Authors: Robyn Grady
‘All
set.’
He
wouldn’t explain further, only led her to the casino foyer and out into the
forecourt, where a sleek black sports car awaited. When a uniformed porter opened
the passenger’s side door, Libby hesitated only a moment before giving into the
spirit of adventure and sliding into the sumptuous dark leather cabin. After
buckling up, Alex ignited the engine and, incredibly low to the ground, the car
zipped out the hotel grounds.
Anticipation
balling in her stomach, Libby looked across and took in Alex’s classic profile,
dramatically silhouetted against the moon and streetlights. ‘So, where are you
whisking me away to now?’
His
mouth hooked into a grin. ‘That’s top secret, I’m afraid.’
They
headed away from the bright lights until, looking around, Libby realised there
were few lights at all. Minutes later, he drove into a darkened and otherwise
empty car park positioned one side of a quiet stretch of sand dunes. While
Libby racked her brains, trying to work out what came next, her door opened and
Alex offered a hand.
A
cool salty breeze filed through her hair as she pushed to her feet and scanned
the peaceful scene.
The
hum of traffic and lights from the city seemed an eternity away while the stars
were a hundred times brighter and nearer than she’d ever seen. Beyond the
dunes, the rhythmic wash of waves called. Seemed that Alex heard their call
too. His hand folded around hers and he gave an encouraging tug.
‘Let’s
walk.’
Her
heart flew to her throat. ‘On the
beach
?’
‘Sure.’
He squeezed her hand. ‘Slip off your shoes.’
‘Alex,
you know I haven’t—’ Her throat convulsed and she swallowed. ‘I haven’t …’
Cupping
her face, he smiled into her eyes. ‘You haven’t been on a beach since your
accident. Tonight, I think that should change.’
Tonight?
Right
now
? ‘You’re serious?’
‘More
than you know.’
When
he slipped off his shoes, Libby’s breath hitched in her chest. Barefoot, he
headed toward the dunes, then threw a glance back. ‘You coming?’
Libby
took a few deep breaths but her head still tingled with the heavy scratchings
of panic. He didn’t know what he was asking.
‘The
sand’s cool and soft,’ he said before lifting his nose to the air. ‘I can feel
the salt spray on my face.’
Closing
her eyes, Libby lifted her face too. As moist briny air filled her lungs,
pictures of her playing in the sand as a girl rushed up—carefree, innocent—and
an unexpected urge gripped. When she opened her eyes, her pulse was thumping
with the beginnings of excitement.
Do it. Just do it!
Before
she could change her mind, she swept off her shoes and hurried to meet him on
top of the grassy dune. Laughing, he snatched a kiss, grabbed her hand and
together they navigated the downward sandy slope.
Libby
found herself laughing too. Yes, the sand was cool and powder soft. It felt so
good, she had to fight the impulse to fall to her knees and scoop the grains up
in her arms like she used to. Should she have tried to do this sooner, or was
now simply the right time? With the right person. She couldn’t say that she was
completely anxiety free. But with Alex walking alongside of her, his hand
fitted so firmly around hers, she could handle the unease and focus on the
great memories rather than the sad.
Libby’s
gaze slipped to Alex’s thoughtful profile as he watched the waves folding in
several metres away. Was he thinking of how his mother had once taken him to
the beach? Was he wishing he’d been old enough to remember? Good memories mixed
with sad …
Alex
seemed to come back from wherever his mind had been and glanced down at her
feet. ‘How’s it feel?’
‘Weird,’
she replied, then admitted with a happy grin. ‘Nice. Very nice.’
The
sparkle in his eyes said he was pleased. ‘Someone once told me our only
restrictions are the ones we place on ourselves.’
‘Carter
White?’ He nodded and it made sense. But, to be fair, as Alex well knew: ‘Sometimes
it can be a challenge to conquer them.’
Beneath
a glittering stream of stars, his gaze intensified. Was he thinking of the
limitations he put on himself in later life? Personal boundaries, cut-off lines
he didn’t want to revisit even with all his success and world acclaim?
His
pace slowed and he gestured to something up ahead. ‘Looks as if we’re expected.’
Libby’s
spirits dropped. She’d thought they were alone, just them and the stars and the
sea. But, yes, ahead up the beach sat a small enclosed marquee, barely
illuminated by a handful of misty lights. Then the gentle strains of a symphony
seemed to fade up out of nowhere. Violins, saxophones … an invisible orchestra
was playing.
But
as they ventured closer, it became apparent that the marquee, and immediate
area, was vacant. Libby darted a look around and pricked her ears to catch any
sounds of company. But Alex didn’t look the least surprised or curious.
Finally
coming up to speed, she set her hands on her hips. ‘You organised this, didn’t
you?’
He
only laughed. ‘Guilty, Your Honour.’ He moved to an ice bucket, proceeded to
inspect the champagne bottle’s label, then exclaimed, ‘Exceptional year. But we’ll
open it later. For now …’ After replacing the bottle, he returned to stand
before her. His warm hand twined around hers, he pressed a light kiss to her
knuckles, then brought their clasped hands to his lapel. ‘We’re going to dance.’
‘Here?’
‘Yes,
Libby. Here. Now.’ His gaze roamed her face. ‘You’re going to dance with me.’
Panic
fisted in her windpipe. ‘But the sand … it’s so uneven.’
His
other hand scoped around to support her back. ‘I’ve got you.’
Libby
was ready to insist. She didn’t feel like dancing. Wasn’t getting her on the
beach after so long breaking down a big enough fence for one night? But as his
gaze continued to hold hers and his confidence in her radiated out, she pressed
her lips together, inhaled one big steadying breath and, sucking it up, let the
music filter over her.
As
the chorus of a well-known love song grew slightly louder, Alex took one step,
then another, and gradually something strong and instinctive took over and
Libby began to move too, stilted at first, feeling uncertain … awkward. But he
continued to move along with her, then move a little faster. Next he was
winding her under his arm. When he brought her back, he swayed with her again
before the music segued into something more dramatic.
He
rested his forehead against her. ‘What do you think? Ready to go to town?’
Before
she could say, ‘No! Definitely not!’ he did some incredible move and wound her
under his arm again before dipping her Valentino style and leading her in a
dramatic tango charge. Stunned—
amazed
—at
any moment Libby fully expected to fall flat on her face. But although her
moves were hardly smooth, she kept up. Kept up and more! When he changed
direction and slid back the other way, she gave herself over to the
impulsiveness of it, to the freedom. To the trust. And for the first time in
years, it was true.
She
lifted her face to the moon and laughed out loud.
She
was
dancing
!
They
danced until the night air grew too cold on her arms. Alex removed his jacket
and, moving behind her, drew the warm black fabric over her shoulders. As he
stood once more in front of her, she peered up into his gaze, dark grey and
intense in the shadows, and suddenly the awareness of what throbbed between
them, of what they’d shared in just over a day, became too much.
She
thought she’d loved Scott but the feelings she had for her ex seemed childish
beside the intensity of the sensations Alex brought out in her. From the first
moment they’d met, he’d touched a place within her she hadn’t known about. What
she felt now was beyond anything she could ever have believed could exist
between a man and woman. It was exhilarating. Thrilling. And way more than a
little scary.
She
was feeling so much so soon. For so many reasons it wouldn’t be wise to let
herself feel too much more.
Libby
blew out a shaky breath and stepped back. She needed some space to get her
whirling thoughts together, so she headed toward the water and gazed out over
the dark undulating blanket of the sea. She filled her lungs with fresh briny
air, not surprised that the constant crash of waves, the ocean’s thunderous
heartbeat, matched her own.
At
her back, Alex’s natural heat enveloped her and his rich voice touched her ear,
spreading ripples of intense pleasure over every inch of her skin.
‘You’re
still cold?’
Smiling,
she snuggled down into his jacket and huddled back against him. ‘I’m just
right.’
‘Are
you sure? That breeze is fresh. I flicked on the heater in case.’
She
angled around. Sure enough, a tall outdoor heater was set up to one side of the
marquee. Its large grate was glowing red. Deep inside the softly lit tent sat a
plush divan with piles of comfy-looking cushions. A fluffy white blanket lay
folded at one end.
She
arched a brow. ‘This is all very convenient.’
Not
bothering to hide a grin, he ushered her toward the divan. ‘Isn’t it?’
After
settling back against a pile of pillows set in one corner, she waved away his
offer of champagne. She only wanted to snuggle beneath that blanket and drink
in the enchanting view with Alex’s strength and heat supporting her.
When
Alex joined her, he shook out the blanket and tucked the soft folds in. ‘Warm
enough?’
Burrowing
into him, she sighed against his chest. ‘Now I am.’
They
sat together, her legs curled up to one side, the heater emitting a warm
ghostly glow while the moonlit sea stretched out before them to infinity.
With
her cheek resting against his chest, he was stroking her shoulder when he
noted, ‘The moon on the water looks like a net cast with pearls.’
She
examined the sea, then sat up and gave him a curious look. ‘You really have a
thing for pearls, don’t you?’
He
chuckled. ‘Not before meeting you, I swear. Maybe it was our conversation the
other day over lunch—’ his palm traced over her crown ‘—or perhaps it’s the
lustre of your hair that reminds me whenever we’re together.’
Libby
considered his words. She supposed pearls could be the jewel for her. Diamonds
sure as heck hadn’t worked. The cluster she’d worn as an engagement ring had
been gorgeous but had never been truly special to her, no doubt because Scott
hadn’t presented her with a ring when he’d proposed. After many embarrassing
questions from friends and family, she’d gone and bought her own. After
everything had fallen apart, she’d been so disillusioned she’d sworn never to
wear another diamond on her finger. But pearls …