I want to pull my hand away. I should. This is ridiculous. I don’t have time for distractions. I’m not interested in him like that. My focus has always been on my career. But my hand remains in his, and my breath catches. It feels too natural, too right.
Against my better judgment, I lean a little closer. My nonchalant facade is beginning to crack.
“Did you know what my life motto is?” I blurt out, desperately trying to distract myself from the way his presence is making everything feel so... off-balance.
He looks at me, startled at first, but quickly recovers, still holding my hand. “Please enlighten me, Ms. Anya,” he says with a smirk.
“Keep your head held high and your middle fingerhigher,” I reply, trying to inject some confidence into my voice.
Daniel stares at me for a beat, clearly taken off-guard, but then a wide grin spreads across his face. His eyes sparkle with amusement.
“That’s quite the life philosophy, Firecracker.” He laughs, a deep, rumbling sound that sends a shiver down my spine. “It suits you, though.”
I grin at his reaction, but my mind is still elsewhere. The warm golden light of the setting sun, the sound of the waves crashing in the background—it all feels too perfect, too intimate. I shake my head, trying to shake off the feeling. He’s just someone I’m working with, right? So why can’t I pull my hand away? Why does it feel like this is exactly where I should be?
I look up at him, my heart thumping in my chest. What is this? What is he doing to me?
∞∞∞
12
DANIEL
I look at her. She’s lost in her thoughts. I watch her as the setting sun casts a warm, golden glow on her face, her hair gently ruffled by the soft ocean breeze. The light bathes her in its soft, warm, amber hue. Her body is revealed in a green bikini that highlights her curves perfectly, and it’s hard not to notice how beautiful she looks. I need to see that smile of hers; it seems like it's becoming my favorite thing to see. “I have an idea,” I say slowly. She looks at me intensely. “Let’s make sandcastles.”
She blinks at me for a moment then laughs. “What?” Her surprise at my suggestion is endearing, her laughter filling the air with a sweet melody that’s as captivating as her smile. Her eyebrows quirk in surprise as she looks at me, her eyes filled with skepticism and amusement.
“Sandcastles?” she echoes, a hint of disbelief in her voice. “Are you for real?”
I can’t help but chuckle at her bewildered expression, her reaction fueling the spark of mischief within me. “Yes. Actually, let’s compete.” I smile smugly.
Her surprise quickly morphs into a smirk, her laughterfading into a challenging glare. I press my lips together to stifle the laughter bubbling in me, loving the way she rises to my bait, the competitive spirit flaring within her.
“And what will I get if I win?” She faces me, intrigued by my proposal.
I chuckle devilishly. “First of all, you’re not going to win.” I correct her. She scoffs. “And secondly, good question.” She rolls her eyes, laughing slightly.
“How about I do anything you want me to do if you win?” I suggest. “And if I win,” I whisper as I shift closer to her, squeezing her hand. She gasps softly, her lips parting. “If I win,” I repeat, my voice low and sultry. I lean in to whisper in her ear, a slight shiver coursing through her body at my proximity. “I will throw you into the water.” I smirk. She turns bright red at my words, her eyes widening with shock. Her hands fly up to my chest, pushing me away half-heartedly.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she accuses, but there’s a hint of excitement behind her feigned annoyance.
“Come on. You are at a beach, with no water or sand on your body. It’s unfortunate.”
She shoots me a glare, her hands on her hips, though I can see the hint of a smile on her face. “You’re going to regret it,” she threatens.
“Oh, really?” I say, raising an eyebrow, enjoying the way she gets riled up. “I’d like to see you try and defeat me.”
With that, she huffs, turns on her heel, and stomps off. I can’t help but chuckle as I watch her walk away, her hips swaying tantalizingly.
“What? Are you going to just stand there and stare at me?” she exclaims. I get up and follow her, my eyes still admiring her figure as she stops near the water’s edge.
“Are you ready to lose?” I tease her, coming up behind her. She turns around, her eyes sparkling with determination. She scoffs, sticking up her middle finger at me. “Lookslike someone’s feeling confident,” I say, still smiling. “You’re feisty.”
She crosses her arms over her chest defiantly, sticking out her tongue at me. I laugh, thoroughly entertained by her brattiness. I’m about to reply when she suddenly bends down to start gathering sand.
My eyes immediately drop to her behind, her body straining slightly as she scoops up the sand. I feel my mouth go dry, my thoughts getting distracted. I quickly shake my head. I might like her, but I happen to be quite competitive myself. I have to win. Plus, think of the reward. I smirk as I bend down to start working on my own creation.
But it’s difficult to concentrate. The sight of her working on her sandcastle in that adorable little bikini is torture. As I build my castle, I glance over at her every few moments, admiring her focused expression and appreciating the view of her from behind.
