A Timeless Romance Anthology: Spring Vacation Collection Read Online Free PDF

she could walk in the surf, glad her dress only went to her knees.
    Clint moved a little closer to the water as well, but he hadn’t taken his shoes off so he didn’t go as close as she did. The next wave washed over Sarah’s toes—the water was warmer than she’d expected. “So basically, you need a man to show you the world,” he said, giving her a coy grin.
    Her stomach flipped—this was the first time he’d ever said anything about a possible future between them. Did that mean he liked her? That he could envision them seeing each other after this weekend?
    “The world?” she repeated. “I’d be happy to go to Des Moines.”
    Clint laughed at that. “You’ll be easy to please.”
     She looked over and smiled; he smiled back and reached for her hand, the one that wasn’t holding her shoes. Whatever she’d been thinking to say completely left her brain as she watched him move closer. Oh my gosh, he’s going to kiss me! What do I do? Let him? Slap him? Run?
    “I’ve really liked getting to know you better here in Cozumel. It’s a perfect romantic getaway, don’t you think?” He ran his thumb across the back of her hand.
    Sarah was mesmerized, her head going further back so she could see him as he moved closer. The waves crashed in the background. Music from a restaurant farther up the beach filtered down to them. The breeze blew her hair across her face. He lifted his other hand to brush it away.
    Sarah was speechless. Is this happening? Am I ready?
    “I’m a big believer in chemistry,” he said, only inches from her face now. “And you look amazing in that dress, the way it … what the —” He looked down, jumped back and dropped her hand.
    She looked down too, but couldn’t figure out what he was freaking out about until he said, “My shoes!” and took off running for the softer sand higher up the beach, shaking his shoes as though that could spare them from the salt-water bath they’d just had. The bottom two inches of his pants were soaked.
    Sarah hurried up the beach after him.
    “Why didn’t you tell me the water was coming so far up the beach?” he snapped when she reached him. He sat on a low cement wall and was pulling off his shoes, scowling.
    “I didn’t notice,” she said, tempted to add that she’d been too spellbound by him to keep track of the surf. “I’m so sorry.”
    He had both shoes off and lifted them up, dripping. “I can’t believe this,” he said. “They’re ruined; I just bought them.”
    “You might be able to save them, at home I always—”
    “You’re from Omaha,” he said, making her take a step back as he looked up at her. “I don’t think you’re an expert on how to save shoes from salt water.” A moment later, he softened a little and looked back at his shoes. “I’m sorry. These are just really expensive.”
    Sarah swallowed her hurt feelings, justifying his reaction with the fact that he really had ruined a pair of brand new shoes. “I might be able to fix them.”
    He looked at her skeptically. “Really?”
    “I’ve learned a few tricks over the years,” she said, keeping to herself that she’d learned those tricks because Rose absolutely adored jumping in puddles after it rained and had a penchant for dunking stray shoes in toilets.
    She put her free hand out. “I’ll take them back to my room and see what I can do tonight.” Sarah smiled in anticipation of him laughing about all of this—it was kind of funny, right? And they’d had such a nice day.
    Instead of laughing, he cursed and shook his head before sitting back down and peeling off his wet socks as well. “Awesome,” he said under his breath as he threw the wet socks into the bushes. He took a deep breath and pushed his fingers through his hair.
    The briefest thought crossed her mind—what would he do if Rose dumped his shoes in the toilet?
    “Hey,” she said after a few more seconds. He looked up with an aggravated expression. She held up his shoes. “I’d