“You’re so weird,” I laugh and climb to my feet. He takes my hand and stands to face me. “So, what are you doing here of all places?” I ask. “I can tell by your accent you’re from out of town. Surely Skegness wasn’t your first choice?”
He shrugs. “My dad’s opening a store nearby. He brought me and my older brother along with him.”
“A store?” I press and notice his cheeks pink slightly. “Are you in university?”
He grins and nods. “Yep. Oxford.”
Impressive. “Well done, you.” We start to walk along the shore. “What are you studying?”
“Law.”
Very impressive. “That’s pretty great.”
“What about you?”
“I want to study culinary art.”
“You can cook?”
I shrug. “I try to. When are you going back?”
“Never.” He grins and takes my hand in his. “I just found the girl of my dreams. Why would I go back?”
I snort and roll my eyes. “Now I know you just want in my pants.”
“Nuh-uh,” he says like a whiny child. “I promise you I won’t even attempt it. Not once. Not until you beg me to.”
Great, I’m giggling again. “Be serious. When are you leaving?”
“I’m offering you my heart and already you’re trying to get rid of me?” He places his hand on his chest and staggers backwards playfully as if I’ve shot him.
“Stop it,” I scold, but my laughter takes away its effectiveness. He swings his arm around my shoulders and pulls me along. I sigh, defeated. “Fine, don’t tell me.”
His face sobers. “I’m serious, Gwenny. I’m never going back with them.”
******
My palms are sweating. I’ve been dreading this moment all day. The sun is finally setting, even though you can’t see it set here like you can over some oceans. The sky just gets darker.
“I’d love to see a real sunset, one that makes the sky look like it’s on fire.”
“One day I’m going to kiss you in front of a real sunset on a beach full of white sand.” He promises.
I throw back my head and laugh, my worries forgotten momentarily. “You haven’t even kissed me yet on this beach under the greying sky and already you’re planning fiery skies and white sands?”
“Well, we’ll have to rectify that.” He beams and walks backwards in front of me. I stare at our footprints as we go, wishing I could make a mould of them to keep forever. Even if this does end as quickly as it started, I’ll cherish the memory for eternity.
“So, what are we doing?” I ask when we stop at the spot where we met and stare out at the sea.
His grin is wicked. “I thought I was kissing you.”
Blush. “Oh. Umm…”
“That’s unless you don’t want to.”
“I do,” I blurt, my face heating further. “It’s just… I haven’t kissed a guy since I was twelve.” I hate myself. Why would I tell him that? I could have just winged it.
His eyebrows hit his hairline. “Oh.”
“And he was… well he was bad at it. Or maybe I was. I just know my mouth had a bath that day and a bath is something my mouth doesn’t appreciate.” I’m rambling. “But I’d like to kiss you. Definitely.” Somebody get me a gun so I can shoot myself. “Is that… bad?”
“No, it’s just… you’re so beautiful. I can’t be the only man to have your lips plaguing my thoughts.”
I bite my lip and shrug. “I’ve always been quiet, I guess. Everybody sort of overlooks me.”
He cups my face with warm hands and looks directly in my eyes. “Now that I find impossible to believe. Maybe they just weren’t as brave as me.”
“I’m glad they weren’t,” I mumble and his face lights up further.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” he states and takes a step closer.
“Okay,” I breathe and lift my mouth to his. He brings his the rest of the way.
I’ve never been one for the theatricals, but I can honestly say time has stopped. His lips move on mine like they were made for this reason and this reason only. He takes charge, teaching me, being patient and slow. I’m glad. My body trembles with anxiety and exhilaration. His hand cups the back of my neck and a low moan echoes through his throat as he slides his tongue into my mouth to deepen the kiss. Every part of me hums, everything. I’ve never felt so sensitive to everything. Even the breeze makes my skin tingle.
I never believed in love at first sight, or, if I did, I never believed it would happen to me.
It has. I’m so sure it has I can feel it in my bones.
I’ve found the man of every woman’s dreams and I’m not letting him go.
Chapter Two
Caleb chews on his lower lip as we head up the driveway to my home. After dating for two weeks, it’s time for him to meet my mum. Of course I’ve told her about him but not too much. We’ve both been too busy to have a proper conversation and then there’s the fact I’ve been spending all of my free time with Caleb. He’s perfect, so damn perfect.
I love spending time with him and, true to his word, he hasn’t yet gone home. I feel guilty for taking him away from his family but it’s his decision. If this is where he’s happiest, I’m not complaining, although the fact that he has been avoiding me when I’ve tried speaking to him about it has been cause for some small amount of concern
“Nervous?” I ask with a smirk, locking my fingers with his.
“If she hates me and tells you to leave me, will you?” His light brown eyes twinkle with mischief but I also see his nervousness dimming the light that shines so brightly from him.
“Never,” I promise and I'm being truthful. My mum has no reason to hate him but, if by some strange reason, she does, I’d still never leave him for that reason alone.
I’m eighteen, old enough to make my own choices, and Caleb is my choice.
“Come on.” I give his hand a tug and push open the front door to my house. “Mum?”
“In the kitchen,” she calls back. I give Caleb a reassuring smile and lead him through the hall. “Hello, Caleb. I’m Dawn. It’s nice to meet you.”
Caleb shakes her hand and gives her a nod. “You too, Dawn.”
My mum sits at the small table for four and motions for us to follow suit. My palms are sweating, I’m so nervous. This is the first guy I’ve ever brought home, mostly because he’s the first guy I’ve ever had as a boyfriend.
I have very good taste; this much is clear.
My mum thinks so too, if her wink in my direction is anything to go by. “So… you’re studying law?”
“Yes ma’am,” Caleb says, a small and nervous smile teasing the edges of his lips.
“At Oxford?”
“Yes.”
“So how do you expect this to work between you and Gwen?” My mum has her stern face on. Uh-oh. She sure didn't waste any time. I don't know whether to be mortified or annoyed.