Quarterback Draw
Page 8

“Must be nice to wake up to a view like this every morning,” he said, noting some of the beachfront property.
“It would be, wouldn’t it?”
“I sometimes think about retiring to a place like this someday,” he said, his gaze searching out over the shore. “But then I figure after a month or so, I’d be bored as hell and I’d miss civilization.”
“I don’t know. I could get used to the island life. It’s pretty decadent. You wake up in the morning and throw on your swimsuit. If you have to run an errand, you put on a sundress and your flip-flops and head into town or wherever the nearest market is. You get to know all the locals, so you feel safe and protected, and everyone takes care of everyone else. Since I live in such a big city, that idea sounds idyllic to me.”
He nodded. “I can see your point. Still, I’d miss going to football games. I’d miss my family.”
She looked at him. “They have airplanes for that. You could visit.”
“True. But then there are the kids. Wouldn’t they be missing out on city life?”
She shrugged. “Who’d miss city life when they could grow up with something like this?”
“You raise valid points, Katrina.”
“Or, wait until your kids are grown, then retire to your island paradise.”
“Then I’d miss my grandkids, and someone’s got to teach them about football.”
She laughed. He was a pretty good companion, but she wasn’t going to say that because she didn’t want him to think she was interested in him. She was just along for the ride because he’d more or less bullied her into coming with him. And okay, the champagne was pretty good.
The boat had slowed. The sun had started to set, a beautiful orange glow sifting through the clouds and melting into the water. The glow sizzled as it sank lower by the second.
With no buildings or trees to obstruct her view, she had to admit this was a stunning way to see the sun set.
Grant held out his hand for her. “Come on, let’s move to the front and watch.”
She slid her hand in his, mainly because the boat was rocky and she didn’t want to fall overboard. They headed to the front of the catamaran, where nothing stood between them and the sunset but the water.
It was a little cooler here, and she shivered.
“Cold?” he asked.
“A little.”
He wrapped his arm around her and tugged her against him.
“Kind of makes you feel like you’re hovering at the edge of the world, doesn’t it?”
She watched the sun dip into the water, imagining she could hear it sizzle. “When I was little, I was always an early riser and I’d dash up to our building’s roof whenever I could and watch the sun come up. My mom hated for me to be up there all alone. She was always afraid a strong gust of wind would blow me off the roof. But I loved it there. I felt so free. It was just me up there, all alone, waiting for the sun to greet me.”
It took her a few minutes to realize Grant hadn’t said anything. She pulled her gaze away from the setting sun to find him looking at her. “Shouldn’t you be watching the sunset?”
“You’re a lot better to look at than the sunset. And I liked your story about the roof.”
She laughed. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Still, you shared it with me and I appreciate it.”
She didn’t know why she had. Another part of her past she’d divulged to someone who was practically a stranger. Maybe it was the champagne loosening her tongue. Then again, she’d been drinking iced tea over lunch when she’d told him about her parents and siblings, so she had no excuse.
What the hell was wrong with her tonight? She normally kept her past locked up tight. No one knew about it, yet in the space of a couple of hours Grant now knew more than she’d ever told anyone.
Not that it mattered, since after this shoot she wasn’t going to see him ever again.
After the sun set, the boat turned around and made a leisurely sail back to the dock. Katrina couldn’t recall having a nicer, more relaxing evening, other than being alone and reading one of her favorite books.
Grant didn’t talk incessantly, and when he did, it wasn’t all about himself like a lot of men she knew. The man was good company. She liked her own company just fine, and mostly preferred it that way, since men were a complication she didn’t need in her already too-complicated life.
They both thanked the crew for a nice sail, and he held her hand as she stepped off the catamaran.
There was a car waiting for them at the end of the dock.
“It’s like you planned it that way,” she said as the driver got out and held the door for them.
“Kind of,” Grant said, and slid in beside her.
The ride back to the hotel didn’t take long. Grant took care of the tab for the driver, and then held her hand as she got out of the car. There was still a lot of activity at the resort, since it wasn’t all that late.
“Care for a drink at the bar?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I need to get a full night’s sleep since we’re shooting again tomorrow.”
He nodded. “I’ll walk you back to your room.”
“It’s not necessary. I know the way.”
“I’ll walk you anyway.”
She shrugged, and he stayed close to her as they made their way to her bungalow. She fished her key out of her bag, then turned to him.