Truthfully, I hadn’t been able to see her for very long these past few days. I didn’t want to. It hurt too damn bad to look into her innocent and hopeful eyes and keep the dirtiness of what Brady did away from her. Not that Holly was innocent, but as a guy, I knew the type of power trip Brady must have been feeling. Shit, up until last year I’d lived that life.

Adding the whole Seaside show to the mix was enough to put me into a catatonic state of stress. I swear I stared at my wall for ten whole minutes doing nothing but breathing in and out and trying to calm myself down. The stress was getting to me. I had the taffy wrappers to prove it.

But when she texted me today. Damn. I couldn’t say no.

Everything felt better in her arms. Which was crazy. We’d known each other for a little over a month, and I was ready to do anything for her. I knew those type of feelings were possible. People always talk about love at first sight. I’d never believed in it. Alec did though, and so did Nat. But me, never.

And now, with Alyssa in my arms. Shit, I wanted to shout it up and down the boardwalk that I was in love with this girl.

“Crap!” Alyssa pulled out of my embrace. Oh no. Her face looked ashen. “Your birthday?”

I exhaled in relief. “About that…”

“Demetri!” She swatted me on the shoulder. “Is it soon? You said Nat gave you that shirt for your birthday!”

“This weekend. Friday. Alec and Nat are throwing me a huge party. I want you to come.” I swallowed the dryness in my throat. “Be my date?” My palms began to sweat. Geez, you’d think I never asked a girl out before.

Alyssa’s eyes lit up and then she frowned. “Don’t we have group on Friday?”

“After group. I figured we could meet at your house for group and then I could drive you to my house for the party.”

“And when were you going to tell me about all of this?”

“Today.” Okay, so I was lying. I meant to tell her yesterday but still hadn’t had the balls to call her and see her face to face after everything that went down with Holly.

“Short notice, Demetri. How am I going to have time to shop for something to wear?”

“Just go to Victoria Secret.” I shrugged. “I’m sure they can help you out.”

“So it’s a naked party then?” Her little hand pressed against my chest and then ran down until she hooked her finger into the loop of my jeans pulling me closer against her. Holy hell, a man could die happy this way.

“Naked parties are the only way to go…” What the hell was she doing? Her hand moved to my stomach and began rubbing just above my briefs. Her nails lightly scratched, and I honestly thought I was going to fall off the edge of the boardwalk. I swayed toward her and closed my eyes.

“I don’t know if I like that you’ve been to naked parties.”

She purred, her wicked little hand still making me crazy.

“I don’t…” Damn, what was I going to say? “I mean, I…”

Holy. Hell. Her thumb rubbed across my hip bone, and I jerked toward her on instinct.

“Demetri…” Her lips found mine. I was so hot for her I wanted to toss her over the ledge and peel off her clothes one by one, watching as the wind ran across her creamy skin and…”

“…ice cream.”

“Ice cream?” I repeated slowly coming out of my daydream.

What about ice cream? Wait, where did her hand go? Why was I still so damn turned on?

“Let’s go get ice cream, and you can tell me all about your party.” She winked and stood in front of me. If she expected me to walk around right now she had another think coming. A minute ago I didn’t even know what my name was. I glared. She tilted her head and winked. She knew exactly what she was doing that little… oh, but what a way to go.

“I need a minute.”

“Oh?” She tilted her head innocently.

I felt my nostrils flare. “One, two, three…”

“Wait, why are you counting?” She backed up slowly.

“Four, five, six…”

“Demetri…” She giggled and then snorted.

I stretched my arms above my head and yawned. “Seven, eight, nine…”

Her eyes widened.

“Ten.” I lunged for her little body and caught her just as she was turning to run. She kicked and screamed, but it was like a tiny ant fighting a bear. I effortlessly carried her toward the ocean.

“Put me down!”

“Nope! I need to cool off…” I laughed as she began screaming at me and pounding her tiny fists onto my back.

“Demetri Daniels!”

“Scream it again, sweetheart, only makes me need the ice cold water more.”

She squirmed against me.

“Right.” I snorted and slapped her ass. “Because that helps.”

“Demetri!”

“Alyssa!” I yelled and then walked into the ocean with her in my arms. When the water reached my knees I was sufficiently cooled off. And then her eyes met mine and a different kind of heat spread through my body. One I didn’t want to cool off. One I wanted to remember for the rest of my life. I set her down on her feet. The waves crashed against our legs, but I didn’t feel cold.

“I more than like you,” I whispered as I brushed the hair whipping against her cheek from the wind.

She closed her eyes and sighed against my hand as it cupped her cheek. “I more than like you too, which is what makes this so hard.”