“Sounds great.”
Robbie had diffused her anger, but her mother was still very much between them. As was the fact that Big Buddha had killed everyone she loved. Except her mother. She could see why Robbie might suspect her mother, but no matter how miserable her mother was, Alice was the only happiness in her life. She could never believe that her mother would physically hurt anyone and as a result make Alice miserable too.
Alice lay back on a beach chair perched on the sand at Lido di Jesolo as Robbie swam in the ocean.
The day had turned out to be fun. They’d been to Lido di Venezia, Murano, Burano, and Torcello Islands, Pellstrina, and Punta Sabbioni. Their boat driver and guide had been great. Curtis and Merrick had stayed back and watched for danger while Alice and Robbie had lunch on the beach. Madelyne had apparently set everything up.
Alice was no stranger to money—her mother was a multi-millionaire—but Brandon’s level of wealth still blew her mind.
She was grateful to relax for a few minutes. They’d walked a lot of beaches and beach towns today. Robbie had been itching to get into the ocean and the guide had promised Lido di Jesolo was a fabulous swimming beach and a great way to end the day. The sun was sinking toward the west. It had to be after five. It was odd not to have her phone to check.
Robbie swam sure strokes parallel to where she reclined. She watched him slice through the ocean. He moved well, especially for such a large man. Interesting that he’d been a Ranger and not a Navy SEAL with how much he loved the ocean, swimming, and scuba diving. She’d asked him about his choice years ago and he’d told her he wasn’t a ‘squid’. Some kind of slang against the Navy. He’d been teasing and admitted it was more about his grandfather being in the Army, and though his best friend Chase liked to swim, he hadn’t had the swim lessons and opportunities to swim in the ocean like Robbie had and probably wouldn’t make it through the intense training SEALs had in the water. She suspected the entwined dog tags on his chest were his grandfather’s and his own, but they might have been his and Chase’s.
After about half an hour, he turned and angled into shore. The waves were mellow, lapping against the beach. The spot the guide had brought them to was quiet. There was currently only another couple walking down the beach and a young family playing in the sand at least a football field length away. It was nice to have quiet and peace after the stress of the man pulling a gun on them yesterday and Robbie chasing after him.
Robbie reached the shallow water and stood. She gaped at him as he pushed through the soft waves. He did look like Jason Momoa coming out of the water. She thought Robbie was more handsome than the movie star. Sun glistened off his muscular chest, shoulders, and arms. His hair and beard were plastered to his head, and he looked more like the Robbie she remembered.
He noticed her staring and grinned, his blue eyes twinkling. Thatradiant smile was the sun coming out from behind the dark clouds of the past fifteen years.
Alice sucked in a quick breath. How could she stay immune to him?
He reached the beach and strode confidently to her.
“H-how was the swim?”
“Fabulous.” He pushed his hand through his hair, engaging his arm and shoulder muscles.
Her mouth went dry. She swallowed and had to look away.
“You all right?”
“Dry mouth,” she muttered, grabbing a nearby water bottle and taking a drink.
When she looked back at him, he was smirking. “You are looking entirely too dry.”
“Excuse me?” She blinked at him, not sure what that meant.
“Dry mouth, dry hair, dry swimsuit.” Robbie grinned, bent low, and scooped her off the lounge chair.
“Robbie,” she cried out in surprise, wrapping her arms tight around his neck. Robbie held her against his chest, and every part of Alice soared. “What are you doing?”
“Sweeping you off your feet.” He winked, and she was reminded of the many times he had swept her off her feet. What had followed was heaven on earth.
Would he kiss her? She had no idea how she’d respond if he tried. She yearned to kiss him again, but that was no way to keep him safe from Big Buddha and keep her heart safe when he left her again.
“And remedying your too-dry problem,” he said.
He turned and strode through the sand and into the shallow water with her clinging to him.
“Robbie, no,” she cried out, but she tellingly didn’t fight him. She held tight to him and savored the feel of his muscular body surrounding her and soaring through the air.
He threw back his head and laughed. Alice couldn’t help but join him. She was young, carefree, desirable, and happy in Robbie’s arms. None of the past fifteen years of loneliness mattered.
He pushed through the water until he was chest deep. Then hedipped down underwater, holding her close. Alice closed her eyes and mouth. The water was lukewarm and felt great after sunbathing.
They surfaced, and she blinked water out of her eyes.
“Did we fix your too-dry problem?” he asked, laughter in his voice and crinkling the skin around his eyes.
