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Steel druh his ears as vacationers finished up a game of volleyball on the hot sand Women with bodies to die for slapped layer upon layer of suntan lotion across their surgically-enhanced breasts A toddler skipped into the turquoise water, and his father ran after hi hiut-belly laugh, his head undoubtedly dizzy The corners of Gavin’s mouth turned up a small smile while he watched thehtly under his arm, and set the little boy on the sand next to hisher few peacefulof longing as he watched the rin on his face, he pulled his fair-skinned love into his arms and planted a kiss onto her lips With adrenaline-spiked clarity, the hts Reaching for his bourbon on the rocks, rocks aze away from the couple

"Señor Blake" Gavin lifted his eyes and saw one of the cabana boys he’d co with another bourbon Placing the drink down in front of Gavin, Miguel wiggled his brows "This, señor, is from the beautiful señorita" He craned his head toward a woman seated alone at the bar

Gavin stole a sideways glance in her direction Crossing her long legs under a short, silk sundress, the woman aimed a coy sered on the straw as she gazed at him intently

Gavin simply nodded to thank her He returned his attention to the young Mexican worker, fished his wallet frouel Go ahead and get her another round onback, he draped his arm across the chair next to hi?"

"Oh, they’re doing wonderful, Señor Blake," he answered, the joy in his voice reaching his eyes "We trying to teach hi lass from the table "Well, you Americans call it soccer We hope to see him play for… what do you call it? The Olyht chuckle "The Oly over his shoulder "Yes The Olympics Then, he make me and my family have as much dinero as you one day Much happiness colass and swirled the liquid, the fresh ice clinking against the sides He cast a weary suel, his tone void of any eht Money brings rinned and turned away, leaving demons of despair to torture Gavin Buried just beneath the surface, a nearly insufferable pain latched onto his heart Unwelco his face ran raht sucked the last vestiges of feeling from Gavin’s soul As the mix of eave way to anger But try as he ht, Gavin couldn’t escape her Need for her tensed every ether clouded his thoughts, tripping and tu over each other

With a wall of unease settling around hiht the attention of the woh Rich, wavy, shoulder-length red hair fell easily over the straps of her sundress Gavin flicked his eyes across her slender physique as she stared at hih he didn’t consider her a woman ould stick out in a crowd, her eyes and smile lit up her face, and Gavin found it hard to look away He watched as she gracefully slid frorabbed her drink, a clutch, and startedher way toward him Eyes locked on hers, Gavin sed and listened to her heeled sandals clicking against the wooden deck Before she closed their distance, the woman came to a stop She tilted her head and studied his face as if asking if it was okay to join hi With a reluctant nod, he , she continued her pursuit and stepped down fro the beach As she pulled out a chair, she placed her drink and clutch onto the table, her hair blowing across her face with the warht her hand up to tuck the strands behind her ear, Gavin noticed her green eyes, their shade hauntingly faht against thoughts of Emily

"I can spot a man with a broken heart fro into the seat She crossed her legs and took a long sip froe She subtly leaned across the table A seductive s fro over his upper body, she brought her eyes back to his "What can I do to remedy this problem for you, Mr…?"

Gavin leaned back and shook his head "Not as shy as you appear," hefor his drink "They do say looks can be deceiving But it’s all good I’ed the rest of his drink, set his glass on the table, and flicked it with his thuer Its condensation allowed it to slide sainst an ashtray He rested his elbows on the table, sers under his chin "You want to reued, Miss…?"

The unnamed woman bit her lip and ued That wasover here I enjoy it when aTwo: No, I’m not as shy as I appear, honey Far fro about you screa" She uncrossed her legs, slipped her heel off her right foot, and reached down to e it With the tilt of his head, Gavin watched soberly as she slowly ran her blood red nails fro herself in her chair, she tucked her shoeless foot under her ass and smiled "Four: Yes, I’d like to re through a tough tiave ive you htly older than you, so you really should respect your elders Wouldn’t you agree, Mr…?"

Without rin pulled at the side of Gavin’s mouth "Gavin Blake"

"Ahh, well then, Mr Blake, whose heart has clearly been hurt, it’s very nice to meet you I’ into his eyes, she reached across the table, offering Gavin her hand He took it and felt her fingers draw small circles on his palether "So, as she and why on earth would she break the heart of aas you do?"

With a nerve hit, Gavin cleared his throat and glanced past Jessica He raised his hand for Miguel to bring them another round He rolled his neck, leaned back, and tucked his hands into the pockets of his khaki cargo shorts Face impassive and eyes pinned on hers, he cocked his head to the side "Let s for you Jessica’s your name, correct?"