Chapter 360
**Sara**
We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the sounds of the beach and nearby conversations creating a pleasant backdrop. I caught Tom watching me with a soft expression.
"What?" I asked, suddenly self-conscious.
"Nothing. I just like seeing you enjoy yourself."
I pointed my fork at him. "Stop being adorable while I'm trying to devour shellfish. It's distracting."
He laughed, that deep, genuine laugh that made my heart do somersaults. "I'll try to be more obnoxious."
"Thank you. Much appreciated."
After lunch, we paid the bill (or rather, Tom did, after swatting away my attempts to contribute) and decided to explore more of the beach. We walked hand in hand along the shore, our feet sinking into wet sand as waves lapped at our ankles.
"I could get used to this," I said, swinging our joined hands between us.
"What part? The beach? The food? My irresistible company?"
"All of it," I admitted. "But especially the last part."
We passed a group of surfers heading into the water, boards under their arms. Tom watched them with interest.
"Do you surf?" I asked.
"I used to. Haven't had much time lately."
"Let me guess—you were amazing at it."
He shrugged modestly. "I held my own."
"Is there anything you're not good at?"
"Letting go of things I care about," he said, suddenly serious. His grip on my hand tightened slightly. "And mini golf. I'm terrible at mini golf."
I laughed, grateful for the shift back to lightness. "I'll remember that. Next date: mini golf. I'll crush you."
"Is that a challenge, Ms. Parker?"
"Absolutely, Mr. Blackwood."
We continued our stroll, veering away from the more crowded areas of the beach. Tom led me toward a section where rocky outcroppings created natural barriers. As we rounded one such formation, we found ourselves in a small, secluded cove.
"How did you know this was here?" I asked, looking around at the private little beach.
"I didn't. Just got lucky." He tugged me closer.
His lips found mine in a kiss that started gently but quickly deepened. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing myself against him as his hands slid down to my waist. The taste of salt on his lips mingled with the lingering sweetness of beer, creating an intoxicating combination.
When we finally broke apart, I was breathless.
"That was..." I started.
"Just the beginning," he finished, his voice husky.
We settled on the sand, Tom sitting with his back against a rock and me nestled between his legs, my back against his chest. The sun had begun its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.
"This is ridiculously romantic," I said, leaning my head back against his shoulder. "Almost suspiciously so. Did you plan this?"
"Yes, Sara. I arranged for the perfect weather, timed the dolphins, and personally painted the sunset. All for you."
I elbowed him gently in the ribs. "Smart-ass."
"You love it."
"Maybe I do."
We watched in comfortable silence as the sun continued its journey downward, intensifying the sky's colors. As evening approached, the waves seemed to calm, lapping more gently at the shore.
"I've never really taken the time to just... watch a sunset," I confessed. "Not like this."
Tom's arms tightened around me. "Too busy?"
"Too distracted, I guess. Always thinking about the next thing—school, work, whatever crisis was happening."
"And now?"
"Now I'm just thinking about this moment. With you."
He pressed a kiss to my temple. "Good answer."
The sun finally dipped below the horizon, leaving an afterglow of purple and deep blue in its wake. Stars began to appear one by one in the darkening sky.
"We should probably head back," Tom said reluctantly. "It's getting dark."
I sighed, equally reluctant to leave our little sanctuary. "I suppose you're right."
We made our way back to the main beach, which had mostly emptied as evening fell. Only a few die-hard surfers remained in the water, catching the last waves of the day.
"We should rinse off before heading back," Tom suggested, nodding toward the public showers near the changing rooms.
"Good idea. I'm pretty sure I have sand in places sand should never be."
The outdoor showers were simple—just spigots mounted on posts with concrete pads beneath them. Tom turned one on and tested the water.
"Cold!" he warned as I stepped under the spray.
I gasped as the chilly water hit my skin. "You weren't kidding!"
He joined me under the shower, his body blocking some of the spray. "Here, let me help."
His hands moved over my shoulders and back, ostensibly helping to rinse away sand but really just giving him an excuse to touch me.
I ran my fingers through his wet hair, combing out the salt and sand.
"You missed a spot," he murmured, his hands sliding dangerously low on my back.
"Public beach, remember?" I whispered, even as I pressed closer to him.
"Just being thorough."
I retaliated by flicking water directly at his face. He sputtered in surprise, then narrowed his eyes playfully.
"Oh, it's on."
What followed was a water fight that left us both soaked and laughing like children. By the time we finished, we were the only ones left in the showers, which was probably for the best, given our behavior.
"Ice cream?" Tom suggested as we gathered our things. "There's a vendor just up the path."
"After all that seafood? Absolutely."
We found the ice cream cart where a cheerful vendor was serving his last customers of the day. Tom ordered a chocolate cone for himself and looked at me expectantly.
"Strawberry, please," I said.
"Boring," Tom teased.
"Classic," I corrected him.
Cones in hand, we started walking toward the parking lot. The night air had cooled considerably, making me shiver slightly in my damp cover-up.
"Cold?" Tom asked, noticing my shiver.
"A little."
He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his side as we walked. I licked my ice cream, enjoying the sweet contrast to the salty day.
"This was perfect," I said. "Thank you for bringing me here."
"Thank you for coming with me." He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. "What do you want to do tonight?"
"Hmm." I pretended to consider. "I was thinking we could order room service, open a bottle of wine, and not leave the hotel room until morning."
Tom nearly choked on his ice cream. "I like the way you think."
We reached the car, and Tom opened the passenger door for me. Before I could get in, he pulled me in for one more kiss, sweet with the taste of chocolate and strawberry.
"Ready to go?" he asked, his forehead resting against mine.
I smiled up at him, feeling happier than I could remember being in a very long time. "Lead the way, Professor."
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