Page 105 of Titus

“If it’s not the man looking for another place to build a luxury hotel…” a familiar male voice called out behind us.

I turned to find Jake Mitchell and Collin Brooks standing barefoot in wetsuits with surfboards tucked beneath their arms.

Titus closed his eyes briefly beside me. “Dear God…”

Collin stared at Titus. “Holy shit. He’s wearing boardshorts voluntarily.”

Jake looked equally amused. “And smiling.” He pointed dramatically. “Sweet Jesus.”

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Collin said. “This man is one sunset walk away from writing poetry.”

“I will throw both of you into the ocean,” Titus said calmly.

I couldn’t help but softly laugh at the two doctors who somehow turned into monkeys after they took off their scrubs.

“No, seriously,” Collin continued, looking me over, “what exactly did you do to him? Because three days ago, this man looked one inconvenience away from launching hostile takeovers for stress relief.”

I shrugged. “Got him out of his suit?”

“You got him out, period, you little vixen,” Jake smirked at me. “But does the man have what it takes to dominate the ocean like he does a boardroom?”

“You speak as if I’ve never set bare feet on sand before,” Titus retorted.

“Have you?” Collin asked with sincere curiosity.

“That’s not what I’m referring to,” Jake said, sizing the man up.

“What exactly are you referring to, aside from destroying the start of a peaceful walk Catalina and I were just enjoying?”

“I love the way you say her name,” Collin taunted. “It sends shivers up my spine.”

I laughed at how Collin’s mocking of Titus was pretty much exactly how I felt whenever he said my name. Though I don’t think I’d give that away to Titus just yet. Better to let Collin make an ass of himself than me.

“All right. All right. Let’s calm the fuck down before I start getting chills up my spine, too,” Jake said. “Now, if the man really wants to impress the woman who insisted on a beach day, he needs to get his sorry ass in the water and surf.”

“How the fuck did you two manifest yourselves out of the goddamn ocean like mischievous water nymphs and end up here with Cat and me?” Titus asked with a hint of humor.

“I bet he doesn’t surf,” Jake said to Collin.

“If it will make you leave, then yes,” Titus started, “I can surf.”

Jake pushed his surfboard toward him. “Then get in the water and stop flirting with me as if I personally invented happiness.”

“You surf?” I asked in shock.

“Catalina, I spent half my childhood surfing in the Mediterranean,” Titus answered smoothly. “My brothers and I weren’t discussing quarterly projections in the waves.”

Jake barked out a laugh. “Jesus Christ. Listen to this man flirt.”

I started laughing as Titus dragged one hand down his face. “This was a mistake,” he muttered. “We should’ve acted like we didn’t know them.”

Though I could tell Titus was somewhat annoyed by the interruption, I couldn’t stop smiling. It wasn’t because the men were ridiculous—which they absolutely were—but because Titus was letting them do this to him. He wasn’t barking commands and hiding behind the cold, untouchable billionaire I’d first met.

He looked lighter, more human, and genuinely happy. Somehow, that was far more dangerous to me than the terrifying amount of power attached to his name.

“Time to bring your best self to the game and get out in that water, Hawk,” Jake pressed again.

“I’d love to see your handsome ass out there giving it your best shot,” I said, knowing this would most likely bring Titus back to his youth and let him feel that nostalgic, happy feeling again.