“I’m not talking about those creeps. I’m talking about the fact that if you hadn’t chased them, you wouldn’t have retrieved Florence’s bag, and then she wouldn’t have had her medicine. I know the ambulance came soon afterwards. But you might just have made the difference, Cole.”

“Yeah, buddy,” Wally chimed in. “Don’t consider this gratuity or nothin’, but have a lemonade on me.”

Cole grinned as the vendor handed him a tall, ice-cold cup of lemonade. He tipped it in a salute and drank, relishing the tart, refreshing liquid as it ran down his throat and into his stomach.

“Thanks—” he looked down at the side of the cart just to check the name “—Wally.” He stuffed the empty cup in the trash, and grabbed up their bags. “Now, come on, girl. It’s time to get you wet.”

*  *  *

It took a while. They had to make a stop at the rest rooms. And he had to rent an umbrella. But when she came out, Debbie was minus white shirt and shorts. Once again, Cole lost his breath at the small, curvaceous body in the tiny red suit, and tried to ignore the rush of lust that wanted to make itself known. For God’s sake, Cole told himself, not now, and not here.

And then finally, they were on the beach.

The sand was endless and warm and in her shoes. Debbie stepped out of the canvas slip-ons, stuffed them in her bag, and squiggled her toes with relish.

Cole grinned. “Feel good?”

“Feels great,” Debbie replied. “Can’t do this at home. Too many sandburs.”

He laughed. “No stickers here, but watch out for trash. I don’t want you to cut your foot on a piece of metal or glass. They police the area pretty well, but sometimes things can get buried in the sand.”

She nodded. “Where do we put our stuff?”

Cole had already pinpointed a fairly sparse assortment of sunworshipers and pointed Debbie in their direction. “Just walk that direction and when you see a spot big enough to sit down in, grab it, and don’t move until I spread out our towels and plant the umbrella.”

“You got it.” She grinned and almost danced across the beach in her excitement to begin their day.

None too soon, everything was in place. Debbie was fairly bursting with anticipation.

“Just one more thing,” Cole said. “Come here, Little Red. Let’s get some sun block on you so that you don’t burn.”

She grinned. “Only if I get to return the favor,” she teased and, cocking her eyebrow at him, raked his long, tanned body with a look that made his blood pressure rise.

He looked down in panic, hoping that it was the only thing rising, and then breathed a quiet sigh of relief, praying that he’d just be able to make it into the water before he embarrassed himself.