The Coast is Clear (Breakaway Shores #1)

Izzy

Strike

Fultano’s looked just like I remembered. Zander wanted pizza and to bowl, so it was the obvious choice. It was exactly what you’d imagine—worn-down carpet, outdated signs, and a bowling alley off to the right. But the pizza was outstanding. It made everything around us seem charming as we changed into borrowed shoes. “I’m terrible at bowling,” I admitted, tying up the slippery laces.

The pizza sat in front of us, half-eaten. I hadn’t realized my hunger until we arrived, and the pizza was brought out. My giant Pepsi paper cup was filled with Dr. Pepper, the only Pepsi product I could stand to drink.

Zander stood with his bright pink bowling ball in hand. “I’m very good at this.”

“Oh, so that’s why you wanted to come here. To woo me with your bowling skills?” I joked, standing, and then noticed the look on his face. His smile has broadened, and his dark eyebrows were raised.

“Woo you? Is that what I’m doing?”

My cheeks burned, and my stomach felt sick. He was wooing me, right? It had been so long. I didn’t know what it felt like anymore. “I mean, to buy your house. You don’t want to burn this bridge.” I threw the words out there, hoping they’d be enough to diffuse that look on his face.

We had held hands. Right? And he’d almost kissed me. Was I just second-guessing everything? I was overthinking this. It didn’t need to be more than two people getting to know each other. That’s all.

“Right, right. Woo you in our real estate relationship. Not the other one.” He spoke the last part as he walked toward the lane. I wasn’t going to say anything. Zander wound up his arm and rolled his bright pink ball straight down the middle. He hit seven pins and, on his second roll, hit another two.

It was my turn. I had found a sparkly blue ball that felt okay. I walked straight up, past the little dots on the floor, and was ready to throw my ball when Zander put his hand on it. “Wait, have you ever—do you know how to bowl?”

He was standing behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder at him, his large body entirely too close. “I mean, I’ve bowled before. You just roll it and see where it goes.”

“Okay, but where do you put your feet?”

“What?”

Zander laughed, and then his hands were on my waist, my skin tingling, pulling me back a couple of steps. He moved to the side and motioned to the little lines etched into the floor. “These are what help you know where to line up your feet. Depending on where you want your ball to go.” He moved me closer to the right-hand side, softly touching my calves, and I followed his touch. Zander pointed to the line of markings closest to the lane. “Now, you should pay attention to these when you roll. Look at the one you want your ball to go toward. Your eyes have just as much to do with bowling as your hand, arm, and ball.”

Zander stood, and I picked the middle marking, swinging my arm backward and forward. I let go of the ball, which slid right over the middle marking. I watched it roll down the lane and hit the center pin. The clatter of every bowling pin falling to the ground made me clap my hands. I turned, and Zander was right there, his hands finding my arms. “I did it!” I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him close. I felt the slight scratch of his beard on my cheek. His hands slid down around my back, and he held me tightly. His lips pressed softly against my ear, and every inch of me froze when he said, “It’s all part of me trying to woo you.” His breath was warm against my skin, and I leaned into him more. “ Is it working?”

I dug my fingers into his neck, pressing my chest into his, and he returned my gestures, his hands splaying out on my back. I didn’t want to let go. The way he held me and the pressure of it were things I hadn’t felt in so long. I liked it. I pulled back just enough to see his face, and my traitorous eyes flickered down to his lips. They were so close to mine, just right there. I forced myself to look away as my fingers played with the edges of his hair, “It’s your turn. Let’s see if you’re as good as you said.”

He was. I had a streak of beginner’s luck, but he was very precise with his rolls. It was impressive to watch, but maybe I just liked watching him. We finished the entire pizza, and I checked the time. The boys were done with their movie, and it was probably time for me to relieve Luke. Hopefully, Kingston was taking a nap. Zander returned our shoes for us and held the door as we walked back out to his truck. “Where to next?”

“I should probably go check in with Luke. See if the boys need me.” I said as we walked together.

We touched playfully after our celebratory hug. He’d brush past me, a hand on my side. I touched his arm a lot, and it felt so nice. It's just comfortable to touch him like that. But luckily, there hadn’t been any more whispering in my ear. I don’t know if I could have handled much more of that. Zander opened the passenger door for me. “Sounds good. This was a fun first date, though.”

He stood behind me as I made my way to the inside of the truck. I glanced over my shoulder at him. “This was not a date.”

Zander smiled and leaned closer, the open door and the truck boxing me in. “We had food, we bowled, there was flirting, and I paid for it. That’s a date.”

A date.

Had I just gone on a date without knowing I had? I’d tried before. My in-laws, of all people, had set me up. They wanted me to find someone to fill Jack’s shoes, but I’d chickened out beforehand. It had been too soon. Jack still felt like he was all around me then.

“Interesting. Does it count if you didn’t know it was a date?” I ask. The playfulness warmed my chest. I leaned against the car door.

Zander put a finger on his chin and then shrugged. “I think so.”

“But we didn’t kiss.” I blurt the words out and almost want to turn around from the close by embarrassment.

“True,” Zander said as he took one step toward me. His hands found my waist again and I bit back a sound of delight. “But we could remedy that.”

Words were lost to me. I couldn’t say it. I wouldn’t say that I wanted it. But I did. I could still hear Jack’s voice telling me to be happy. To do what made me happy. I put one hand on Zander’s face and moved toward him. He held my gaze until we were close enough for our lips to brush against each other. It was soft and hesitant, and then I moved closer. I wanted to feel more of him and pressed myself into him. He kissed me, not roughly, but enough to make me feel it throughout my body.

We broke apart, leaning our foreheads tighter. “Okay, so it was a date,” I muttered into the small space between our faces.

I was nervous as we pulled up in front of my rental house. Zander put the car in park, and I turned to him, “Did you tell my brother?”

“About us almost kissing the other night?”

“Yeah,” I finished, unclicking my seatbelt.

Zander shook his head, “I did not, but he also told me that he didn’t want to know the details.”

“Oh, so you’ve talked about me?” I said with my eyebrows raised.

He rolled his eyes. “Actually, I am just really obvious, apparently. I didn’t have to say anything because he already seemed to know.”

That’s Luke for you. He’s good at reading people, so he excelled in his dating life and career. “I don’t think he’ll be mad. He’s always been protective but not overprotective like that.” I was more trying to convince myself.

“I agree. I’m sure he’ll give me the threatening older brother talk, though.” Zander smiled and grabbed my hand, bringing it to his mouth. He pressed a kiss to it, and I wanted to kiss him again. “But before we go in,” he started and leaned toward me. I met him halfway, pressing my lips into his with more need. It felt incredible to be wanted again, to be kissed. Zander moved his lips down my neck, and everything inside me hummed. I let out a moan, and he spoke against my skin, “That might be my favorite sound.”

I grabbed his face, pressing another kiss to his lips before opening the car door and breaking the spell around us. I couldn’t keep my eyes off Zander as he walked around the car to meet me. I stayed put, wanting to head inside but not ready to face reality. He pulled me close to him, leaning against the garage door, and wrapped his hands behind my back. “We should go inside,” I murmured as his fingers spread over my shirt.

“It’s more fun out here,” he said, and I stepped on my toes to kiss him again. We unhooked ourselves, and he trailed behind me, heading back inside to my two boys.