Always and Forever by Dara Girard

Author:Dara Girard [Girard, Dara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ilori Press Books LLC

Chapter 10

She had to think. But she still didn’t quite know what to think. Bianca left the spa and paced her room trying to get her thoughts in order, but they kept swirling in her mind.

She needed to find something else to focus on. Work. She would focus on work. She had some designs she hadn’t committed to paper yet. She could have used her tablet, but felt like using a pencil and sketch pad instead, not trusting herself to go more high tech. Simplicity was the key to getting her thoughts back in order. To get her heart to stop beating as if it wanted to jump out of her chest.

She grabbed her portfolio and put her sketch pad and pencils inside and went to the outdoor pool. Sketching outside always helped her make sense of things. She saw an empty lounge chair and walked towards it then stopped when she saw Broderick wearing red and black swimming trunks. He stood with his back to her, rubbing something on his arm. Before, she wouldn’t have noticed the broad expanse of his back, the powerful, muscular curve of his legs. Now her eyes swallowed every angle of his body.

As if he sensed her presence he glanced behind him. His eyes widened when he saw her and he spun around, hiding something behind his back.

“Oh I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It seems you like sneaking up on me,” he said with a nervous laugh.

“No, I…What are you hiding behind your back?”

“Nothing.”

She took a step forward, unable to stop a grin. “Yes, you are.”

He shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

She jumped behind him. He spun around so she couldn’t see it.

“What is it? I won’t tease you, I promise.” She paused. “Okay, that’s a lie. I’ll only tease you a little bit.”

Broderick hung his head and held out the object.

Bianca glanced down at the bottle of sunscreen. She immediately felt guilty. She’d overheard that he burned easily and remembered teasing him about it. “I can’t imagine a woman who’d prefer a man who burns instead of browns,” she’d told him at the London party. She regretted that catty remark now.

“No wonder you always smell like coconuts and bananas,” she said softly.

He sighed then set the bottle back down. “That’s me. A walking tropical fruit basket.”

“I like fruit baskets,” she said, hoping he could hear the sincerity in her voice. “Are you sure you’re putting on enough?”

He stiffened in surprise. “What?”

Bianca set her portfolio down, grabbed the bottle and spread some on her hands. “You shouldn’t forget your neck. Bend down a bit. There, that’s better,” she said, spreading it over his skin, which felt warm under her fingers. She had to resist letting them slide down his back. She never realized she’d enjoy touching him so much.

“Thanks.”

She playfully put a streak down his nose. “Don’t forget your face too.”

He rubbed his nose. “I usually do.”

“You shouldn’t.”

He glanced at his watch. “I’ll remember next time.”

“How do you travel to hot places even though…”

“I can end up looking like a burnt tomato?” he said with a smile.

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