cue," Heathcliff said, dropping his napkin on his plate. "You'll have to excuse me, ladies." He got up from the table, and as he did, he brushed something against my arm.
A note.
I ignored it for a few minutes, letting everyone get back to their normal conversations. It was the hardest thing I'd ever had to do. But when no one was looking, I furtively tucked the note into my hand and then excused myself from the table. Rushing to the bathrooms - the only place I knew wasn't filmed - I read it, holding my breath.
----
M eet again at the beach ? - H
----
I ripped the note up and stuffed it into the trash bin so no one could see me with it, then washed my hands and smoothed my clothing. Did I have time to change before heading to the beach? I decided not to chance it. With a hot blush staining my cheeks at the thought of another make-out session, I crept out one of the back staircases, tested the emergency exit door, and then headed down to the beach.
Because it was a private beach, it was empty of all but one single person walking alone. Well, at least Heathcliff would be easy to find. I sat down in the sand, took my strappy heels off (thanks, wardrobe!) and rolled up the legs of my pantsuit to my knees. That done, I headed down the beach toward him, where he was walking in the surf.
"Hello, stranger," I called out as I neared. "What brings you out here?"
Heathcliff turned as I approached and gave me a wicked grin. "Oh, just a secret tryst with a lovely lady."
"Not skinny dipping?" I teased. "I'm so disappointed."
"Maybe if you ask nicely, I'll let you strip me down anyhow," he said, moving toward me. His arms went around my waist and he pulled me against him, and then we were kissing again, just as madly and passionately as before. And if I thought a night away would give me a clearer head, I was wrong. Kissing Heathcliff was as wild and intoxicating as it ever was. I still couldn't get enough.
Eight years later, it felt like we'd broken up yesterday.
"I missed you," Heathcliff told me. When I smiled, he kissed the corners of my mouth. "I'm serious. I missed waking up with you. Tell me I'll get to do that again."
"Maybe," I said softly. I wasn't sure I was ready to make the leap yet. But when he reached for my hand, I twined my fingers with his. Holding hands, I could do. Kissing, I could do. Wild monkey sex with the man who'd torn a hole in my heart eight years ago? Not quite ready for that just yet. "So what are your plans for today?"
He lifted our joined hands to his mouth and kissed the back of my hand. "Spending time with a beautiful woman here on the beach until those horrible production people come and herd me away again. You?"
"Spending time on the beach with an idiot man who thought a reality television show about dating was the best way to get his ex back."
"Hey, don't mock my master plan. It's working beautifully so far."
I just shook my head at that...though he did have a point. As plans went, I supposed this one was effective.
We walked and talked for hours, just happy to be in each other's presence. For the first time, I didn't think it was weird that our stretch of beach at Eden was so incredibly quiet. I was thankful that we were alone and unbothered. We talked about work - I went on about sculptures and glassmaking and my internship with Seville that hadn't quite turned out the way I'd wanted when we parted. Heathcliff discussed his father's tech company and how he'd sold off pieces of it and patents until he'd made over a billion dollars, and then set up accounts for his mother and sisters so they'd never have to work. I wondered what he planned on doing with his money now that he had gobs of it and no business to run, but he said he was contemplating a few avenues of action...whatever that meant. I suspected he had an idea in mind but wasn't ready to share it yet.
It was wonderful to just spend time with him again. It made me ache, thinking of the time we'd lost. We hadn't discussed our
A note.
I ignored it for a few minutes, letting everyone get back to their normal conversations. It was the hardest thing I'd ever had to do. But when no one was looking, I furtively tucked the note into my hand and then excused myself from the table. Rushing to the bathrooms - the only place I knew wasn't filmed - I read it, holding my breath.
----
M eet again at the beach ? - H
----
I ripped the note up and stuffed it into the trash bin so no one could see me with it, then washed my hands and smoothed my clothing. Did I have time to change before heading to the beach? I decided not to chance it. With a hot blush staining my cheeks at the thought of another make-out session, I crept out one of the back staircases, tested the emergency exit door, and then headed down to the beach.
Because it was a private beach, it was empty of all but one single person walking alone. Well, at least Heathcliff would be easy to find. I sat down in the sand, took my strappy heels off (thanks, wardrobe!) and rolled up the legs of my pantsuit to my knees. That done, I headed down the beach toward him, where he was walking in the surf.
"Hello, stranger," I called out as I neared. "What brings you out here?"
Heathcliff turned as I approached and gave me a wicked grin. "Oh, just a secret tryst with a lovely lady."
"Not skinny dipping?" I teased. "I'm so disappointed."
"Maybe if you ask nicely, I'll let you strip me down anyhow," he said, moving toward me. His arms went around my waist and he pulled me against him, and then we were kissing again, just as madly and passionately as before. And if I thought a night away would give me a clearer head, I was wrong. Kissing Heathcliff was as wild and intoxicating as it ever was. I still couldn't get enough.
Eight years later, it felt like we'd broken up yesterday.
"I missed you," Heathcliff told me. When I smiled, he kissed the corners of my mouth. "I'm serious. I missed waking up with you. Tell me I'll get to do that again."
"Maybe," I said softly. I wasn't sure I was ready to make the leap yet. But when he reached for my hand, I twined my fingers with his. Holding hands, I could do. Kissing, I could do. Wild monkey sex with the man who'd torn a hole in my heart eight years ago? Not quite ready for that just yet. "So what are your plans for today?"
He lifted our joined hands to his mouth and kissed the back of my hand. "Spending time with a beautiful woman here on the beach until those horrible production people come and herd me away again. You?"
"Spending time on the beach with an idiot man who thought a reality television show about dating was the best way to get his ex back."
"Hey, don't mock my master plan. It's working beautifully so far."
I just shook my head at that...though he did have a point. As plans went, I supposed this one was effective.
We walked and talked for hours, just happy to be in each other's presence. For the first time, I didn't think it was weird that our stretch of beach at Eden was so incredibly quiet. I was thankful that we were alone and unbothered. We talked about work - I went on about sculptures and glassmaking and my internship with Seville that hadn't quite turned out the way I'd wanted when we parted. Heathcliff discussed his father's tech company and how he'd sold off pieces of it and patents until he'd made over a billion dollars, and then set up accounts for his mother and sisters so they'd never have to work. I wondered what he planned on doing with his money now that he had gobs of it and no business to run, but he said he was contemplating a few avenues of action...whatever that meant. I suspected he had an idea in mind but wasn't ready to share it yet.
It was wonderful to just spend time with him again. It made me ache, thinking of the time we'd lost. We hadn't discussed our
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