His laughter echoed in the stairway as he followed behind me.
"My ringtone is Candy Shop?" he asked when we'd reached the top.
"Because you took me to the Candy Shop the day I moved in."
"Ah, that totally makes sense."
"It does?"
He narrowed his eyes. "Hell no."
"That really sucked," I said, going into the guest room. "What's your grandma going to think?" I gasped. "And your Aunt Dorothy."
He pushed me against the wall. "She probably thinks it's really a song about a candy shop. And I don't give a damn what Aunt Dorothy thinks. Don't worry yourself."
I facepalmed myself. "I'll try."
He lifted my chin. "If you feel real bad, I don't mind cutting a switch and smacking that cute ass of yours."
"You should take a shower."
"Yeah, I'm ripe." He arched an eyebrow. "You wanna join me?"
"No." Yes. "You're making it hard for me to be good."
"And you're making me hard."
I brushed my lips against his. He kissed me back with more force. When we broke apart, he bent down close to my ear. "It's been torture keeping my hands to myself these last few days. I'm aiming to make up for that on our next stop." He stepped back, took off his hat, and bowed slightly. "Ma'am."
* * * *
I didn't believe it could be that simple but Evan was right. The awkward moment when Lydia first arrived dissipated as soon as Evan hugged her.
We ate the best barbeque I ever had. When it turned dark, someone built a bonfire. I sat next to Evan in a lawn chair, enjoying its warmth. He strummed a guitar, his foot tapping against mine.
"Where did you get that?" I asked.
"It's mine. Gram kept this one. My first one."
"Hey, Evan, why don't you play us something?" a cousin of his said. He politely refused, but more people asked.
"You should play."
"Any requests, Billie Marie?"
"There's only one song I can think of when I think of Alabama."
He straightened up in his seat. "If you think I'd do something as clichéd as sing Sweet Home Alabama just because we're in Alabama … " He grinned, kissing me on the cheek. "Then honey, you would be right."
His fingers struck the strings, starting up the familiar riff.
"Y'all know what song this is?" he yelled.
Everyone answered in the affirmative, our voices booming.
"Then sing it."
And we did.
Chapter Thirty
I walked into the huge house in Orange Beach. I blinked rapidly, thinking this was a mirage. The house was tastefully decorated with marble floors and a floating fireplace in the living room.
"You like it?" Evan asked, coming up behind me.
"Like it?" I pointed to the wall of windows across the back wall. "Do you see this? The ocean is the backyard."
"It's actually the Gulf."
"Amazing." I took in the white sands, tranquil blue waters and setting sun.
He placed an arm against my waist. I leaned back, loving the way his chest felt. His heart was beating loudly even though his voice sounded calm. As much as I enjoyed staring at the beach, it was looking at Evan looking at the beach that left me completely speechless. He looked younger, his smile fuller, his eyes brighter.
"Want me to teach you how to surf?"
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak and break up this moment. I wanted to ask him how we were here. A place like this had to cost a fortune.
"I'm going to start the laundry," he said.
"I'll help."
"I got it. Enjoy the view."
I walked around, taking in the house. There was a wall of guitars interspersed with gold albums. I gaped at the name written there.
"Evan … is this … is this his house?"
"Yeah, I filled in for his guitarist last minute. He owed me a favor. I cashed in."
"You played with him?"
Evan nodded.
"You've played with a lot of famous people, haven't you?"
"It's not a big deal. They're not much different from us."
I remembered what Tilla said about him being offered contracts. "Didn't you ever want any of that limelight for yourself?"
He shook his head. "It's never been about fame for me. I just wanted to play music. I'm happiest when I have a guitar in my hand. If people like it, then that's an added bonus."
"People love it. You're talented."
"Thank you, but I've heard that whole, ‘you could have been something special' for a long time. I know my choices don't always make sense, but they are the right ones for me."
I frowned, taking his hand, waiting until he looked at me. "That's not what I meant. Evan. I would never tell you that you could have been something special because the fact is that you are something special."
He pulled me against him. "So are you, Billie Marie."
* * * *
Watching Evan look at Orange Beach was heart-melting. But watching him surf, balancing his body on a board while he floated across the water like an extension of it, was heart-soaring. God, he was beautiful in black board trunks that came just above his knees. His tan skin glistened against the high sun as he moved on top of the wave, riding it to its slow crash. I straddled my board tighter as he paddled toward me.
"What does it feel like when you do that?"
"It feels like I control everything and surrender to it too. It's exciting and yet I'm at peace. Does that make sense?"
"It does."
"I think that wave's calling to you," he said, jerking his head to where the water started to swell.
"Really?"
"Go catch it, sunshine."
I lay belly-down on my board, paddling to it as fast as I could. The wave was bigger than any I'd attempted that day. My legs were shaky as I stood. I rode it-or rather it rode me. Either way it was spectacular and exhilarating until the wall of water tumbled down, smothering me. I fought against the current, kicking my way back to the surface, but it was strong. The salt water filled my mouth and burned my eyes. I started panicking-the very thing you're not supposed to do.
Strong hands grasped my waist and pulled me up.
I coughed and spluttered.
"Just breathe, Price," he said, holding me steady.
I heard my heart beating loud like a warning drum. Then I realized it was his. I pulled away, putting my hand over it. "Are you okay?"
"I misjudged the wave. I should never have let you ride it."
"I'm good. Thank you for jumping in after me."
"You think I was gonna let you drown?"
He pushed the hair away from my face. The anxiety in his expression worried me. "Look at me, Evan. I. Am. Fine."
I moved toward my board but it wasn't there anymore.
"It's lost," he said. "I took the strap off your ankle when I pulled you up."
"We should find it."
"No, let it go," he said, pulling me back. "I need to hold you right now."
I embraced him, treading my feet against his. I went limp against his body, the exhaustion setting in. My naked breasts against his chest … shit.
"I lost my top too."
"I noticed."
I peered over his shoulder, searching the blue depths for my bikini top.
"You're never going to find it in there."
"You're right. It's too deep."
"That's not why. You won't find it because I have it." He chuckled, bringing his hand out of the water. I stared as he twirled my apple green bikini top. I reached for it, but he pulled back.
"Seriously?"
He swam backwards. "You expect me just to hand it over? C'mon, play with me. Try to get it."
I swam toward him, but the boy was like a fish. Finally, I lay flat on my stomach on his board and paddled toward the shore.
"Where you going?"
"Back to the house to get a shirt."
"This is a public beach. You can't walk out there topless."
"Watch me." I turned back. "You can keep the top, too. It's the closest you're getting to my boobs tonight."
Something was after me, splashing with all the chaos of a million simultaneous belly-flops. He caught my foot, stalling my progress.
He gripped the edge of the board. We almost flipped when he got on behind me.
"Put it on."
"Nope."
"Please … shit, I can't believe you got me begging you to put on clothes."
I slid it on. He snapped the back.
"Ouch."
"Just making sure it's secure."
I moved forward on the board, making more room for him. He placed a protective arm around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder.
"Tired?" he asked.
"Exhausted but exhilarated too."