Stormy Weather

The sun felt like it was burning into her skin. Even SPF-25 didn’t stand up to the wind burn.

It was just too easy to be lazy and lie there on the towel. The wind was kicking up and she felt grains of sand skitter across her skin every now and then. She wasn’t alone, there were a few diehards still on the beach. Running feet kicked up clumps of sand and finally annoyed her enough to sit up and dust herself off.

“Surfers,” she mumbled and shook her head. Storms always brought them out. The wind kicked up the surf and the waves swelled. Debbie was compelled to watch two figures riding a huge crest and cringed when she saw one tumble into the crashing foam, his board flying in after him.

Groaning, she finally stood and brushed some of the sand from her arms. Debbie walked to the water’s edge and was amazed to realize how much closer it was to the towel she was lying on than when she first picked out a spot. At least she would get her feet wet before she packed up her belongings and trudged back to the hotel.

She was standing in ankle deep water when a wave crashed into her at chest height. She was knocked off balance and wound up sitting in the wet sand as the water threatened to pull her in. The salty water passed her lips and she sputtered and tried to catch her breath.

“You okay?” A bronze god squatted beside her. His hand rested on her back to support her in case she actually collapsed.

Cough, cough. “Yeah,” cough, “I’m fine.” She paused and cleared her throat. “That wave just surprised me.”

He stood and stretched a hand out. “Obviously a tourist.” He smiled.

Debbie stood, she deliberately avoided his help. “Is that an insult?”

“No,” Adonis’ twin laughed. “It was a guess. This is obviously your first hurricane and since we have them every year I figured that you’re either a brand new resident or, most probably, just visiting for a few days. So which is it?”

She didn’t look up at him. “I’m here on vacation.”

“Hah! I was right.”

Debbie looked out at the horizon. “How bad does it get?” It almost looked like sets of back curtains were billowing from the clouds. She walked back to her towel and straw bag and just assumed he’d follow her.

“Oh baby,” he paused while she bent to pick her things up. “It hasn’t even started. The storm is still pretty far off. Besides it’s only a category two.”

She looked back as she bent over and was annoyed to catch his leer. “Are you enjoying the show?” She sounded cynical.

Patches of red tinged his cheeks. His embarrassment surprised her.

“Sorry.” He looked back at the water. “I’m Bruce.”

She nodded in acknowledgment but didn’t bother to return the courtesy. “So how long before this hurricane actually hits?” Turning towards the hotel, she wrapped a clean towel around her waist.

“We’ve got about twelve or fourteen hours.” Bruce fell into step next to her “Where are you from?”

“Philadelphia.”

He hoped she’d be a little more forthcoming. She wasn’t. They kept walking. “So why are you in Miami Beach?”

She stopped. “I’m on vacation.” Debbie turned to look at him. She stood with a hand on a hip. “Thank you for your help in the water. But I’m not the kind of woman that picks up a vacation fling in case that’s why you’re following me.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not interested in being a tourist attraction.”

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AudioBook narrated by Wendy Tremont King