Somehow, Lincoln’s reflexes are fast enough to grab my arm before I slip down to the next rock. “Whoa, I gotcha,” he says, pulling me into him as his feet go out from beneath him too. He padded our fall, but also made it so we didn’t slip off the rock we’re standing on. I’m sideways on his lap, staring at him with wonder. “This cover must have some kind of power over people,” I tell him.
“It seriously must,” he says, breathlessly. “And I’m sorry for what I’m about to do, but the beach is making me do it.”
Lincoln leans in, touches the side of his nose against the side of mine and feathers his lips across my lips. The sensation is wild and hot, and I wrap my arms around his neck because I need to be held after being terrified for the past hour of my life. I don’t know if I would have been okay on my own or not, but he lessened the blow big time. Maybe that’s why people fall in love on this beach. Someone always needs to be rescued. Lincoln’s hands cup my cheeks and he’s gentle, but there is passion behind every move he makes. I’ve never kissed a stranger, and I don’t think many people would understand the desire to do so, but it feels perfect and natural and nothing like I would ever imagine.
When Lincoln pulls away, he brushes a strand of my hair behind my ear. “I don’t want your friends to kill me, so this can be our secret.”
“They would think this is the most romantic thing to happen to anyone. Trust me. They live in a romance novel, but then again, I like the idea of this being our secret,” I tell him, feeling the inevitable smile creep across my cheeks—a feeling that I have all but forgotten. There’s nothing quite like the sensation of a truly natural smile.
I twist and turn, looking for a loose rock with a sharp edge. “I don’t know if this is love, but it’s something,” I tell him as I scratch our names into the rock, and sign it with the words: The Secret at Sunset. “In any case, we’ll always have this.”
5
We waited another thirty minutes to make our way back to the hotel. The second there was sand to walk across, we took off, finding Grace and Macy, belligerently upset at the front desk, demanding answers.
“Guys, I’m right here,” I speak up from behind them.
They’re both clearly upset when they run toward me with their arms open. “This is our fault,” Grace says. “We were being selfish and gushing about men when you’re standing there, single. I’m so sorry, Alexa.”
I feel like an asshole, once again. “No, you have nothing to apologize for. I just—I wanted to give you a few minutes to ‘gush.’ It’s not fun when the single woman is standing there staring at the two of you. You should be gushing. You’re getting married in a few weeks.”
As we’re talking, I notice their gaze drift behind my shoulder. I realize Lincoln is still standing behind me. “What happened?” Macy asks. “Where did you go?”
I guess the front desk didn’t tell her like Lincoln assumed they might. “I went for a quick walk that turned into a high-tide situation that trapped me on a secluded area of the beach. I mean, secluded except for the two of us.”
“You didn’t venture off to Lovers Beach, did you?” Macy asks.
“Yeah, why?” I ask as if it shouldn’t have been an issue. Although I know Macy well enough that she most likely Google’d every dangerous area of Cabo before we booked the trip.
“You’re not supposed to go there alone. You can get hurt or stuck. It’s just not safe,” she explains.
“Yup, I’m aware now, but I’m not hurt, and everything is fine,” I tell them.
“Who is he?” Grace asks, smiling and wrapping her hair behind her ear. She isn’t being flirtatious. Grace blushes in the vicinity of all good-looking men whether or not she is interested in them.
“Oh,” I say, as if I forgot Lincoln was standing behind me. “This is Lincoln. He works for the concierge and heads up the excursions for the hotel. He was thankfully at Lovers Beach when the tide came up, too.”
I see arm movement behind me and I twist around to see what I’m missing, but whatever Lincoln was doing, he stops, and acts as though he was just combing
his fingers through his dark hair.
While turning back to Grace and Macy, they wipe their sudden smiles from their faces. “So, Alexa just mentioned you’re in charge of excursions?” Macy changes the subject of whatever is happening behind my back.
“Yes, that’s correct. I also offered her a free excursion for the three of you, in celebration of your bachelorette weekend, of course.”
Grace claps her hands together like a small child would. “That sounds incredible. Where are we going?”
“Well, we have parasailing, ATV tours, snorkeling, and horseback riding,” Lincoln offers, walking backward toward the desk I first met him at. “I have some brochures if you want to take a look.”
Grace drums her fingers together while in thought. “ATV, definitely ATV tours.”
“You got it. I will book the three of you for tomorrow. The excursion leaves at 9:30 in the morning. Will that work?”
“Yes!” Grace answers.
“Perfect. Make sure you ladies stop by the Cantina for drink specials after dinner,” Lincoln says, winking for good measure.
“Thank you for taking care of our girl,” Macy offers while looping her arm with mine.