Page 7 of A Daddy for Christmas 3: Nova

Unfuckin’ believable!

He’d shown up!

And with a cooler and a large paper bag with a logo I’d know anywhere, considering I’d designed it.

The day kept getting better and better. Definitely did not want to keep him waiting, but no way was I missing the opportunity to show off for him one more time. The wave was a nice one too, with a crest perfect for some serpentine action with a bit of a flourish at the end.

“This isn’t too soon for next time, is it?” Nova asked, a brilliant smile flashing across his pale face.

I guess there weren’t many opportunities to lay out and soak up some rays in Minnesota.

“It’s never too soon for next time,” I offered, taking a step back when I realized that I and the board were soaking the sand right beside the picnic he’d set up. “Let me put my board up and grab a few things. You weren’t the only one hoping next time would be today.”

“Take all the time you need,” he replied, leaning back on his elbows in the sand, studying me. No, waiting for me to walk away. Okay. It wasn’t easy to swagger on sand, but I did my best and even glanced over my shoulder just to make sure he was still looking at me.

Oh yeah. He was enjoying the show.

It only took a moment to attach my board to my rack and grab the cooler I’d packed along with the beach blanket I kept on the back seat of my jeep. We laid it out over warm sand, moved his spread onto it, and unloaded mine. He’d brought a couple candles and giggled when I unpacked the two I’d shoved in my bag on my way out the door this morning.

“You didn’t happen to remember matches, did you?” I asked, feeling my cheeks heat. Of course I’d grabbed candles without thinking about how I was going to light them. I tended to lean more toward impulse than planning.

Fortunately, he seemed to have planning down to an art form, producing a lighter and providing us a bit of ambience once he’d lit the candles.

“So, what brings you to the island?” I asked as he unpacked a plastic table setting complete with tongs and a trio of serving spoons. Well damn, he’d thought of everything.

“I love it here,” Nova explained. “I fell in love with it two years ago, during a series of visits to a client’s business to get a feel for as many aspects of it as I could so we could decide on the best promotional track to take with him. The first chance I got to book a vacation, I only had one destination in mind. Now I havethree whole weeks of tropical bliss ahead of me. So far, I’m off to a good start.”

“Really? When did you arrive?”

“Yesterday.”

“Must have been an amazing 24 hours.”

“It has been. Every meal so far has been the most scrumptious thing I’ve ever put in my mouth. If I don’t slow down, I’ll need a gym membership when I get back home, or a whole lot of new additions to my wardrobe; the cost is probably about the same when you really think about it.”

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

“Seriously though, all food porn aside, it’s been kind of surreal meeting you.”

“Why’s that?”

“I just never expected an impromptu picnic on the beach would score me a meeting with a guy I used to watch on television. That kind of thing does not happen to me.”

Chuckling, I watched a light flush spread across the bridge of his nose. “So, you’re a surf fan?”

“I am.”

“Don’t find many of those in Minnesota.”

“No shit, which sucks; there was never anyone to gush over an event with or have a late-night viewing party with, which was just about the only time it ever came on the sports network.”

“Yeah, we weren’t high up on their priority list when it came to coverage. I take it you’re a night owl then.”

“Oh yeah, I always seem to get more done when the rest of the world is silent.”

“For me, it’s early mornings, when the sky is lightly streaked with red. There’s something about a sunrise that’s like a giant eraser, wiping out all the thoughts in my head. Clean slate. New energy. No carrying the past into the future.”

“That’s very Zen.”