Free Making Waves: A Perfect Kisses Novella by Ophelia London Page A

while I’m driving.”
    Will was happy to sacrifice any shred of coolness he had left if that distracted her from what was coming. It was another thirty minutes down to the spot he had in mind. Along the way, he pointed out landmarks and secret coves only locals knew about, doing his best to keep her occupied. He was keeping himself plenty occupied as well, because every time Justine shifted in her seat, the damn slit of that white sarong exposed additional mileage of her toned thigh. More than once, he had to remind himself to keep his eyes on the road.
    When he slowed the car and pulled off to the shoulder, Justine asked, “Why are we stopping?”
    He knew she knew why, but he answered anyway. “We’re walking to the beach. Grab your towel.”
    “Okay.” Her moves out of the car were hesitant, but at least she wasn’t wrapping her arms around the steering wheel and refusing to budge.
    Will grabbed his own towel from the trunk and together, they walked toward the beach.
    “Is this private?” she asked, pointing at the big, white hotel to their left.
    A little notch of worry sliced between her eyes, making Will think she might need another round of distracting later. “This stretch of beach is for hotel guests, but I happen to know it’s pretty empty this time of year.”
    “How?”
    “I used to come out here a lot when I was a teenager. I wasn’t much into partying like the locals my age, so this was where I liked to hang out with a friend or two. No surfing, because, like I said, the waves are crap.”
    He heard Justine exhale, and they continued to walk. It was a warm and sunny late afternoon, and just as he’d counted on, there were only a few other people occupying this stretch of sand. The water seemed perfect, too; only the tiniest of breakers curling toward the shore.
    Justine halted a good ten yards from the water. “I think we should stop here,” she stated, then began to spread out her towel.
    “Good spot,” Will said, even though the distance from there to the water was more than conservative. This might be harder than he thought. But his plan was this: the longer she sat under the sun, sooner or later, she’d want to cool off. It would happen, he just had to be ready.
    He spread out his towel beside hers, pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it on the sand, then took a few steps toward the water, trying to make out if there were any drop-offs or dips in the sand that might freak her out unnecessarily. When he heard her suck in a breath, he swiveled his head to find her staring at his back.
    “My tattoo?” he asked. “Does it bother you?”
    “Yes,” she said, not meeting his eyes.

Chapter Nine
    Would she ever get used to Will’s rockin’ bod? The muscles on his back made those high school lessons about the human body come screaming back. His delts and trapezius, and the way his long and lean latissimus dorsi led straight down to his perfect gluteus—
    “Justine.”
    She flinched and blinked. “Yes?”
    His eyebrows were lifted. “I asked if you’d rather me keep my shirt on.”
    “No. Why?”
    Should we throw a tarp over the statue of David while we’re at it?
    Will walked over to her. “You said my tattoo bothers you. Sorry, I can cover it up if…”
    She was trying hard to keep eye contact with him, when all she wanted to do was study his abs. “Oh, um, I didn’t mean it bothers me.” I actually meant it bothers me that I can’t run my hands all over it. “It’s just, you know…” She faked a shiver. “Dragons are scary.”
    Will laughed and shook his head. “We don’t have to do this now.”
    “Do what?” she asked, leaning forward, imagining what he had in mind that they might do and would it include her hands on his dragon.
    He looked at her intently for a moment, then tipped his chin toward the water.
    “Oh.” She exhaled, feeling her posture slump.
    “Let’s sit a while. It’s a beautiful day. No rush.”
    “Thanks.”
    They were sitting close