Page 207 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol 4

"I'm pretty sure it'll be even scarier if you're drunk."

"How would you know? You're not scared of heights. And stop making me talk about it behind it's back. You're going to jinx everything."

Tyler turned around and glanced at the Ferris wheel. "Hails, you can't talk about an inanimate object behind it's back. It can't hear you." He raised his eyebrow as he stared down at my drink and then back up at me.

I took another sip. "Maybe I've had enough to drink," I said with a laugh. But I continued to take another sip.

"Delay it all you want, I'm still making you do it."

"Right, right." I smiled to myself. "I guess we might as well get this over with then." I slowly stood up as he pulled out his wallet. "If you can catch me first."

"Hailey!" he shouted after me.

But I was already running down the pier. The sound of my flip flops on the wooden boards, the seagulls calling, and the waves crashing in the distance were my new favorite sounds in the world. I felt alive. I looked over my shoulder. Tyler was quicklygaining on me. Right before he caught up to me, I jumped off the pier and into the sand. I may not have loved the smell of the ocean, but I absolutely loved the feeling of sand between my toes.

I laughed as Tyler wrapped his arms around me, pulling us both down into the sand. In a matter of seconds he had me pinned beneath him. I thought I had felt alive a moment ago. But now all my senses seemed heightened.

"Gotcha," he whispered against my lips.

All I wanted was his lips on mine. "How about instead of going on the Ferris wheel, I just seduce you in the sand?"

He leaned forward and gently brushed his lips against mine.

The teasing gesture sent shivers down my spine.

"Are you trying to get me arrested so I can't join the marines?"

"If that's an option...then yes." I squirmed beneath him as he laughed.God that laugh.That would be one of the things I missed the most. "I'm going to miss you so much."

"Then we better make tonight memorable." He smiled seductively.

"By getting arrested for public indecency? Deal."

He laughed again. "No, by facing your fears and seeing this amazing view before the sun sets completely." He gave me a chaste kiss and pulled me to my feet.

I could feel the buzz of the alcohol coursing through me. I felt brave and safe and whole. Because of him. I really would miss him. The feeling of his hand in mine and his arms around me. The intensity of his blue eyes. The way he looked so surprised by some of the things that came out of my mouth. Like I was embarrassing, but he loved me anyway.Love.I stole a glance at him as we made our way back onto the pier. Was this really love? Was that crazy? It felt real to me.

"Hey, look," I said and pointed to a sign in the middle of the boardwalk. "Santa Monica. 66. End of the Trail." I pulled him toward it. "We have to get a picture!"

"You're just procrastinating."

"No, I just realized I didn't take a single picture this whole time. My dad's never going to believe I was here," I said with a laugh.

Tyler pulled out his phone. "Okay, I'll ask someone to take one for us."

"Don't bother strangers, we can take a selfie."

"Don't bother strangers? Since when did that become your motto? I'm pretty sure you jumping into my car last week was bothering a stranger."

I lightly hit his arm and tried to resist wrapping my fingers around his bicep. "I don't think I was a bother at all. Look how far we've both come." I pointed to the sign again.

Tyler laughed. "Fine." He held out his phone in front of us.

"Wait, I have a better idea." I stepped up onto the bench next to the sign and climbed onto Tyler's back.

He started laughing again. I really did love his laugh. It instantly made me smile. He snapped a picture with our cheeks pressed together cheesing for the camera.

"It's perfect," I said. I couldn't remember the last time I had looked so happy.