Saving Sycamore Bay (Destined for Love: Mansions) Read online

  “Me three!” Turk called out happily.

  “I think that’s big enough to steer for a minute while I help the beautiful lady. Then I’ll come take you into the deep water.”

  “Okay. Sure.”

  The way Turk said “shore” was so stinking cute it brought a quick smile to Adonis’ face. Moriah had to clench her hands to keep from reaching out and touching that bronzed cheek. Adonis turned to her, and her breath caught in her throat.

  “Okay. Let me help you up.”

  “I told you I’ve got it,” Moriah said quickly, scrambling onto the board with the paddle in hand. It tipped one way and then the other, and before she could react, she was in the water again. Adonis caught her around the waist. Moriah looked up, and those blue eyes twinkled at her. “Oh, Lord have mercy.” She muttered.

  His grin widened as he plucked her up out of the water like she was a sack of sugar and planted her on the board. It wobbled, but he kept her steady. Moriah glanced over at Turk who was happily splashing with his paddle just a few feet away. Adonis’ hands were at her waist as he reached up to help her. He kept his gaze on her face as he moved his hands to just above her knees. Moriah gasped. If there was a more sensual move or way a man could look at a woman, she sure hadn’t seen or experienced it.

  It was definitely time for some sass. She was in danger of falling for the tall hottie before she even learned his name and possibly throwing herself into a bigger mess than the last one she’d been in with a blue-eyed blond. She was older now and much more mature and sensible, so she couldn’t fall into that trap again, right?

  “I think you can take your hands off, thank you very much,” she said as tartly as she could.

  His eyebrows lifted. “You sure you ready to fly solo?”

  “Been doing it my whole life.”

  “Really? Why?”

  He still hadn’t removed his stinking hands from her legs, and she was quivering with the wonderful sensation of it all. Thankfully, Turk was oblivious, happily patting the water and singing to himself.

  “When you reach mama status at seventeen, you grow up fast.” She pinned him with a look. There, that should stop his flirting. She was a mama, and no matter how challenging the path to sunshine had been, she was proud of Turk and thrilled with every moment of her life now. She was also very leery where good-looking blond men were concerned.

  “You’re a mother?” Finally, his hands dropped. Fortunately, she didn’t plummet into the water, but stayed swaying on the board.

  He looked over at Turk then back at her. His jaw low. “No, really? I thought maybe a nephew or brother.”

  She fell off the stinking board again, splashing into the water next to him. “Nope, he’s my boy. Come on, Turk. Let’s go.”

  “No, Mama, we didn’t have a ride.”

  “We can’t crush a little boy’s dreams.” Adonis winked at her then waded through the water to where Turk perched on his board. The man pushed away from the shore, easily stepped up behind Turk, and started paddling away.

  “W-wait.” Moriah had frozen when he left her in the shallow water. She quickly regained her senses, knelt on her board, and paddled to try to keep up. Again, she went one direction then another, but she couldn’t get anywhere close to him.

  Turk laughed gleefully as they zoomed over waves and out past the buoys.

  “Slow down!” She screamed at the man’s broad, retreating shoulders. She knew he wasn’t really going to steal her child, but it just felt wrong that she wasn’t right next to Turk.

  Adonis glanced over his shoulder and smirked at her. “You’re looking great.”

  The nerve, the absolute nerve of the man.

  “Come on, Mama.” Turk called happily. “Whee! I’m surfing.” He put his chubby arms out and laughed so cutely.

  “You’re not supposed to go past the buoys.” She hollered at Adonis’ back.

  The man turned a smooth circle and stroked easily back toward her. His board bumped into hers, and Turk laughed. Moriah stayed on her knees, relief whooshing through her. She didn’t like her son to be too far away.

  “Sorry. I didn’t hear that rule,” he said, looking unrepentant as he grinned at her.

  Moriah was mad, which was completely unlike her. She always rolled with life and kept a smile on her face, but right now, this guy ticked her off. Taking off with her boy like that was completely out of line. “Don’t you dare try to steal my boy or I’ll hogtie you and beat you with a stick.”

  “Where are you from?” he asked. Rather than scare him, her threats seemed to create more interest in his eyes.

  “Excuse me?” What did that have to do with the price of bacon?

  “You talk like home.”

  Before he’d taken off with her child, back when he had those strong hands on her waist and then her legs, she’d felt a sense of home from him too.

  “Montgomery, Alabama.” She lifted her chin. Proud as proud could be of her Southern upbringing.

  “I’m from Mountain Green.”

  “Figures.” She spat. “All the rich hotties live there.” Mountain Green was an ultra-wealthy suburb of Birmingham, about an hour and a half north of her home.

  He lifted an eyebrow.

  “Let’s surf, Mister.” Turk pounded on the surfboard with his open palms.

  “Do you care if we go on another ride if we stay within the buoys?”

  “Thank you for having the courtesy to ask this time.”

  He grinned. “Sometimes us rich hotties remember our social graces.”

  A laugh erupted from her before she could contain it. The man stared at her. It was one of those intense, sensual looks she’d only seen in the movies and sometimes when she caught Zander staring at her friend, Trin. It dried up her laughter quickly, and she wondered if she needed to jump off her board and into the ocean.

  “Do that again.” He murmured.

  “What?” She pushed at her curly locks.

  “Laugh.”

  “Why?”

  “That was the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.”

  A charmer too, Moriah thought as warmth darted through her. Just like that, he’d taken away her frustrations, but at the same time terrified her. Turk’s daddy, Brock, had also been a charmer.

  “Paddle, please,” Turk said.

  “Sure!” The man winked at her. “I’m coming back for more of that laughter though.” With that, he paddled away. Turk’s giggles floated back to her.

  Moriah got brave and slowly struggled to her feet. Her thighs trembled immediately, and a wave pushed her, but she didn’t tip. She worked hard every day and was in great shape, but paddle boarding required muscles she’d never known she had. She dug the paddle in the right side twice then gingerly lifted it over and pushed it through on the left side. It was slow progress, but she was doing it.

  Turk and Adonis glided past.

  “Good job, Mama.” Turk called.

  “You’re looking great,” Adonis said.

  Moriah couldn’t resist dancing. Shimmying her hips and abdomen, she said, “Yeah baby—Whoa!” She flipped into the water, catching a mouthful. She couldn’t touch the bottom, but her lifejacket kept her head from going completely under. Salt water coated her tongue, and she spit it out and laughed at herself.

  Adonis and Turk sidled up to her as she shoved her paddle on the board and held on to the side. She’d have to swim back to shallow water to get on again.

  “You shouldn’t a been dancin’, Mama.”

  “You can dance anytime,” Adonis said with a twinkle in his blue eyes.

  “You ain’t seen dancing yet, boy.” She shot back at him.

  He threw back his head and laughed. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  Moriah started kicking away from them. They followed, and within seconds, she could touch the sandy bottom. She pushed herself up onto her board. “Think I’ll stay on my knees this time.”

  “Is this your first time?” Adonis asked.

  “I�
�m a quick learner.” She jutted out her chin, standing on shaky legs, even though she’d just said she’d stay on her knees.

  “Good. Prove it by showing me some more dance moves.”

  Moriah stuck her tongue out at him, but she did give him one more shake of her hips.

  He grinned. “Thank you, kindly, ma’am.”

  “Spoken like a true Southern gentleman.”

  “Through and through.”

  They paddled around for a while longer. Turk stood, pressing against Adonis’ legs for stability. He really thought he was surfing when a wave would gently push them toward the shore. Luckily, the waves were mellow at this beach.

  “Let’s go get some food, Mama.” Turk called out as he and Adonis circled her next to the far buoys.

  “Sure, sweets.”

  “Can I come too?” Adonis asked.

  They turned their boards in sync and paddled slowly as the waves helped them ride into shore.

  “We don’t usually eat with unknown men.”

  “Hey now. We’re like old pals. Your son’s ridden with me. You’ve danced for me.”

  Moriah couldn’t help but laugh again.

  Adonis grinned. “There it is. That’s what I’ve been waiting for.”

  Moriah shook her head. The boards bumped against the shore and Turk jumped off, running toward their beach stuff. Moriah started to pull her board up on the beach. Adonis stopped her with a warm hand on her arm. “Please, let me.”

  She shaded her eyes with her hand and glanced up at him. “You’re taking this gentleman thing to the extreme.”

  “You not only danced for me, you laughed for me … twice.”

  Moriah had been dunked in the ocean and was sure any makeup had washed away and her hair was an extreme case of frizz right now, but she’d never felt so beautiful in her entire life.

  He bent down a little closer. “You’ll really show me all your dance moves?”

  Moriah planted a hand on his chest to keep some distance, but it totally backfired. She wasn’t sure when he’d unbuckled his life jacket but her hand landed on smooth skin and firm muscles. He was delectable. She dropped her hand fast and drummed up some attitude. “I never promised to show you my dance moves. I just told you I’ve got moves you’ve never seen.”

  His face stayed much too serious as those blue eyes darkened with a smolder. Oh, heaven help me now.

  “I shouldn’t have said that.” She murmured. Her mama would die if she saw Moriah carrying on like this. Then she’d remind her that handsome, single men didn’t date struggling mamas. “I’m a good Christian girl. I only dance for fun and to praise the Lord. Not to draw some unknown man in.”

  Adonis swallowed. She watched his Adam’s apple bob as he glanced over her face. “Am I just ‘some unknown man’?”

  “Right now you are.” She was taking leave of her good senses. A rich, blond hottie. Hadn’t she learned her lesson the last time she’d fallen for one? Please, Lord, a little help and sanity would go a long way right now.

  “What if I got to know you a little better? Then would you dance for me?” He placed his hand on her arm, and warm currents shot through her.

  “You could only be so lucky.”

  He laughed but thankfully removed his hand. “I knew you were a good Christian girl from the moment I saw you.”

  “Well, that’s good. The good Lord done give me everything, so I hope I show my love for Him in my face.”

  “You do. It’s in the way you smile and the way you treat everyone—from your little boy, to the waiter who brought you a drink, to the dark-haired idiot who hit on you earlier today. Thanks for sending him packing by the way.”

  “How long have you been watching me?” Honestly. That was flattering, but a little bit overwhelming.

  “Just the length of a dozen volleyball games.”

  Moriah’s eyes widened. She had to look away from his penetrating gaze. Conveniently, she had the perfect excuse of checking on her boy. Turk was happy as could be, zooming his truck around. He seemed to have forgotten about being hungry.

  “You said you don’t dance to draw men in?”

  “That’s right,” she whispered, glancing back up at him. She’d made that mistake and then thought she was in love. Now, she was much more wary and in touch with her Savior. Her dancing wasn’t about being sensual, but extracting happiness from each moment of life. She used it to celebrate and praise the Lord.

  “You don’t have to try to draw me in.” Adonis moistened his lips and then whispered, “I’m already there.”

  Moriah swallowed hard. She didn’t spend much time with men outside of her circle at church and those who stayed at the Cloverdale. To have this devastatingly handsome man not only looking at her like she was heaven, but admitting that he was already drawn in? This was not good. Normally, her chest would tighten, and she’d be ready to run, but right now, she just wanted him to keep looking at her and whispering sweet nonsense. She needed to escape now before she lost her good sense completely. He was probably just looking for a vacation hookup, and that was not her at all. “Turk? Shall we go eat?”

  “Shore!” He jumped up, clutching his truck. “Can we come back to our track after?”

  “Shore.” She smiled at him and ruffled his curls.

  “We could order right here.” Adonis suggested.

  “I can keep playing?” Turk asked. “Thank you, surfer guy!” He raced back to his track. “I want chicken nuggets, fries, ketchup, and a Coke. Thank you, Mama!”

  Adonis signaled a waiter and placed Turk’s order, asking him, “Which kind of coke, Turk?”

  “Sprite, please!”

  Even if his accent had been scrubbed from him, Moriah now knew he truly was from the South, where every soft drink was a “coke.” Adonis turned to her. Moriah wasn’t sure if she should get ticked at him again or maybe touch his chest one more time before she told him to buzz off. The waiter and Adonis were both staring at her, and Moriah couldn’t take it much longer. “I’ll have a hamburger, fries, and one of those delicious Miami Vice drinks. Thank you kindly.” She wasn’t used to being waited on.

  The waiter winked and turned to Adonis.

  “Oh, can you make it without alcohol?” Moriah asked quickly.

  Adonis cocked an eyebrow at her. “You are a good Christian girl.”

  “You know it.” She lifted her hands, twirled a circle, and wiggled her hips and abdomen like a belly dancer. She hoped it wasn’t too provocative to do that move wearing tight boy shorts and a halter top.

  The waiter laughed, and Adonis stared with open admiration.

  “No poison?” the waiter asked. “But you look like so much fun.”

  “This is one hundred percent natural fun,” Moriah said, dancing a little bit more. She always danced. Why did Adonis watching her make it so much more intimate?

  Adonis placed his order. Then he rested his hand on her lower back and escorted her toward the lounge chairs by Turk’s track. His palm touching her bare skin was heavenly. She’d thought they were coming to paradise on this trip, but she’d had no clue that heaven included a man like this. How in the world was she going to stay strong? After the boy she’d loved her entire life ditched her when she was pregnant and barely seventeen, she’d stayed far away from men, not ready to risk her or Turk’s hearts. Especially with a handsome blond guy with blue eyes and a huge wallet. Okay, she was making an assumption about the oversized pocketbook. Her Adonis just seemed like the type, and he wouldn’t be staying here without one. He seemed too confident to be on someone else’s dime like she was.

  “I should probably ask your name since I don’t eat with unknown women,” Adonis said.

  Moriah laughed. She couldn’t help it. “I don’t need to know your name—you’re Adonis.”

  “What? Adonis?” He chuckled. “What does that mean?”

  “The Greek god of beauty and desire.”

  He laughed louder now. “Well, thank you. I feel flattered.”

 
; “You should.”

  “So you don’t even want to know my real name?” He leaned closer to her, and her breath caught.

  “Nah. Stay all mysterious and hot for me, will you?”

  “Whatever I can do to stay by your side.”

  Why did he have some obsession with her? A man like this could have any woman anywhere. Why her? Seriously, he was probably just a schmoozer who wanted a vacation fling. She glanced around for his friends, but the volleyball court was deserted.

  “Okay.” She needed to cut the flirting. “Actually, tell me your name, and I’ll tell you mine.”

  “You first.”

  “Moriah Jackson. Pleased to meet you.” She stood and bowed for him.

  Adonis grasped her hand and said, “I’d like another dance much better than the bow.”

  “Stop.” Moriah pushed a hand at him and sat down again.

  “I’ve never seen anyone move like you.”

  “You don’t get out much?”

  “Not really.”

  She highly doubted that. “Well, my friend, you haven’t seen nothin’ yet and I’m not trying to brag or be suggestive. I just know how to move.”

  He grinned. “I can see that. So what time are we going dancing tonight?”

  “I don’t even know your name.” She smiled at him, but he was pushing her a little bit harder than she was comfortable with.

  “Jace Browning. Pleased to meet you, ma’am. Commitment to dancing now?”

  “Turk isn’t real fond of clubs.” She smiled, pleased that she’d dodged that bullet though she would’ve loved to go dancing, especially with him.

  “We can have our own private dance.” He leaned toward her. “I can get rid of my brothers, and Turk can watch a show in one of the rooms in the suite while you teach me how to move my hips like you do.”

  “Oh, my goodness, you are incorrigible.”

  He leaned back against the cushioned beach lounge and grinned. “Does that mean yes?”

  “No. I’m here with some friends. We have plans tonight.” She honestly wasn’t sure what he was suggesting, but there was no way she was going to his suite when she hardly knew him.

  “Doing what?”