Making Waves: A Perfect Kisses Novella (9 page)

Chapter Twelve

“Are you sure you won’t stay one more day? I want to show you
our
beach.” Ellie was frowning as she stood at the back door.

Justine tucked her legs under herself as she leaned back in her patio chair. “Honestly, the last thing I feel like doing is swimming.” Not because she was afraid, but because it would remind her of Will.

“Hey, Justine,” Charlie said, walking out to the patio. “Sorry your trip’s been such an epic fail, but at least you met someone famous.”

“We don’t need a recap,” Ellie said, then turned to Justine. “Though it is kind of wild that you know Chase Ryder. Too bad.” She sighed. “Charlie, why don’t you split some coconuts for us, babe.” She winked at Justine.

Charlie looked at Ellie with a cocked eyebrow. “That’s only for you.” After giving her a quick kiss, he passed Justine her cell. “This thing’s been going off for an hour.”

“Oh. Sorry.” She took it and sat up. Yep, there were a ton of missed calls and voicemails. Probably friends offering more congratulations on her big story. She couldn’t listen to any more, they made her too depressed. None of this was supposed to happen. When her cell vibrated with another incoming call, she slammed it on the table facedown.

“You don’t want to answer?” Ellie asked.

“Not unless someone’s died,” she said, trying to be funny, but the words struck her heart. She tipped her chin and stared up at the sky. It was starting to get cloudy. Perfect…her last afternoon in paradise was about to turn stormy. That sounded about right.

“Juss.” Ellie’s voice broke into her thoughts. “You just got a text.”

Justine cracked open her eyes to see Ellie pointing at her phone.

“Want me to find out if anybody died?”

“Go ahead.” She leaned back and closed her eyes.

Well, all and all, I suppose it’s been a good trip,
she thought
. Oahu is gorgeous, the weather’s been perfect, I ate a delicious fish taco—

“It’s from someone named Ron.”

“That’s my boss,” Justine said.

“He said, and I quote:
Get to the Otani Kaimana, pronto. Chase Ryder press conference
.”

Justine’s eyes flew open. “What?”

“That’s what it says.” Ellie displayed the phone. “Does he mean the hotel?”

“I don’t know.” She took the phone and reread the text. “He must.”

“Wasn’t that the hotel…last night…”

Justine swallowed and nodded. “Why would Will give a press conference? He’s spent the last decade refusing interviews.”

“Until you,” Ellie said. When Justine looked at her, Ellie was smiling, but not at her. Her friend was gazing wistfully at Charlie washing their convertible. “You’d be surprised what men will do outside their comfort zones when it’s important.” She glanced at her. “Remember our tango on live TV?”

Justine couldn’t help smiling. “I don’t think that’s why Will’s doing this. He was so angry.” Her stomach churned like she was trapped on a rocking boat. “I really need to talk to him, but I’m sure I’m the last face he wants to see. I’ll try to stand in back or something.” Just then, another text pinged from Ron. “And apparently, my career depends on covering this.”

“Good luck,” Ellie said.

“Thanks.” On shaky, unenthusiastic legs, Justine stood and grabbed the keys to her rental, ready to do her job.

…

It wasn’t at all like the previous morning at the Eddie. There were no cars lining the beach road in front of the Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel. In fact, Justine was able to park in the same spot from last night. In the few minutes it had taken to drive to the other end of Waikiki, the weather had really taken a turn. Her flimsy sundress was whipping in the wind as she walked across the sand, clutching her notebook.

She spotted a group of people down by the water. They were the only ones on the beach, so they must’ve been setting up Will’s conference. Or Chase’s.

Well, it really doesn’t matter what anyone calls him now…all thanks to me.

“
Aloha
‘
auinala
.” Someone waved, breaking from the group. “About time you got here.”

Justine frowned when she recognized the kid she’d met yesterday, Will’s surfing buddy. “Hi. Anton, right?”

The kid grinned, showing white teeth. “I should be flattered you remembered my name, but I don’t think Chase would dig that.”

She glanced around, confusion growing. The group with Anton was a bunch of teenagers. “Do you know where the press conference is? Was it moved inside because of the weather?”

“No.” He smiled and nodded at her. “You’re it,
ku‘uipo
.”

She didn’t have time for this. “Look, I really need to talk to Chase. Where is he?”

Anton grinned and hooked a thumb over his shoulder, pointing at the ocean.

“Huh?” She took a few steps toward the water, but saw nothing but gray waves, rougher than yesterday’s because of the wind. Then she spotted him, bobbing about thirty feet out. “What is he…? Will!” she called. “Come in! Let’s talk!”

He waved an arm overhead like a greeting, or maybe he was in distress. “Does he need help?” she said to Anton, trying to ignore the panic building in her chest. “What’s going on?”

“Like I said, press conference for two.” He chuckled, cupped his hands, and called something out to Will she didn’t understand. More Hawaiian. When Will answered back, Anton laughed and slapped his thigh. “Yeah, my boy says he wants to talk to you, too. Out there.” He lifted his chin as the first raindrop hit the sand. “Better make it quick. He’s been waiting a helluva long time.”

“Out there? For how long?” The waves seemed to be getting bigger and the wind was really picking up. Did he seriously expect her to swim out there…alone? “Tell him to come in. He’s tired.”

“I’m sure he’s blown as hell,” Anton said, then pointed toward the horizon. “And a storm’s coming. Only gonna get rougher.”

Justine cupped her hands. “Will! I want to talk to you, please. Come in!”

Over the wind, she heard him answer with a faint, “No.”

Anton’s group all burst into laughter. Justine ignored them, they were no help.

“Dammit,” she muttered, keeping her eyes fixed on Will’s body in the water.

“Justine…” He waved an arm over his head.

The sound of his voice calling her name pierced something inside. Suddenly, every drop of fear evaporated from her body. Replacing it, her muscles tightened like she was blocked to run the 100-meter dash. At the same time, calmness and purpose flooded her soul.

No, Will wasn’t in danger—she felt that. But she also knew she wanted to get to him, no matter what her fears might have been. She had to be exactly where he was so she could explain what happened and tell him how sorry she was…about everything.

Without thinking, she rotated around, cocked her arm, and threw her purse and notebook as far up the beach as she could. Then she kicked off her flip-flops and pulled her dress over her head, ignoring the gasps of Anton and his crew.

“Will!” she called. “I’m coming!” In only her pink bra and panties, Justine ran straight into the water, leaping over the first wave, then diving headfirst into the second. The ocean was much colder than the day before, but she didn’t care.

When she broke the surface, she zeroed in on his location, on the dark hair she could barely make out through the salt stinging her eyes.

Then she started swimming.

“Justine!” His voice strengthened her strokes, making her legs kick harder to get there. Ten feet away. She could make out the color of his eyes, that gorgeous, cocky smile on his face.

“Will.” Only a few strokes away.

He was swimming toward her now, and right before they were about to knock heads, his arm hooked around her, stopping her momentum. He laughed and pulled her against his chest. “I knew you would do it.”

She hugged him back, so tightly, a thousand words of apology burning her tongue, but she needed to hold him first. Just hold him.

“Will,” she panted, still holding on. “I’m so—”

But she didn’t get to finish. He kissed her. And she kissed him back, exhaling his name every time she took in fresh oxygen. Waves crashed around them and she felt Will’s legs kick with hers as they tread water together, their heads barely staying above the surface.

He held her face, keeping his mouth pressed to hers in intermittent bursts of kissing and coming up for air. Despite the rain and sea, tears of relief built behind her eyes. A few moments later, her feet touched the bottom. Will’s arms tightened around her as they stood, the rough waves knocking against their bodies, unmovable together.

“Justine,” he said, breaking their kiss. “I’m sorry.”

“No.” She gasped for air. “
I’m
sorry.” She clutched his strong shoulders just like when he’d taken her out in the water the first time, clinging to him. “I sent the wrong story. I’d never hurt you or your mother. Please believe me.”

“I do,” he said, a laugh in his voice.

“Will.” She splashed him. “You
idiot
. What the hell were you doing out there? They said you’re having a press conference.”

He laughed again and pinched her chin. “I called your editor and told him that. Well, my mother did, pretending to be my publicist.”

“What?” This was getting more and more bizarre. “Your mother…” She wiped her face. “Is she okay?”

“She’s okay, Juss—a lot stronger than me, it turns out. I didn’t know how else to get a hold of you, but I needed to see you, to apologize for exploding like that.”

She couldn’t help laughing. “Will, I forgive you. Of course, I do. But I—”

“Listen.” He took her arms, their wet bodies sliding together. “I don’t give a damn about the interview. That was me being selfish and stubborn for the wrong reasons. My
publicist
says I should thank you. Chase Ryder is trending again.” He grinned and pulled her in, resting his mouth against her cheek. “I trust you, Justine.” His voice was low but solid. “With everything.”

She couldn’t help it—she jumped up and wrapped her legs around him. Will broke into laughter, but she cut it off. On his lips, she tasted him and salt and a sweet forgiveness that warmed her whole body.

The next thing she felt was her feet touching the sand. They were out of the water now, a few feet from shore. Will pulled away but kept one hand on the side of her neck. “I want to tell you something else,” he said, wiping his other hand over his face. “I need to be completely honest.”

Justine nodded and glanced past his shoulder, realizing Anton and the rest of the guys were gone. They were alone on the beach in the stormy twilight.

“What?” she asked.

“Last year, when all that shit went down, we’d only known each other a few weeks, but I missed you. I knew we had a connection and when it was over so fast, nothing made me happy. Not even the natural high from surfing. That’s when I stopped competing.”

Empathy and the last traces of regret from the past pressed against Justine’s heart. “I’m sorry you were sad, too. What made you want to come back this season?”

“Like you, I hated that I was running from a problem. You were afraid of the water, and I’d lost my love for it. Neither of us was in a healthy place. When I finally got back to L.A. and so much time had passed, I didn’t come find you. I was sure you were over me.”

“Over you,” she said, running her fingers across his cheek. “Will, were you over me?”

Chapter Thirteen

Will didn’t have to consider his answer for a second. Slowly but firmly, he shook his head.

“I was falling in love with you.” Once he admitted it, the rest of the words came surprisingly easily. “The truth is, I never stopped and yesterday was like falling for you all over again, but at warp speed.” He moved his hands to her shoulders. “Please tell me I’m not crazy.”

Justine didn’t speak for a long moment. At first she just gazed at him, then a full, beautiful smile curved her lips. Tiny teardrops mixed with rain and sea clung to the corners of her eyes.

“You’re not crazy,” she said.

As she took his face between her hands, a deluge of hope and desire flooded his heart, maybe too much for his entire body to hold.

“I thought
I
was the crazy one,” she continued. “I mean, who the hell falls in love in one day?”

“We the hell do.”

He was about to tell her how relieved and happy he was, how happy she made him. Before he could say one more word, Justine rose up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She hovered an inch from his mouth, driving him crazy. At last, she pressed her gorgeous lips to his.

His head swam as she tugged him close, locking their bodies into a perfect fit. He skimmed his hands around to her back, feeling her skin, silky smooth and warm. Together they tumbled to the sand. She released an exquisite sigh as his hands glided down her curves, searching to touch every inch.

“I can’t believe you stripped for me again,” he whispered. “And what the hell is this?” His finger slid under the tiny piece of fabric around her hips.

“It’s called a thong,” she said. “When I got dressed this morning, I didn’t plan on wearing it to jump into the ocean.”

“I’m very glad you did.” He ran a hand over her stomach, feeling her quiver, watching her bite her bottom lip. “You’re so amazing,” he said. “Beautiful.”

She pulled him down, meeting him in a kiss that made his whole body quake.

“Will. Another inch and we’ll get arrested.”

He froze, realizing he’d slid his fingers underneath the back hook of her bra. The straps were already halfway down her shoulders. Just a flick of his wrist and he’d be at the point of no return.

The tide came in, and water rushed over their bodies, cooling off Will in the nick of time. He pushed out an exhale—while forcing himself to remember the score of the eighty-five World Series—then replaced each strap, kissing her shoulders in the process.

Before he could get up, Justine hooked a leg over him and straddled his chest, pinning him to the sand. The first hint of the moon shown behind her, silvery and brilliant…but nothing compared to the brilliance of her face.

“Are you trying to stop me from undressing myself again?” she murmured, her lips hovering over his.

Will laughed. He had his wits about him enough now that he knew he couldn’t allow her to straddle him like that without doing something serious in return. So he gently secured her face between his hands and stared into her ocean-blue eyes.

“I was thinking, when I get back to L.A.” He stroked a thumb over her cheek. “Do you want to catch a movie or something?”

She smiled down at him, her soft, wet skin smelled salty and felt warm, filling his every sense. “I think that could be arranged.” As she lowered herself flat against him then ran her tongue along his bottom lip, Will knew he was on the verge.

“When will you be back?” she asked, pressing her mouth against his neck.

For a moment, Will wasn’t able to speak. “Not for a few months. April, maybe. Think we can handle that?”

“If the worst thing that happens is I have to travel to Hawaii and Australia a few times a year to write an article about international surfing, that’s certainly doable.” She grinned. “Speaking of doable…” She lifted her chin and eyed the big white hotel up the beach. “Do they have vacancies?”

“It’s possible.” He was about to ask if that was what she really wanted, when she pressed her palms against his chest, then moved her hands to the top of his trunks, hooking one finger inside the waistband.

That was the only answer required.

Without a word, he rose to his knees and swept her into his arms, sand and seawater flying through the air. Justine giggled and kissed him, her breath hot against his ear.

“Don’t we need to go to your car first?” Justine asked as they neared the hotel’s beach entrance. Between words, her mouth planted kisses down the side of his neck. He nearly tripped over a lounge chair. “We’ll need ID and money.”

“They know me.”

“You bring a lot of women here like this?” she asked, pulling back to look him in the eyes. “Straight from the beach? No luggage?”

“No.” He laughed. “My mother owns this hotel.”

She blinked her big blue eyes as her beautiful face contorted in thought. “Your mother,” she repeated.

“You can meet her.” He cocked one eyebrow while tightening his grip, greedily. “Tomorrow.”

“Hmm.” She bit her sexy bottom lip. “So you have a room? Now?”

“With a private entrance. Punch-in code. Fully stocked.”

She sighed and tipped her chin, her body arching in his arms. “Thank goodness!”

Will kissed her neck, then moved to her gorgeous, grinning mouth, noting how her body reacted to every touch. Right outside the door of his suite, he kissed her again, slowly, exchanging breaths and wishes, whispering hints of the future.

There was no hurry now. A few more steps and his dreams would come true. Not willing to let her go for a second, he pressed her back against the hallway wall and with one hand, punched in the code, then nudged open the door.

Heaven waited inside.

“Hey, Mr. Ryder,” she whispered. “Will you explain again how surfing makes you feel?” She took his free hand and slid it to the back of her bra. “Or maybe…you could show me?”

Will grinned and locked eyes with her while winding a finger around the flimsy hook. “Yes.” He kissed her once. “And with the slowest, most descriptive details.”

* * *

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