Legends

Toes in the Sand: Part I

Allie's POV

I let out a quiet sigh as the warm island breeze drifted across my skin. I settled my head back further onto the pillow in the hammock I was stretched out in feeling a soft smile spread across my lips. This was the most relaxed I had been in a while. We had landed in Nassau early yesterday morning before heading to the bungalow that I'd reserved to catch a few hours of sleep. I was still slightly puzzled on how Brantley knew about this shoot. Had to have been Mike, because he was the only one I could think of that had my actual detailed schedule for the year.

My shoot yesterday had gone smoothly and like always with a ton of laughs. I had snickered at Kenny's jaw dropping when I had walked up to the boat we were gonna use with Brantley trailing behind me. Once he'd recovered from his shock, he'd grinned at me then murmured in my ear as he gave me a hug that it was about damn time. My favorite shot from yesterday had been one of the two of them leaned against the railing as the sun was starting to set both turned to the side facing each other catching up. Brantley in his backwards black hat and shades with Kenny in his ever present straw cowboy hat. Yea, that one would be titled "The Biker and the Beach Bum" for sure.

I was vaguely aware as a shadow fell over me a few minutes later. I tamped down a whimper as I felt a warm, rough palm glide up from my ankle to my knee stroking softly. The coolness of his rings on my sun-kissed skin made me shiver slightly.

"B," I mumbled drowsily. "You're blocking my sun."

"Oh you poor thing," he chuckled as I pulled my aviators down my nose to glare up at him as he smiled down at me. I was totally enjoying the view of all those tattoos and muscles on display along with that damn V-line because of the black trunks that hung low on his hips. "Looked like you needed a little shade. Want me to rub some lotion on ya Allie Cat?"

I rolled my eyes at the wide smirk that spread across his full lips. I shook my head and sighed a little. That was one thing that hadn't changed over the years. The man was a flirt.

"Nah," I quipped pushing my glasses back up my nose with a grin. I settled back against the pillow closing my eyes. "I got the cabana boy to do it for me earlier." I bit my lip at the low growl I heard and kept a laugh in. A second later I felt the hammock dip slightly before a big hand gripped my hip rolling me over to face him. The giggle I had been trying to keep in slipped past my lips. Brantley traced a hand down my arm slowly to the skin of my side that was exposed because of my black bikini to settle on my hip was a possessive grip.

"No one lays a finger on this skin but me," he murmured pulling me closer. "My wife."

"But I'm not," I said poking his chest with my finger causing him to grunt. "Not anymore. Hell, I'm not exactly sure what I am. What am I, B? I mean we have dated, been engaged, married, and divorced. Doesn't sound right to call your ex-husband your boyfriend. I mean....." I was cut off when he leaned down sealing his lips over mine in a searing kiss. I lost all train of thought of what I was going to say as I shifted closer molding my chest to his making the grip on my hip tighten.

"Mine," Brantley mumbled against my lips before breaking the kiss. "That's what you are."

"Caveman much," I said with a giggle laying my head on his broad chest as he growled. "That hasn't changed."

"Only when it comes to you Allie Cat," he sighed playing with the ends of my ponytail. "Damn have I missed this."

"What?" I asked tracing a finger nail around the cross on his lower chest. "The island breeze, the sugary white sand, or laying in a hammock?"

"Nope," he said with a quiet laugh shaking his head before closing his eyes. "Having you in my arms. Something I ached for since you walked out that door honey."

"B..." I said softly. "I'm....."
"Don't apologize Allie," Brantley said with a gentle smile as I lifted my head to look at him. "I was just as much at fault baby. If I had just tried harder then." He bit his bottom lip then shook his head as he laid it back down. I pushed my glasses up to the top of my head looking down at him. He lifted a big hand up cupping my cheek as I leaned into it. "But it's in the past."

"I agree it is in the past B," I said with a sigh sitting up dislodging his hand from my hip looking at him shaking my head. "But don't you think we need to talk about it. Keep us from making the same mistakes."

"Well," he drawled sitting up facing me. I let out a yelp when he looped an arm around my waist tugging me into his lap and laying back. I put my hands on his chest to keep me from falling and glared at him. He gave me a soft smile as he stroked a hand up and down my bare back slowly. Lord did that feel good. "I agree to a point honey. That's why I tagged along. You used to beg me to go and then take a day or two for us. I always had some excuse on why I couldn't. I didn't make you a big enough priority in the past Allie Cat and I am really trying to change that."

"I know you are," I said biting my lip. I knew that he was trying but I was so damn terrified. "You surprised me when you showed up and had plans to come with me. I knew you had plans lined out for your time off, so I hadn't expected this at all. But B....."

"Ah ah Allison Grace," Brantley said shaking his head at me as I tried to duck my head. He caught my chin in his hand forcing me to look at him. "Don't you hide from me. This only works if we both try and are both honest."

"I'm scared," I murmured shakily blinking back the tears that were forming. "I don't think I ever really recovered from last time. I missed you so damn much and....."

"And you think I'm not," he asked me looking into my eyes. "Allie Grace........honey I am scared shitless. I think we both are. But does that make me want to even not try, no. I'm all in baby and I hope you are to."

"I am," I said nodding. "I really am."

"Good," Brantley said with a soft smile wrapping his arms around me pulling me down. "I will say this, I've been enjoying getting to know you again. I missed the little things the most."

"I agree," I said returning his smile. "I did too. I missed curling up in bed like in the early days, talking about what happened that day. Whether it was together or on the phone."

"Oh yea," he said with a chuckle shaking his head. "That half sleepy slur you get right before you conk out. But I will say this missy, I'm gonna be a lot harder to get in bed this go around. I'm trying to be an angel."

"Pfftt...." I said sticking by tongue out at him making him lean up trying to bite it with a laugh as I pulled my head back. "I do remember it was you who put the moves on me. But I agree, lets take this day by day for now."

"Bet you crack waaaayyyyy before I do," Brantley challenged quirking an eyebrow at me. He ran a big hand over his chest smirking at me. "You know you want some of this baby girl."

"While I want deny it," I said rolling my eyes at his cocky ass. "I've never backed down from a challenge and you know it. So it will be you that will be on your knees begging for some of this."

I pulled out of his arms standing up making him growl and reach for me. I gave him a wink and walked quickly to the doorway of the bungalow as an evil thought crossed my mind. I was thankful no one was near us for this next move.

"I'm going to grab a shower since we have dinner plans," I called out to him as he sat up looking at me with a glare. I gave him a wink then reached back to untie the strings of my bikini top. His eyes widened at my movements and he was halfway out of the hammock when I stepped in the door then leaned back around the door frame tossing the top towards him. "Off to the shower I go. And remember taking this slow so no touching Mr. Gilbert!"

"Dammit to hell Allie Cat!!" I heard yelled as I hurried through the bungalow to the shower locking the door behind me just in case. "Not playing fair at all woman!"