” I teased, and he smirked and shook his head.

“What if I’m a bad guy?” His voice was teasing and I turned my head to face him, examining him with a raised eyebrow.

“Eyes on the road, gorgeous.”

Heat flashed through me at the sound of his husky voice playfully commanding me. I wasn’t into submission games, but maybe I would be into them if Andrei were to be involved. Guess we’d just have to wait and see.

The song changed, and now “Better Now,” also by Malone, was playing. What an epic sound.

“Turn right there.” He pointed at an entrance to a dirt trail on the side of the road, and without a second’s hesitation, I took the sharp turn.

“I know we head on to Milo Beach, but this turn takes you to a smaller, less known shore with epic swells.”

And it did.

***

“You actually know how to catch waves.” Andrei splashed some water on my face as he paddled by me. The sky was starting to change colors into deep shades of red and orange. Nothing comes close to a Malibu sunset.

“You had doubts?” I asked, my brow almost reaching my hairline.

We both sat on our boards, floating with our legs still in the water as we looked over the colored horizon.

“I had my doubts. I was pretty convinced you were faking it just to get a date with me.” The smile disappeared from his face when he saw the knowing look in my eyes. “Wait, I was kidding—” Water splashed everywhere when his big frame hit the surface.

“Jerk,” I said, feeling pleased my plan worked.

Another minute passed, and Andrei still hadn’t returned to the surface. My nerves kicked in, and I scanned the water, looking for him.

“Andr— Ah!” I let out a very unmanly yelp as something grabbed my ankle and pulled me into the water. I pushed myself back to the surface, choking on the saltwater I’d swallowed and gasping for air, with Andrei cracking up beside me.

“You’re”—I stopped to spit some more water—“a jerk!”

Rather than answering me, he swam closer. I grabbed my surfboard for support as he used his big hands to push my hair from my eyes before he moved them down to my jaw. We were inches apart, and his deep emerald eyes were even more hypnotizing from up close. His thick brows were messy and beautiful, and his eyelashes were studded with tiny drops of water that reminded me of diamonds. I was breathless and not because I’d just choked on water.

“Hey.” Two dimples appeared on the edge of his smile.

“Hey,” I whispered back.