Page 20

“Beautiful night. The stars are so bright out here,” I noticed, glancing up to the heavens. I never wanted to forget this moment.

“There’s Orion’s belt, see?” He pointed to the sky, but I had not a clue.

“Where? I don’t know what I’m looking for?”

He came in close behind me and leaned down so we were almost cheek to cheek and eye level, pointing again. “There, see the three stars in a row? They’re actually each bigger than the sun, and brighter, too. Did you know there are eighty-eight constellations?”

His breath feathered across my cheek, and his lips hovered only inches away, pointing out more stars. I desired the sexy man and his lips everywhere. But I continued walking to prolong the inevitable.

“How do you know so much about stars?” A breeze kicked up around us and I hugged my arms to my body.

“Old dreams of mastering the sea. I wanted to sailaround the world as a boy and always researched it in my spare time. Finally, some years back, I almost did. Had everything planned to take a year and sail around the world.”

“Really? What stopped you?” I quickly glanced at his face, but it proved a hard read.

“Time…age. Here, are you cold?” He removed his jacket and stood in front of me, draping it around my shoulders, brushing his hands up and down my arms. “Better?”

“Oh yes, thanks.”

He kissed my forehead sweetly and leaned down, brushing his lips along mine. Either his kisses or the gritty sand under my toes turning my feet freezing added a shiver down my spine. Only now did I realize the beach wasn’t the best idea on a fall night like this. No wonder people weren’t out here in droves, walking the beach at night.

“Have you sailed at all since?” I asked between kisses.

“I take my boat out a few times a year. I’ll be sailing it in the regatta race tomorrow. Are you staying to watch?”

“Wait. You have a boat?”

“Yeah. Want to see it?”

“Oddly, I put sail on a boat on my wish list, but I was thinking more like the ferry that takes you across the harbor to see the Statue of Liberty.”

“That’s not arealboat.” He chuckled like a man with a big ego. “We can take my car to the dock, if you’re curious.”

“Sure. I promised myself coming here that I’d live a little. Why not?”

“Okay, but first, let’s dip your toes in the water,right? Come on.” His evil grin as he pulled on my arm to the water made me believe he’d toss me in it.

“Oh, I’m fine. My toes are already frozen from the sand.” I backed off.

“Nope, that won’t do. If you’re going to fulfill this bucket list, you do it all the way. Let me help you.” He held out a hand. “Trust me.”

Did I trust him? Something inside dared me to. I took his hand, and he led me back to the edge where the water crept up the shore.

Suddenly, he picked me up by circling his arms around my waist. I laughed and gazed down at him. “What are you doing?”

The sound of his feet sloshing in the water hit my ears. “Making this easier for you. I don’t want you to miss out on a thing, Chelsea. Point your toes.”

Slowly, he lowered me down his muscular body until my toes were in the freezing water.“Eep,” I yelped and laughed.

“There. Now you’re baptized by the holy water of the Hamptons.” He chortled and carried me back several feet to the shore.

As he set me down, a grin split my face, and I was breathless. “Thank you, Rex.” I reached up, cupped his cheeks, and pulled him in for another kiss. Because when would I have the chance ever to do this again?

A few minutes later, I stood with him in the seven car garage of the main house. “Take your pick,” he said.

“Allof these cars are yours?” I stared, wide-eyed. Rex and his family’s money were too much.

“Not all. My mother’s is the Rolls Royce. My brother, Richard, has those three there. I have these few here.”