Magic Flirts! 5 Romantic Short Stories Page 7

  Pushing back the bad memory, he spotted a woman alone on a beach blanket. He recognized her from the photograph. Jacey was an unforgettable beauty, and there she was in front of him. That was fast. He smiled to himself, suspecting this assignment would be easier than he’d imagined.

  A stack of seashells and sand dollars sat on her blanket next to a little pile of sea glass. He walked up to her.

  “Plundering the ocean for treasures?” His Australian accent rolled off his tongue. It usually had an effect on American women.

  Jacey’s eyes widened. “You’re far from home.”

  He planted the end of his board in the sand. “On vacation in the States for the winter. Or should I say, for your summer.”

  She looped her hands around her knees. “Sounds fun. I’d love to go to Australia some day.”

  A kid walking by with a pail of water stopped and gaped at Jacey’s shells. “Whoa, you found all of that here?”

  Jacey nodded. “I’m a master beachcomber.”

  “I’ve never found a sand dollar,” the little boy said.

  She reached down and picked one up, handing it the child. “Here’s the first one for your collection.”

  “Wow, thanks!” He bit his lip. “But I’d really like to find my own, too. Can you show me where to look?”

  She stood, brushing sand off her legs. Val spotted a modest turquoise bikini under the white oversized shirt that was tied at her waist. He found the ensemble so much sexier than the skimpy suits some women wore that showed practically everything.

  “Hey, can you help me find one, too?” Val asked, snapping his eyes away from her slim figure. “I’ve never found one, either. Usually too busy being on the water than poking around in it.”

  “No problem. I’m Jacey, by the way.”

  “Val,” he said, holding out his hand.

  The kid, probably ten years old, glared at Val like he’d staked his claim on Jacey. “I’m Joey,” the kid said. “And I was here first.”

  “We can both look, mate,” Val said as the kid shot him the evil eye.

  “Don’t worry, there are plenty of sand dollars for everyone,” Jacey said with a kind smile.

  Jacey led them down to the surf. The tide was heading out, rushing in, then pulling back, exposing a tumble of shells and tiny stones. “Most of the sand dollars you’ll find are buried. Look for a small, round, white spot stuck in the sand.”

  They walked along, Jacey tucking her hair behind her ears as the wind swirled around them. “Look, there’s one. See it?” She pointed to a white splotch half hidden in the sand as the water stilled for a moment before the next wave hit.

  The kid’s eyes widened and he plunged his hand into the water and snatched it up. “Wow! The first sand dollar I ever found on my own.”

  “Congratulations!” she said. “Make sure you only take the white ones. Live sand dollars are dark with fuzz on them. Leave those ones behind. Did you know they’re actually a type of sea urchin? Their fuzz is like the urchin’s prickly spikes.”

  “Cool! I’m going to go show my sister!” Joey ran off, and Jacey smiled up at Val.

  “Now let’s find your very own sand dollar,” she said to Val. Her voice was sweet and sassy, and she sounded younger than she looked.

  “You certainly know your shells,” he said.

  “Actually, they’re not shells. Shells are external to an organism. The sand dollar is an endoskeleton.” She laughed. “Sorry. I’m a huge beach nerd. Probably should have been a marine biologist or something. I just love the ocean.”

  He smiled. “Me too.”

  They sloshed along the shore, but Val wasn’t looking very hard for a sand dollar He was too intrigued by her. “Are you on vacation?” he asked.

  “No, I live on Cape Cod. I made sure I found a job down here so I could be close to the water. I’m an occupational therapist at a school, so I get summers off.”

  “Sounds perfect. Do you surf?”

  “No. I’ve always wanted to, though.”

  “Never too late,” he offered.

  She pointed at the water. “Look, right by your foot.”

  He spotted a sand dollar and grabbed it. “Thanks. My very first one.”

  She grinned at him, and her smile was dazzling. She was beautiful in a classic way. If he were still alive, he’d be interested, and not just for a fling. There was something about her that instantly appealed to him. It was a strange feeling, a connection he hadn’t expected.

  “I was going to surf, but the waves don’t look too promising right now,” he said. “Can I take you to lunch?”

  Her eyebrows rose, and she took a moment, as if to consider his offer. She shrugged. “Sure. Let me get my things.”

  She packed up her treasures and folded her beach blanket. Then she untied her cover-up and slid it off.

  Val blinked a few times, enjoying the view of her perfect, lightly tanned skin.

  She reached into her bag and pulled out a sundress. After slipping it on over her bathing suit, she packed everything up into the bag and grinned.

  He should be scanning the beach, looking for anyone who could be her potential match. But he wanted to get to know her first before searching for someone suitable.

  He led her to his Jeep, and they drove to a waterfront restaurant just down the road.

  Jacey spent a long time studying the menu. “I can’t decide between scallops and lobster.”

  “Get both.”

  She puffed out her cheeks. “That’d be way too much to eat.”

  “All right, pick one and I’ll get the other. We can share,” he offered.

  She closed her menu and cocked her head. “Sounds perfect.”

  After they placed their orders, he smiled at her over their drinks. “I’m just going to come out and ask. Are you single?”

  She sighed softly. “Yes. It’s a chronic condition for me.”

  He chuckled. “That’s hard to believe.”

  “Not at all. This is a perfect example why I’m single, right here. I meet a cute guy, and he lives halfway around the world. No future in that, right?”

  Reluctantly, he said, “No, I guess not.”

  Sighing, she settled her hand under her chin. “That’s how things usually work for me. I think the universe is trying to keep me single.”

  “Well, you’ve got to believe the right one is out there for you somewhere.” He slid his hand across the table so the tips of his fingers grazed hers.

  “No, I don’t.” She curled her hand into a fist, pulled away from his touch, and looked down. “I used to believe in that, but I’ve never experienced it myself. And I’ve seen too many relationships go bad to believe that true love is anything more than a quaint notion these days. It doesn’t exist.”

  He whistled. “That’s a bold statement.”

  She shrugged. “I’ve seen so many people get hurt. People I love and care about.”

  “What exactly happened?” He hadn’t expected to get to the crux of the matter so easily.

  She blew out a breath. “Which bad relationship to start with? My parents, who divorced when I was ten and kept fighting afterward about visitation and child support? Or my best friend, whose husband slept with the stripper at his bachelor party? She found out nine months later when the woman showed up at her door with a baby. The bastard left my friend for her.”

  Val didn’t know what to say.

  “My sister Julie just got engaged, but I’m scared for her. I don’t think it will last. I don’t know anyone who’s lived happily ever after.”

  “No one?”

  She shook her head. “Probably the hardest was watching my cousin go through his divorce. We’re the same age, and we’re very close. I became good friends with his wife.” Biting her lip, she continued. “But she never loved him. She got pregnant right after they started dating, so he married her. But she was cheating on him the whole time.”

  “I’m sorry. That really sucks.”

  “I know. Right aft
er they bought their dream house, she divorced him.” Her voice sounded pained. “He’s a wealthy lawyer, but she got the kids, the house, and tons of money from him—a great big reward for being a tramp. Now her boyfriend lives with her. So my cousin is basically paying her to live with another guy. My cousin is devastated, and I feel cheated too. I cared about her, and she deceived us all.”

  He reached for her hand, and she let him take it. “That’s horrible. I’m so sorry.”

  She let out a big breath then shrugged. “Love is just a fanciful idea. At least in my world. It’s like believing in unicorns. Fun to imagine it could be real, but silly. I don’t want any part of it.”

  He was quiet for a moment. This wasn’t the normal broken heart he usually dealt with. At least someone who had found and lost love might have the hope of finding it again. But Jacey had never experienced it herself. “I’m sorry you’ve witnessed so much sadness, but won’t it be a lonely life without even the hope for love?”

  “At least I won’t get hurt. I have a good life. I love my work. I have friends, family. I’m near the beach. My life is good. Not everyone finds love. It’s just easier if I accept that now.”

  “So you never date?” Val asked.

  “I go on dates, but just for fun. Lots of people spend their life alone. I’m fine with that.”

  Val closed his eyes for a moment. No wonder this was his final assignment. It’s not that she couldn’t find love, it’s that she didn’t even think she wanted it. But at least she dated. That was a small opening to get her to want more. He looked at her and smiled. “It’s not often you meet a woman who doesn’t want something serious. We could have some fun together this summer, Jacey.”

  Her eyes widened and she looked horrified. “It’s not like that. I don’t sleep around with guys.”

  Lord, he was a jackass. “No, I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant. I just thought we could hang out. Hunt for sand dollars. Teach you to surf.” He curled up one side of his mouth in what he’d been told many times was an incredibly cute grin.

  She let out a breath and smiled. “That would be nice.”

  “But you need to stop telling strangers how to find sand dollars or there won’t be any left for us.”

  She laughed. “Fine. I’ll only tell the saddest of small children.”

  “Good. ‘Cause I don’t think little Joey was after your sand dollars.” He raised an eyebrow and she laughed.

  ***

  After finishing their food—the chance to enjoy the taste of lobster again was reason enough to become one of Cupid’s agents—they went back to the beach. “Let’s try to get you up on my board,” he said.

  She blinked at him. “That’s not a sexual innuendo, is it?”

  Chuckling, he said, “No. Guess that does sound dirty, though. All right, some good waves are coming in so let’s give this a shot. Ideally, you’d be wearing a wet suit, but we’ll get out when you’re too cold. We can practice on the sand, first.” He set the board on the ground. “Lay down with your toes touching the end. You’ll paddle out like that. When you’re ready to stand, put your hands on either side of your chest and push up to your knees.” He demonstrated his moves for her. “Then bring your front foot forward, leave your back foot where it is, and stand up. Now give it a try.”

  She took off her sundress and tossed it on top of her bag.

  Val swallowed hard, watching her, and when she lay down on his board he had to look away for a moment and remind himself to stop ogling her. He’d tried teaching several women how to surf before, but none were interested enough to give it a go more than once or twice.

  Jacey followed his instructions and was up on the board. “Probably the only time I’ll ever be standing on this thing, when it’s flat on the sand.”

  “No, you’re going to get it. I promise. Now, when you’re standing you want to be in the middle of the board, and you need to bend your knees and put your arms out straight. Then you ride the wave.”

  Jacey pretended she was surfing a wave, then tumbled to the ground like she’d wiped out. But she popped up and clapped her hands. “All right, let’s try this.”

  Most women he’d tried to teach had been worried about smearing their mascara or messing up their hair. No one had ever given it a real shot. He loved Jacey’s enthusiasm.

  She paddled out like he’d instructed, but fell off. But she was a trooper. She attempted it dozens of times, despite never getting the hang of it.

  “Had enough for today?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “I want to get up at least once.” She paddled out again and stood up on the board.

  “Bend your legs, bend your legs,” Val whispered.

  And she bent her legs and stayed on the board, riding the wave in until she approached the shore and hopped off. “I did it!” Her eyes were wide, and her smile was huge.

  Val ran to her, picked her up, and swung her around. Her skin was cold under his grip. Setting her back on the ground, hands gripping her upper arms, he said, “You got it!” He planted a kiss on her lips. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” She quickly kissed him back, then took a step back. “Thank you for teaching me.”

  “I’ve never seen anyone work so hard and for so long to stay up. I’m impressed.”

  “It was incredible. But I definitely want to wear a wetsuit next time.”She shivered.

  Val’s instinct was to pull her into a hug, but he grabbed her beach towel instead and wrapped her in it, keeping his arms around her. “I’m renting a little place not far from here. It’s got a fire pit outside. Want to go warm up?”

  She nodded, and he helped gather her things.

  He picked a small rose from one of the wild bushes growing in a nearby sand dune. Crazy to see them grow at the beach. The smell was intoxicating. He handed it to her. “In honor of your big day.”

  She closed her eyes and held it to her nose. “Thank you,” she said, tucking it behind her ear.

  She slipped back into her dress, and they hopped into his Jeep and drove five minutes to the small cottage Cupid had arranged for him. It had a view of the ocean from the front porch, and Val thought it would be nice to live there forever.

  “I have shrimp in the refrigerator. We can cook them on the grill,” he offered.

  “Sounds great.” She sighed and stretched out in a lounger on the front porch. “This is such an amazing spot. You’re going to have a wonderful summer.”

  He smiled at her as he lit the fire pit. “I think you’re right.”

  Jacey brushed out her wet hair as Val cooked. He reminded himself that he was getting to know her so he could find the right guy for her. But he knew he’d be happy spending every day of the summer with her, watching her learn to surf, hunting for shells… and endoskeletons, he thought with a smirk.

  Jacey still looked cold, so Val dashed inside and grabbed a sweatshirt. “Here,” he said. “I’ve got goose bumps just looking at you.”

  She rolled her eyes and slipped it on, her tiny body disappearing in the material. At first, only her nose and eyes poked out of the sweatshirt hood, like a cautious sea creature. She joined Val at the picnic table on the porch. “This smells good. Thanks so much for inviting me over.”

  He grabbed them both a beer and served up their dinner. Afterward, he added wood to the fire pit.

  “Wish we had stuff for s’mores,” Jacey said.

  “Isn’t that melted marshmallows and cookies?”

  “Not exactly. Melted marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers.”

  “The previous renters left some stuff. Let me go look.” He dashed inside and rifled through the cupboards, finding what he needed. He sent a silent thanks to Cupid for hooking him up, then he quickly returned with the goodies. The sun was setting, and Val knew he should send her home. But he wanted to be with her as long as he could.

  Val loaded two sticks with marshmallows and handed one to Jacey. “I haven’t had one of these in a long time,” she said.

  �
�I only had them once when I was a kid camping out,” he said. “That’s really an American thing.”

  When the marshmallows were golden, he slid them onto graham crackers, and Jacey topped them off with a piece of chocolate and another cracker. “They’re so messy!” she said.

  He picked up one and held it out for her. “Let me endure the mess for you.”

  She took a big bite and groaned, laughing. “Mmm. Why don’t I eat these every day?” She licked her lips.

  “It probably tastes better because it’s a rare treat.”

  “Maybe. But I resolve to have one every day this summer.”

  “I can make them for you if you want,” he offered.

  She locked eyes with him. “That might be fun. Since you’re only here for a while.”

  Val moved closer and slid his hand behind her neck, softly settling his lips on hers in a gentle kiss. He licked his lips. “Never had a s’mores kiss before. I’d like one of those each night this summer.”

  “Deal.” She sucked in a deep breath and kissed him, crawling into his lap and snuggling in his arms as the fire crackled and popped in front of them. He liked how she nestled against his chest; how she fit there just perfectly.

  “The moon looks so big tonight. Like it can’t believe Jacey Lawson’s kissing someone, so it’s coming in for a closer look.”

  Val laughed. “It’s actually a super moon. Right now, the moon is closer to earth than any other time of year. So it looks closer and bigger.” It was as if Cupid had staged the sky for them.