Even to Kelsey it was beautiful. As the moon shone down between trails of clouds, the beach shimmered around them—the sand, the rocks, glowing like burnished silver. Far beneath a sprinkling of stars the shoreline gleamed wetly as water tumbled in and out, burbling like a sleepy child at play. Kelsey watched it all, felt its power and beauty and wished, wished, that she could love it…that the fears would never come to her again.

“Well, what do you think?” Justin asked softly, squeezing her fingers.

Without hesitation Kelsey said, “I think it’s wonderful. And terrifying. I always used to want to live on the beach.”

His glance was quizzical. “And now?”

“No,” she said quietly, and they kept walking, side by side.

After a while Justin gave her hand a little shake. “Well, this is how the other half lives.”

“The other half, meaning you?” she teased, and was rewarded by another almost-smile.

“I was talking about Skip,” Justin corrected her. “And all these other mansions we’re walking by.”

“Are we trespassing?”

“The beach is private, but technically we’re Skip’s guests. And don’t forget, I am the lifeguard.” His tone had taken on a new relaxed sound that Kelsey liked, and she smiled up at him.

“And do you enjoy it? Being a lifeguard?”

He shrugged. “It’s a job. I get to meet lots of people—”

“Girls.”

“Yeah, okay, girls.” His smile was almost embarrassed. “It’s certainly not as glamorous as the movies make it. I don’t go around rescuing damsels in distress very often, and yes, I have gotten sunburn, and no, most of the time people don’t pay attention when I yell at them, so I have to go out and chase them back in.”

“Which beach is your favorite?”

“This one. It’s a lot calmer. Not so many accidents waiting to happen. You feel like a swim?”

Without even thinking, Kelsey stopped, jerking her hand free from his. “I…no. Not tonight.”

“It’s really warm,” Justin assured her. Going to the water’s edge he filled his hands from a burst of spray and let the water trickle onto the sand at his feet.

“I don’t have a suit.”

“I’m sure there’s one back at the house you can use. I’ll just go back and—”

“No!” Kelsey tried to control the anxiety in her voice. “No, I mean I don’t want to go swimming. I hate it.” She ducked her head, hoping he hadn’t seen the panic on her face, and was disconcerted at the feel of his hand beneath her chin, his fingers tilting her face upward toward his.

“Kelsey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. You don’t have to swim. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

She struggled to tear her eyes away, so conscious now of his touch upon her skin, the way he was looking at her, all kindness and concern.

“It’s not that,” she whispered.

“It must be something. You seem pretty upset.”

She hadn’t realized she was trembling. Now she mustered all her resolve and backed away, forcing a smile.