Page 106 of Titus

“Rule number one, always listen to the lovely lady or kiss her goodbye…” Collin said as we all stood here, wondering whether Titus would actually do this.

Titus took the board easily, then looked over at me.

My God, it was unfair for a man to look at a woman this way.

“You truly want to see this?” he asked. “It’s been quite a few years…”

“I really do,” I admitted.

A slow smile spread across his face before he began backing toward the shoreline.

“Careful, Catalina,” he called out. “You might end up liking me too much by the end of today.”

Jake chuckled. “You going to spot butter buns in the water, or am I?”

“I’ve got him,” Collin said, tucking his board under his arm and jogging toward Titus.

“Sorry we stole your date away,” Jake said with a wink.

“Not at all,” I smiled over at him, guiding us up to softer sand so we could watch Titus try to pull this shit off.

“Are you two having a good time?”

I chuckled. “Believe it or not, it’s as if I’ve met an entirely different side of this man. I couldn’t have dreamed up this version of Titus if I were drunk and alone on a Saturday night.”

He laughed. “My brother Jim used to be just like that guy,” Jake said, more serious now. “He almost lost Avery in the beginning because Mitchell and Associates had an anchor around his neck, slowly drowning the man in numbers and takeovers.”

I looked over at Jake. “Titus sort of admitted that to me earlier,” I said. “What helped Jim?”

Jake smiled and opened his arms. “All of us dipshits who learned not to let our professions dominate our lives.”

“Did you make him go surfing, too?” I laughed, trying to picture Jim Mitchell on a surfboard.

“Nah,” Jake said. “He surfed, then got on the bikes with us, but his heart was never really in it. His brain was always calculating the next acquisition instead of the next wave.”

“Being around men like Titus, I can see how the brutal side of that life and the constant chase for the next big thing would consume their thoughts.”

“It’s when they learn it doesn’t define their identity that they, too, can enjoy happiness along with the toys,” Jake smiled and nodded out toward the water. “Your stud is about to show you what he’s made of.”

I glanced out to the water and watched Titus as if he were a damn natural, eyeing the wave he was about to take. I was expecting the man to lose it on the first attempt, but I was starting to wonder if there was anything he couldn’t do brilliantly.

“Fucking natural, man,” Jake said, then called out to cheer him on.

The waves weren’t enormous, curling waves, but they were just enough to push the board at a speed where adrenaline would surface. I clapped twice, smiling and rooting him on. I swear to God, this was definitely not the man I imagined him to be.

I felt my heart race with excitement after he flexed a bicep and slowly sank into the water as the wave brought him in.

“That, sweetheart,” Jake said, “is the sign of a man in love.”

I nudged Jake. “Oh, please. He doesn’t even know me.”

“Men are different. We’re not emotional creatures like you lovely ladies. We’re black and white.” He paused, then smiled. “I just hope you like him, because I don’t think that motherfucker is going anywhere.”

“Get your head out of the fantasy clouds.”

“What are you kids planning tonight?” Jake asked, turning to watch Titus and Collin swim back out for another wave.

“I’m just going home,” I said honestly.