“Well…” I wasn’t sure how to answer. “You’re nice and definitely not as boring as the tour group. You’ve shown me some beautiful views and given me history lessons… I like your company.” It crossed my mind that maybe he thought I was just there in search of a summer fling. “Spending the night together wasn’t meant like… uh…”
I didn’t know how to go on. I wasn’t about to tell him that I’d never even been kissed. Fortunately, Payton seemed to have gotten the answer he’d been looking for.
“I just wanted to know if there was another reason for you to come to Scotland. Friends, or family, for example. I knew we wouldn’t… you know… spend the night together.”
He said it so calmly that his words pained me.
I guess I wasn’t his type, since he obviously had no intention of making any moves on me. Although I had only just that moment made sure he knew nothing serious was going to happen between us, I still somehow hoped he might try.
“No, I don’t know anyone in Scotland. Or Great Britain, France, Spain…”
I couldn’t understand why he’d had to go and spoil the atmosphere with such a stupid question.
“Let’s go,” I said.
The white beach of Mallaig was breathtaking. Cobalt water lapped in small waves on the fine sand, washing away our footprints as we went. We had already walked quite a way along the coast when Payton pulled a picnic blanket out of his backpack and spread it out behind a dune. We had already eaten dinner, but it was a nice place to rest. Payton lay down on his back, tucked his arms behind his head, and closed his eyes.
How could he be so relaxed while my heart was constantly tapping at top speed? Trying to appear as collected as he was, I lay down next to him. Seagulls circled the water, calling out in their shrill voices. I closed my eyes, too. My skin tingled. I hoped with all my might that he would take my hand… Then I quickly opened my eyes again.
“Payton, seriously. Where are we going to sleep tonight? Can’t I stay at your place?”
At first I thought he had fallen asleep because it took him such a long time to answer.
“No, that is not a good idea.” He sat up and drew a pattern in the sand with a stick. “I was thinking we could stay here.” He doodled some circles, waves, zigzags, and flowers. He seemed immersed in his sand creations—or maybe he was just pretending.
“Sleep here? On the beach?”
“If you want. We could make a fire, and I have some drinks in the car. And blankets.”
I’d been thinking I’d sleep on a bed, or at least a couch. Then again, the idea of sleeping on the beach was extremely romantic. Well, I figured, I’d lost my good sense, and now I was losing my heart to this inscrutable Scot, so I might as well go for it. As least when I got back to Delaware, I’d have a fantastic memory.
“OK.” I made a split-second decision. “That sounds good.” I gave him my most beautiful smile. “But if we’re going to be here for a while, then I’m going for a swim.”
Now, I thought, let’s just see if there really was nothing about me that would appeal to this nineteen-year-old boy. I whipped off my jeans and pulled my shirt over my head. In just my bra and underwear, I ran into the ice-cold water.
Before I could think about it, I dove right in, swimming and swimming until I felt numb.
Payton sat on the beach and watched me.
CHAPTER 7
Payton watched Sam, feeling like he could hardly breathe. The pain was almost unbearable. She was really pushing him toward his limit. Yet still he needed to be near her, almost more than he needed air to breathe. She made him feel more alive than anything else in the last 270 years. But he knew he couldn’t carry on like this for much longer. He would have to talk to Sean.
All day, Payton had tried to ignore the pain. He’d even reached out to touch her when she told him she was feeling homesick. Seeing her upset was almost as bad as touching her. He wasn’t sure he could survive a full night of torment. He’d probably collapse. But he didn’t want her to see what she did to him—at least not yet.
Payton couldn’t lie to her, and he couldn’t explain anything without frightening her. And that, he definitely did not want to do. Since they’d arrived at the beach, he had felt something besides the pain. Warmth! He had felt the warm sun on his skin. He knew it was impossible. There was no such thing as warm or cold for him. And yet, he knew he was being warmed all the same.
All this has to mean something, he told himself. He wished that he could concentrate, but his eyes kept turning to the water. That crazy girl had jumped into the water wearing only her purple underwear.