Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
He chuckled. “Why Saturdays in particular?”
“First, if it’s a bright morning like today and the surf is rocking, it already puts me in a good mood for the rest of the day. There’s nothing like the feeling of you and the waves, working together. No other human beings. Just the elements. And then on Saturday afternoons, I get my social fix when I teach surfing to beginners. It’s so much fun. I’ve got a whole van full of wetsuits and boards, and I teach kids and adults who’ve never surfed before.” She sighed happily. “It’s such a privilege to share the sport I love with people who are just starting out.”
She turned to watch his reaction, but he merely nodded in a noncommittal way and then sipped his coffee. She wondered why he was here. Was it because he wanted her help buying a house? Trying surfing? Or something more than that…
Her usual self would have just asked outright, blunt and confident—like, why would she care, anyway? But she didn’t feel her usual self around Hersch. She felt a weird combination of mellow and electric. If she was honest with herself, it was intoxicating.
She gestured toward the beautiful ocean, which was glistening in the morning sun that was growing stronger now. She couldn’t lose her edge completely, so she asked, “Would you like to put on a wetsuit and get out there?”
Beneath his moustache, his mouth tightened. He shook his head briefly. “No, thanks.” He paused, and then his mouth softened again. “Thank you for the offer, though.”
She nodded in what she hoped was an understanding way. “That wouldn’t have anything to do with what happened to you last year, would it?”
He turned to her fully now, and as he twisted, she saw the tightness of his chest and arm muscles through his T-shirt. She was suddenly aware of her own body in the wetsuit, still pleasantly damp and aching from exercise. And maybe something else too. He looked into her eyes, and there was such warmth in that blue-gray color that she was momentarily taken aback.
“I don’t know what it is about you,” he said, looking suddenly serious, “but unlike your friend Jay, I feel I can trust you.”
If he’d done enough research to find out how she liked her coffee, no doubt he knew all about her accident. A simple Google search would take care of that.
“You can,” she said, meaning it.
“My not wanting to surf has everything to do with what happened last year. I look at the ocean, and I just can’t stand it. I feel…” He trailed off.
In the gentlest way she could, she said, “You don’t have to explain. There’s no pressure. But just so you know, I’m here every Saturday. I’m sure I’ve got a suit that would fit you.” She allowed herself another brief look at his taut body. “If you ever have the urge to try, come to my class. We’ll ease you in slowly. I promise that once you’re in, you’ll learn to love the ocean again.”
Hersch didn’t look convinced, but he smiled anyway, his teeth brilliant white. He thanked her and then said, “I didn’t actually track you down to learn how to surf. I’ve decided to hire you as my Realtor. Jay says you’re one of the best in town. And I prefer to talk face to face, not on the phone.” Then he grinned. For a man whose face was normally solemn and slightly nerdy, such a wide smile transformed him into a charming man. Her heartbeat sped up, and, embarrassingly, she was aware of a slight flush coming to her cheeks.
He continued, “I’ve been searching online for houses, but to be honest, I don’t know what I’m doing. I can fix a spaceship in orbit, but finding the right house for me is more complicated.”
She laughed. “You came to the right place. I’m excellent at what I do.”
“I just need someone to guide me so I don’t buy one that’s one storm away from the roof blowing off. Or, I don’t know, sitting on a swamp or something. I figure that’s where you come in. From what Jay says, you know this area better than anyone. You know the neighborhoods. You know the houses. I want to hire you.”
Obviously, Mila was more than happy to be Herschel Greenfield’s Realtor. She agreed to work with him, secretly a little thrilled to get to spend more time with this sexy, intriguing man. In fact, she couldn’t think of the last time she’d met a man who’d intrigued her quite so much. He wasn’t the best-looking guy she’d ever met, and certainly his sexy banter left something to be desired, but she felt that they’d connected on a deep level over their shared ocean-related traumas.
“I can do a proper survey for you, obviously, when I’m not wearing a wetsuit and have my computer with me. But give me a quick rundown. What are you looking for?”