Testing The Waters

Chapter Thirty-Four

By the time we're ready to leave, I'm so full I don't think I'll eat for a week.

Alex's Uncle Murray kept brining out food to us, excited to share their love of cooking with every recipe they wanted me to try. And every single bite was like manna from heaven. The multiple awards lining their restaurant walls are definitely well deserved.

I also absolutely adore Alex's Aunt and Uncle. There's so much affection in everything they do, and they are just seriously so funny. I was in tears when Uncle Murry told me about the time Alex was a toddler and ran out of the bathroom in a restaurant full of customers butt naked, claiming the toilet ate his underwear.

Poor Alex just groaned into his hands, even though his shoulders were shaking in laughter.

When it's time to leave, both his Aunt and Uncle give me gigantic hugs that I quickly return and make me promise to come back for a visit soon.

I don't miss the moment Uncle Murray hugs Alex to him in the most affectionate embrace I've ever seen. His uncle says something to him that has Alex swallowing down his emotions through a nod.

By the time we leave the restaurant, the sun is low on the horizon, not too far from sunset. We get to the car, and I look at Alex in question when he only unlocks the trunk, grabbing a blanket. He grabs my hand and has about two seconds of forward motion towards the beach before I pull back.

"Alex, what is that blanket for?"

"It's for the beach," he says, pulling me, but I don't budge.

I chew on my lip, fighting back the anxiety that is quickly growing.

"Please just trust me on this?" He smiles, his dimples on full display.

He does not play fair.

I let out a sigh. "If one bird attacks me, Alex... So help me God, I will be fixin' for a fight."

Alex grins, and I begrudgingly follow him down the path to the beach, keeping a nervous eye out for any vindictive birds as I start tucking back all of the flyaway strands back under the cap. At one point, I have to stop and remove my flip flops just so I can walk in the copious amounts of sand.

I'm nearly out of breath when my feet make it to the top of the sandhill, giving me an uninterrupted view of the golden ocean lit by the evening sun.

I have to admit, it's breathtakingly beautiful. I take in a deep breath as the smells of the ocean fill my nostrils.

Alex squeezes my hand and leads me down the sand not far from the ocean line. He spreads out the blanket and removes his t-shirt, tossing it on the blue and white blanket.

I eye his glorious chest against the backdrop of the beach, and I have to force myself to look away before I'm tempted to maul him in public.

I pull my shirt over my head, careful not to knock the hat off.

Alex groans. "You had to wear that bathing suit?"

I shimmy out of my shorts, glancing at him over my shoulder. "What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing's wrong with it if you don't mind me having a constant erection like I did on the fourth of July for damn near 3 hours," he says, laughing to himself.

I turn to face him and lift a flirtatious shoulder. "I can take it off it offends you that much."

Alex raises an eyebrow, his eyes dancing between me and the various people lining the very public beach.

When I pretend to reach around my neck to where my top bikini strap ties, Alex growls and jumps at me, picking me up in one swoop as his arms wrap tightly around my hips. When I see that he's walking us towards the water, I start to panic and push on his chest.