ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Hazel Gower
Copyright © 2013
Chapter One
I wonder if this is stalking? Sabina thought as she watched the object of her obsession walk out of the water. Well-defined muscles glistened as water slid down a perfect six-pack stomach. The waves crashed against his legs, and he shook himself as he strolled to his towel.
“You should go talk to him . What have you got to lose? ”
Sabina eyed her walking friend Alice up and down . Nothing was out of place, from her blonde ponytail on the top of her head to her running top and shorts. Alice had run with her for an hour, and she wasn’t panting and sweating like Sabina.
Sabina wished she looked as good as Alice after running . She wished she looked as good as Alice full stop, but it wasn’t the case.
“If I looked like you , I might have the courage to go over to him. It is so unfair you ran the same distance as me and not a hair is out of place. I hate you. ”
Alice laughed at her . “No, you don’t. You love me. Sabina, I have been running the distance we did this afternoon since we were in high school. You started last month, and only because you found out Shaun swims every afternoon around this time. I don’t know what your problem is anyway. He’s one of your dad’s close friends. He comes over to your house and you talk to him there, and at barbeques and functions. ”
She shot a glance at Alice . “Quiet. Don’t say it so loud. He might hear you. And it’s totally different. My dad’s around, or other people. I’ve never been alone with him. Well, except in my dreams. ”
“You do realize you are starting to get pathetic . I don’t know why you think he is so out of your league. ” Alice put her hands up before Sabina could butt in. “I know there is a twelve-year age gap, and your father thinks the sun shines out of his arse because he is next best engineer other than him, but really I don’t see it. You’ve had a crush on him since you first met him. I think it’s odd that of all the places he could move to, he just happened to move so close to you and your dad. ”
Alice wiggled her eyebrows at Sabina as they sat down to rest on the sand by the stairs off the beach. “Sabina, you need to ask him out. What’s the worst that could happen? He says no, or you go on a date with him. If you don’t want to ask him out, you need to get over him. How about I set you up with one of Scott’s friends? ”
Sabina didn’t want to get over Shaun . She sighed as she watched as Shaun smiled, winked, and walked her way. “Oh no, he’s coming this way. What do I do? ” She searched frantically around for an exit that wouldn’t make it look like she was running, but behind her were stairs and the rock face up to higher land, and in front of her was the beach.
Alice gave her a wicked grin and patted her on the back . “Be yourself. I have to go. I’m going out for dinner tonight with my fiancé. You’ll be all right. ”
Sabina shook her head and gave Alice a pleading glance , silently begging her not to leave. The traitor nodded and walked away, which left her staring up into amused emerald green eyes.
“Do you have somewhere to be too ? ”
Sabina shook her head , too scared to talk.
“Are you busy tonight ? ”
Oh God , what was happening? Staring at Shaun, she knew this time she would have to answer.
“No . ”
Shaun raised his eyebrows at her and waited for her to continue .
“I’m at home tonight , every night actually. Tonight, though, I will soak in a bath and probably read some trashy romance novel while I imagine the hero is you. ” She groaned as she realized what she’d just told him.
He laughed . “You think of me, do you? ”
Sabina moaned and hid her face in her hands . Slowly, she peeked through her fingers to see him grinning down at her. “Please forget I said that. I’m so embarrassed. ”
He beamed down at her . “I won’t forget. It means I know I have
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