Page 130 of Banter & Blushes #1

“ M ind if I join you?” Elva heard Mitch’s voice just before she stepped onto the sandy path behind the restaurant.

Turning around she saw his smiling gray stubble face greet her under the brim of his baseball cap.

“I’d love that,” she waited for Dozer to catch up to her, “hey sweet boy!” She greeted him with a rub behind his ears. He closed his eyes soaking in her loving touch. “Who’s a good boy?” She asked as if he’d answer.

“I have been good today. Thanks for noticing.” Mitch answered, pretending she was speaking to him and not the dog as he reached her.

“Good boy to you, too then.” She wasn’t sure if he wanted to be scratched behind the ear, too, but she resisted the urge.

She could see his eyes squinting on the edges of his dark sunglasses before he pulled them off and tucked them on the brim of his hat. His green hazel eyes sparkled in the golden hour. “Thanks. I’m glad I caught you.”

“Me too. Did you need something for the station?” She asked, switching back to her committee member status.

“No, no, nothing about that. Just glad. That’s all.”

Her lips curled, “me too. You’re going to love the Landings’ sunset.”

“I do already,” he looked from her to the water in front of them. “Shall we, then?” His hand extended in front of him for her to lead the way down the narrow path. Tall native grasses flanked them on both sides of the dune behind thick once brown ropes, now gray with the wear of age.

Moving to her side once the path opened to the expanse of the shore they walked shoulder to shoulder. “El?” He started, not sure where he was going with it just yet.

Hearing him shorten her name g ave her butterflies in her stomach, though she wasn’t sure why.

Certainly she was well beyond any of those silly school girl feelings at this point in her life.

Still, hearing his voice say her name in a special way made her feel warm inside.

The sky was striped with vibrant purple and pink stripes before merging into a deep orange.

“Isn’t this view just beautiful?” She looked out where the bay continued hoping to calm her own nerves.

“Breathtaking, actually.” His voice was lower and more intentional. “El?” He started again.

“I’m glad you - “ she turned toward him to find Mitch staring at her instead of the sunset. Their faces were closer than she thought they’d be. She felt pulled into him.

This time, his voice changed the subject. “I don’t know why but a song just started playing in my mind.”

“Really? But there isn’t any music,” she put her hands on her hips watching him watch her.

“I know.” He offered his hands to hers to join. “Dance with me.”

She wasn’t sure if that was a question or a direction. “Dance?” She looked around, wondering who would see them on the empty beach. Agreeing, her hands slid perfectly into his as his left arm bent to hold her hand close to his heart. “Which song?”

“Which song, what?”

Giggling she clarified, “which song is playing in your head?”

He smiled deciding how he wanted to answer, his large hands protecting hers. Then in a low whisper voice he started singing “can’t take my eyes off of you… you’re just too good to be true.”

“Mitch,” her face was smiling so wide her eyes were barely open as she swayed back and forth with him in the sand taking in the feeling of the melody only they could hear. After a few minutes of silent dancing she joined in for the fun part… “da-da da-da, da da da”

He lightly pushed her away and into a spin before pulling her back in closer than before.

They both started laughing as her head found the shelter of his strong shoulder.

She allowed herself to breathe out fully, slowing her heart rate that felt like it was racing in the moment.

Regardless of what she tried to tell herself, and everyone else she knew she was falling for Mitch.

Something about him pulled her in. She just wasn’t sure if she was willing to be pulled just yet.

“El,” he started for the third time, making her cheeks blush at the sound of her name on his voice. “I need to confess something.”

“Oh?” Her heart beat so fast she was sure he could feel it against his chest. Was she ready for what he was about to say? This was a moment there would be no going back from.

“I don’t know how to say this. But,” his face was straight like he was playing a hand in poker, “I’m not a professional singer.”

“Really?” She pulled away from him slightly to see his face better. “Well, you could have fooled me. You know, it’s never too late for a career change?”

He chuckled, unable to keep his face neutral any longer. Still holding both of her hands his eyes gazed into hers. “You do have one thing right for sure, it’s never too late. Is it? Even when we think a chapter of our lives is completely closed. It never really is.”

“Never,” she agreed, wondering if he was still talking about singing or something else. “I don’t know how you’d do on one of those singing contest shows, but I know you’d certainly entertain everyone.”

“Eh, that’s okay.” He started dancing faster, turning her around in a circle. “There’s only one person I want to entertain, anyway.”

“The really mean judge who never likes anyone?”

“Nope.” He shook his head from side to side not taking his eyes off hers.

“Who then?” She egged him to keep going.

Instead of answering, he pulled her closer to him again. She closed her eyes expecting to feel his lips on hers. She didn’t know until that moment how much she was waiting for it. How much she wanted him to kiss her.

But he didn’t.

Instead, his lips reached toward her ear. His breath danced on her neck sending goosebumps along her arm. Picking up right where he left off, he whispered the next few lines of the song. “…you’re just too good to be true…”

They swayed to the pretend music in their heads in a close embrace under the brightly colored sunset sky. Dozer laid on the sand a few feet away with his ball, patiently waiting for their dance to be over.