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. That is,if I was actually able to climb into itwithout your help.I d need a step stool ora ladder. Do you want me to call you a driveror something? he asked, and then his facelit up. Or why don t you go buy yourselfthat new sports car I ve been wanting toget you.This way you can pick out yourown color. I raised my hand and bit my tongue. Thank you.On all offers, I said, but I was thinking I could just take your old rustbucket. Jude s forehead wrinkled. Then if I m snoozing on the beach allday, I won t have to worry about somepunk-ass kids ripping your brand-newtruck off. This was partially the reason Iwanted to take the old truck, but certainlynot the main reason.A flash of annoyance lined his face, butit passed. The keys are in the ignition, he said, sliding into his jeans. And I justchanged the oil and gave it a tune-up, soyou shouldn t have any problems with theold piecer. I glared at the shirt he was reaching for.I knew clothes were the requirement, butthey should have been the exception in Jude Ryder s case. Oil change? Tune-up? I said as hepulled the shirt over his head. Is this thetruck you were adamant about scrappingyesterday? He rolled his eyes as he slid into hisCons.At least those were the same rattyold ones I was used to. You are bustingmy balls, woman. I m your soon-to-be wife, I said. That s in the job description. He froze mid fly buttoning. Soon-to-be? he repeated, his eyes flashing.Uh-oh.Not as in tomorrow or nextweek. As soon-to-be as I am capable ofit, I said, my heart fluttering a little fromthe way he was looking at me.With onelook, Jude was able to melt every muscle right before they tightened in anticipation.Jude beamed. I ll take it, he said, andnow, instead of up, his fly was going theopposite direction.My pulse was already quickening. What are you doing? Crossing the room, he leaped onto thebed. I m gonna be late, he said, beforehis mouth and body covered mine.If there was one thing I could get used toin Southern California? The beaches andthe sun.A good eight hours had ticked offwhen I d done nothing more physical thanturning from one side to the other.That,and unscrewing the lid from my bottle ofwater.I could see myself here. Now, if South Cali was only known asone of the premier dance places in theworld, I would have been golden.The sunwas starting to fall in the sky, but therewas at least another good hour of UV raysto soak up, and I didn t want to miss outthanks to a severe case of hunger pangs.To sway the leave-or-stay vote, mystomach rumbled again. Fine, I grumbled, making a mentalnote that the next time I came to the beach,I d need to bring more than a granola bar.Before I could start packing up mybeach-day essentials, my phone chimed.Igrabbed it and read the text.ALL THE GUYSWERE ASKING ME WHY I HAD THIS STUPIDGRIN ON MY FACE ALL DAY.Followed by asmiley face.I BLAMED YOU.I LL GLADLY TAKE THE BLAME FOR THAT STUPID SMILE, I typed, wearing my ownstupid grin as a few memories jumped tomind.HOPE YOU DON T MIND WEARINGANOTHER ONE TOMORROW.Followed by awinky face.His reply was instant.HELL, NO.I laughed and, before I could type aresponse, my phone beeped again.WHEREARE YOU? NEVER TOO EARLY TO STARTWORKING ON MAKING THAT STUPID SMILEAGAIN.I d never heard a truer statement.Ityped in, STILL AT THE BEACH.AND I MALREADY SMILING JUST THINKING ABOUTMAKING YOU SMILE.I sat up and tossed my sunscreen intomy bag when his reply came.I LL MEETYOU THERE AND PICK UP DINNER ON THEWAY.His message ended with a dot, dot,dot, and then my phone chimed with another message.AND I M SMILING ABOUT YOU SMILINGTHINKING ABOUT MAKING ME SMILE.I laughed, imagining him with the smileon his face, punching the accelerator, andadjusting his pants.ENOUGH SMILINGALREADY, I typed.HURRY UP, BECAUSE IWANT YOU TO MAKE ME MOAN.Like I was in danger of being caughtpassing notes in class, I looked from sideto side.When his reply came, I almost jumped.PLANNING ON IT, LUCE.I shifted in my seat, feeling warmthtrickle into all the right places.A few whistles sounded in front of me.I looked up as a couple of guys carryingsurfboards sauntered by, gawking at acertain spot Jude wouldn t have been down with. Yep, I called out, giving the surfers areally? look, they re boobs! One of them had the decency to lookaway.The other one just grinned bigger.That was the Jude of the two. No, babe, the smug one called back, those arenipples. I glanced down.Shit.Yeah, those weremost definitely nipples popping throughfor all of La Jolla beach to see.Darn Judeand all his sexting straight to high-beamhell.I didn t have a snappy reply, but Icouldn t let surfer boy have the last word.Wrapping my arm around my chest, Iflipped him off with the other hand.Tilting his chin in reply, he winked and kept walking.Men were infuriating creatures.In allwalks of life.Even while you werekeeping to yourself, resting on the beach.Needless to say, I spent the next halfhour lounging on my stomach.At least until I caught sight of a familiarform swaggering his way toward me.Ihopped up and jogged over to him like Ihadn t seen him in months.He had a papersack and a sweatshirt tucked under his armand looked freshly showered.However,the way he was looking at me was theopposite of clean. Where s that stupid smile you weretexting me about? I said as I approached. It took a vacation when I saw whatyou were wearing, he answered tightly. Or what you re not wearing. He ran hiseyes down my body, looking like hecouldn t decide if he disapproved orapproved.I knew the way to make up his mind.Winding my arms around his neck, Ilifted up on my toes and planted a kiss onhis mouth that started soft but didn t endup that way. Here, Jude said, cutting our kissshort, put this on. He held out his oldSyracuse sweatshirt and waited. Why? I asked, playing dumb.On anyother occasion, I would have happily slidinto Jude s ginormous Cuse sweatshirt,but not when I was being ordered into it. Because you made me hard from ahundred yards back in that thing. He gestured at my swimsuit. I don t like theidea of a bunch of other guys getting offlooking at my girl. He shook thesweatshirt at me.Nope.Not gonna happen. Who cares? I lowered hisoutstretched arm and grinned up at him. It s only your hard-on that gets to go tobed with me. Jude snorted and crossed his arms. Tell that to the jerk-offs who will bejerking off to you between their sheetstonight. The overbearing act got old fast.Icrossed my arms and held my ground. Idon t know what s got your boxers in abunch
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