Breaking the Rules (15 page)

It was a flop.

Colin sat at the opposite end of the table next to Scott. She didn't hear what they talked about, but she wished she could be on that side of the conversation instead of the one she listened to.

“And that's how I got rid of the rodent.” Kevin looked smug and smiled at Hope.

She pretended she heard his story and smiled. “So, Kevin, you gonna put on your trunks and get out in the ocean with me?”

“I don't know.” He looked at his watch. “The sun is really strong at this time. You might want to wait until after three.”

Hope opened her mouth to speak, but he continued.

“I always put on a lot of sunscreen, even if I'm not in the direct sunlight. Those UVB rays can sneak in from anywhere. You want me to lather some on you?”

“Uh, not right now. Besides, I put some on before we left the house.”

“I always like to put some on every twenty minutes or so. Better safe than sorry.”

Hope widened her eyes. “Okay, then. In a bit.” She looked down at the other end of the table again and caught Colin staring back at her. He looked away quickly and so did she.

Kevin made eye contact again. “In the classroom, I teach my students all about the ultraviolet rays. It's important that kids learn the effects … ”

Hope closed her eyes. She couldn't listen to much more of this. She stood up. “I'm going to get another drink. You want one?”

“Yeah, I'll take a bottled water.” He looked over at Tim's brother again. “The ultraviolet rays … ”

Hope practically ran to the ice chest beside the grill. Digging through the ice, she found a beer for herself and a water bottle for Mr. Ultraviolet. A whole day next to this guy? This was why she didn't go on blind dates.

Kelly walked up beside her and dug in the ice chest. “So, it's not going well, huh?”

Hope cautiously eyed her date, who continued to talk while no one listened. “I don't think we're very compatible.”

“Why?”

“Have you noticed he talks about himself a lot?” Hope opened her can.

“Honestly, yeah. I thought you'd have more in common since he's a teacher and all.” Kelly bit her lip. “That bad, huh?”

“Pretty bad.” Hope peeked again in Colin's direction.

Kelly nudged Hope's shoulder. “What's going on with you and Colin? I've seen you staring at each other.”

“We are not.” So of course he picked that moment to make eye contact. He got up from his place at the table and Hope turned to Kelly. “He looks really good today, doesn't he?”

“A-hem.” Kelly cleared her throat as Colin neared.

“Hey, ladies.” He opened the cooler and bent down.

“I'm going back to finish my potato salad.” Kelly winked and walked away.

Colin leaned on the table, crossed his feet and opened his beer. “How's your date going?”

She couldn't look him in the eye and tell him the lie. She fingered her can, letting the dampness smooth around her fingers. “It's good.”

He took a sip. “Hmm.”

They looked at each other then, his eyes over the rim. Colin put the can down and bent over her. “But, it's not gob smacking, right?”

Taken aback, she flinched and looked at their friends. No one saw them, but she felt like they were on display for the world to see. Colin touched her upper arm and circled with his thumb. She wanted to melt. One touch and one look, that's all it took with Colin. “What are you doing?”

“I can't help myself. When you're around, I can't keep my hands to myself.”

She looked up at him and his teasing smile taunted her. “I'm on a date with someone else.”

“And why is that?” Colin squeezed her arm and stepped closer. “It's obvious you're not having a good time.”

His dimples pronounced softly. It was all she could do not to reach slightly and cover her mouth on his. And if she was correct, he tried to hold himself back, too.

“You got that water?” Kevin stood next to them with a question in his eyes.

“Oh!” Hope jumped back and Colin released her arm. “Yeah, here it is. Have you met Colin?”

The men studied each other and shook hands.

“You a Yankees fan?” Kevin asked.

“Nah, I just like the hat.” Colin sipped his beer. When Kevin didn't laugh, he added, “I guess I'll leave you two to … whatever it is you two are doing.” He slipped away to the table, rubbing past her shoulder.

Hope watched him approach Scott, smiling as if nothing had happened, all while her heart sped and her breath hitched.

“Everything okay?” Kevin's voice brought Hope back to reality.

“Yeah. Let's get out in the sun. It's a beautiful day.” She started toward the table.

“Like I said, between twelve and three is the worst time to get out in the sun.”

Hope turned around and stopped him from talking. “Okay. Then let's just sit.” They returned to the table and she tried not to look at Colin but couldn't help herself.

Colin stood up straight and called to the playground. “Jas, get over here.” Once Jason came, he gave the instructions. “Get the boogie boards.” He threw his keys into Jason's hands, reminding her of when they played basketball after first meeting.

“Awesome!” Jason ran off.

Scott stood next to Colin. “Boogie boards, huh? You brought the fun stuff, bro.” Scott shaded his eyes from the bright sun, looking for his own kids. “Hey you two, let's build a sandcastle.”

“Oh, fun, I'll get the shovels and stuff.” Sarah began digging through a big tote that sat next to her.

Hope looked at her date, who still sat in jeans and continued to talk about God knew what. “Kevin, I'm going to help with the sandcastle.”

“Oh, okay. Don't mind me. I'll just stay here and do a crossword puzzle.” He pulled out a book from his back pocket.

At that moment, Jason came tearing around the building with two boogie boards and a huge smile. “Come on, Dad.”

Colin put his beer down and pulled his t-shirt over his head. In that instant, the world quieted around her and she only heard her breathing. Holy mackerel, did Colin have a body to die for. She examined him from head to chest, her hands becoming clammy.

Kelly cleared her throat. “Come on, Hope. The sandcastle awaits.”

Kelly and Sarah dragged Hope along behind them. She could barely walk with the image of Colin etched in her mind. Nothing else mattered. Even Kevin's ultraviolet warnings were thrown out the window.

• • •

Colin watched Jason skim the water of the shore, his head back, laughing. It was great to see him so happy. After last night, they had a difficult discussion, which led Jason to run off to his room and slam the door. According to Jason, Colin would ruin his life by making him do extra chores and miss swim class on Monday, since he wasn't attending school. He also ordered Jason to go to the office with him for the day. If Jason was suspended, he would make him work.

But today was a different story. The usual, happy-go-lucky Jason smiled the minute they set foot on the beach. He, on the other hand, didn't know how he felt about the day. He pretended that seeing Hope with that Kevin character was no big deal, but on the inside, it ate him up.

“Try it like this, Jas.” He grabbed his boogie board and let it slide on the water. The feel of the tide pulling him as he moved sideways along the shore gave him a rush. It wasn't quite surfing, but it was something he could do at a semi-crowded beach, to keep his mind busy and away from the tall blonde.

He looked over at Hope again. She sat near the sandcastle and had helped Sarah and the kids build for a few minutes. She then watched the kids continue their fortress, big sunglasses pulled over her eyes. Colin knew she wanted to surf. Looking over at her date, under the awning and near no one, he felt something snap. To hell with it. He wasn't going to let that guy get in the way of them having fun.

“Hope,” he screamed across the beach. When she looked up, he shielded his eyes and nodded his chin up. “Wanna try shore surfing?”

She looked in Kevin's direction and back. “Okay.”

Colin walked over and helped lift her up off the ground. “It's not quite surfing, but it's fun.”

They continued to hold hands. “I can see that.” She watched Jason, who moved around the water, cheering. Then she let go of Colin's hand and walked with him to the water. He tried not to stare directly at her sexy body. She wore a white cover-up shirt over a royal blue bikini, one of those see-through fabrics that didn't cover too much. His hands itched to touch her, so once they got to the boogie board, he held onto her to place her on top of it.

“All you got to do is put your weight up on the board with one foot and then leap off with the other.” He helped her up to the board by her waist. “Not too much weight and we need to get out in the water more. Not too deep.”

“You're full of instruction.” She giggled.

She felt so good under his hands. He wasn't about to let go. “You want to do it right, don't you?”

“Yeah.” She grabbed his hand on her waist. “Okay. So, like this?” She put her two feet up on the board and Colin pushed her across the water. She laughed loudly and wobbled, but Colin held her upright before she could fall.

After a few tries and coaxing from Jason, Hope waved him off. “I think I can do it.”

Colin held up his hands. “Okay. Careful of that sprained foot. Remember to lean forward a little.” Once she was in position, he counted down, “Three, two, one.” And pushed her off.

After a few seconds of drifting, Hope fell into the water, splashing herself and Jason, who surfed next to her. She laughed hard and Colin ran to her side. He loved the sound of her laughter.

Jason squatted down. “You okay, Ms. Robinson?”

Colin knelt beside her. “Thought you could do it, huh?” He rubbed her back.

She looked up at his eyes and smiled. “Now I'm completely soaked.”

“That happens when you're surfing, or at the beach for that matter.” He pulled her up by her hand.

Hope stared at her cover-up and wiped her hands on her thighs. Damnit, if his heart didn't hitch.

“You're going to have to take that off.” Colin wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Want me to help?”

She shook her head and looked for Jason, who stood a few feet away, rubbing the sand off his boogie board. “I can do it.” She peeled the cover-up dress over her head and Colin almost fell over.

It could've been the water tugging at his feet, but he knew it was because her body gave him mini-convulsions. Holy crap, she looked like a Greek goddess, her blonde hair sprawled out across her shoulders, wet at the tips and her royal blue bikini sparkling wet, taunting him to touch her.

He lowered his voice. “That's better.”

She cocked her head sideways and lifted an eyebrow. “Did you do that on purpose?”

Moving closer, Colin cracked a smile. “I didn't do anything.” Then he walked around her looking at her up and down. He couldn't help it. The way she tried to hold her head up, as if unaffected by his stares, made him want to push her and see how much she would take.

“What, exactly, are you doing?” She tried to turn in his direction.

He stopped and smiled slowly. “Looking for that mysterious tattoo.”

This time, Hope moved in closer. “Still can't see it.”

Damn! That swimming suit didn't cover much. There were only two places her tattoo could be located, and Colin's imagination drove him wild wondering if it was up top or on her bottom.

Jason interrupted his thoughts, running up between them. “Dad!”

He didn't take his eyes off Hope. “Yeah, Jas?”

“That guy over there is trying to get our attention.” Jason pointed at Kevin, who stood under an umbrella.

“He's just saying hi. Everyone wave.” Colin and Jason waved.

Hope rolled her eyes. “He wants me, you fools. Be right back.” She started to walk away.

Colin whispered, “Who
wouldn't
want you?” Then in a louder voice, he called out, “Hurry back, I've got to find that tattoo.”

Hope giggled and turned around in a complete circle, still walking toward that Kevin guy — her date, damnit.

Colin sighed and tried not to watch the interaction between the two, but he couldn't help it. Hope stood in front of Kevin with her hands at her hips. After a few beats, she pushed her sunglasses on top of her head and motioned toward the beach. Kevin shook his head and then pointed toward Colin.

“What's going on, Dad?”

“Oh, nothing.” Colin faced Jason, feeling like a huge spy. “You were doing real good out there. Too bad we didn't bring our actual surfboards this time.”

“No kidding. I'm gonna try it again.” He ran off with his boogie board and landed on top of the water.

Colin called after him, “Nice landing.” He cupped his eyes and then turned back to Hope's direction. Kevin had his bag and walked toward his car. Hope, on the other hand, walked back to the sandcastle.

He shook his head. Even in that bikini, her date completely ignored her. Why was he leaving? Dumbass.

But, better for him. A huge smile plastered his face. If her date left, Colin could have more time with her. He walked over to where Sarah and Hope lay. “Mind if I sit with you guys?”

Sarah lifted a pail full of sand and smiled. “Sure, Colin. Here's a towel.” She rummaged through her bag and threw it at him.

Scott stopped his molding of the bridge over a makeshift moat and lifted an eyebrow. “What happened to Kevin, Hope?”

She quickly looked at Colin and back to Scott. “He had to leave. Honestly, it wasn't working out.”

Sarah winced. “We thought so, too.”

“Yeah, well, that's why I don't do blind dates.” She studied Colin. “How about you, Colin? Do you do blind dates?”