“And the rock climbing?”
“Yeah, that too.” He shot her a rueful smile. “Again, it was about the mental focus. Focusing on the few feet right around you. Kind of like this light bubble from our boards, though it’s bigger. If you look all the way up, or all the way down, it can freak you out, so you just focus on the next foothold or handhold, and let go of the things you can’t control.”
Hayden was silent, paddling slowly.
“Okay there?”
She turned her head to look at him, and even that distance apart, her face wore an expression that made his chest ache. “That says a lot about you.”
Chapter 11
Hayden was glad she had to focus on paddling and keeping her balance, because Beck was really throwing her off balance.
The more he revealed about himself, the more she realized how wrong her first impressions of him had been. And the more he humbled her.
She knew Navy SEALs did amazing, important things. But imagining Beck loaded with gear jumping out of a plane…wow. That was impressive enough, but to admit he’d been terrified? That took incredible guts. He’d probably done a lot of practice jumps—had he also parachuted into combat zones? She didn’t know much about their missions. She should. She’d grown up in San Diego, home to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. But she’d lived in her own bubble. She’d had her own interests; then she’d lost her family, and had developed her own mission, something entirely different from the missions SEALs went on.
“Tell me more,” she said.
“I don’t usually talk much about that stuff.”
“Why not? Do you have bad memories?”
He didn’t answer right away. “Sure, there are some things that are not fun to remember. So I don’t. I have a lot of great memories too, though. Cade and Marco and I met in the Navy. They’re like my brothers.” He paused and his silence made her even more curious. “Met lots of other great guys too. And we accomplished some good things. That’s what I want to remember.”
“Then tell me about those things.”
Beck gestured at the tour guide, who was directing everyone back to shore. “Not now. Maybe sometime.”
Hayden was sad their tour was ending. It had been a magical experience, floating over illuminated water, surrounded by dark, the colorful glows of the other boards nearby, and the distant lights of the city glimmering over the water of the bay. And listening to Beck and getting to know him better…she wanted more of that.
As they neared shore, she tried to remember what she’d been taught. Don’t run the board right onto the sand, so as not to scratch it or damage the lights. Get off in deep enough water so that the fin doesn’t hit the bottom. But as her board slowed, she began to wobble. “Damn,” she muttered.
“Kneel down!” Beck called to her.
Right. That’s what she was supposed to do. That’s what she’d forgotten. These thoughts flashed through her mind as she toppled into the cold water. The leash attached to her ankle yanked and she surfaced, sputtering. “Shit!”
Beck was already right there beside her, reaching for her. “You okay, babe?”
“Yes.” She was annoyed with herself and embarrassed. “I’m fine. Just wet.” She gave him a glum smile as water dripped down her face.
He grinned back at her. “Yes, you are. But still damn cute.”
“Ugh.”
“No worries. I’ve got towels in my car.”
“Good.”
They carried their boards in, removed their life jackets, then headed toward the parking lot. Hayden started to shiver. Now that the sun was down, the air was cooling off.
Beck opened the trunk and pulled out two thick towels. He shook one and wrapped her up in it, pulling her against his body.
“I’ll get you wet too,” she protested, setting her hands on his chest.
“I can handle a little water. Navy SEAL, remember?”
As if she could forget. “Were you afraid of the water too?”
“Nah. I was a good swimmer. I played water polo in high school, and diving was fun for me. Some guys freaked out about that, but I was okay with it.”
He rubbed the towel over her and she studied his face in the light of a streetlamp. “I think you’re kind of amazing.”
His hands stilled on her upper arms. Their eyes met. Tension crackled. Her insides trembled, and not just from the cold. “Yeah?” His voice was low and husky. “Well, that’s cool, because I think you’re kinda amazing too.”
She blinked at him, heat spreading through her from his touch and from his words. “Really?”
“Really. I’ve never met anyone who’s working on a cure for cancer.”