Read Online The Complete Memories Series by Emma Hart - Free Book Online Page A

walls of the underground and the inside of Harvey Nichols? The world is a beautiful place, Devon is a beautiful place, you just have to open your eyes and see it. There are so many amazing things out there waiting for you to discover them. Just open your heart to them.’’ He starts walking backwards up the path towards his Jeep.
    ‘‘And let me guess, surfing is one of these amazing things just waiting to be discovered by little ol’ me?’’ I ask sarcastically.
    ‘‘As a matter of fact, yes.’’ He reaches his car. ‘‘You know, you can be so uptight sometimes...’’
    ‘‘Uptight?’’ I cry.
    ‘‘Every once in a while you gotta stop worrying, stop thinking and let go. Stop worrying if you have a hair out of place, or if you’ve chipped a nail. Hell, Lexy, you gotta have some fun in your life. Come with me, let me teach you to surf. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.’’ Alec opens the passenger side door and motions for me to get in.
    ‘‘I don’t...’’
    ‘‘Don’t give me that ‘I don’t know’ crap, Princess.’’ His eyes bore into mine and for the first time, my heart flutters at the pet name.
    ‘‘I hate it when you call me that.’’ I lie through clenched teeth and kick the ground.
    ‘‘I know.’’ He winks. ‘‘That’s partly why I do it. You’re not in London anymore. Croyde has the best waves in Devon. C’mon, Lexy.’’ He smiles, showing me his dimples like he knows it’s my weakness. ‘‘Just once. Let go and try it, just once, and if you hate it I promise you never have to do it again.’’
    I study him for a moment. His stormy blue-grey eyes that draw me in further than the latest E-reader best-seller, his ruffled dirty brown hair, his sun-kissed skin.
    ‘‘Scouts honour?’’ I turn around slowly.
    ‘‘Scouts honour.’’ He holds his fingers up.
    ‘‘Okay, you win.’’ I sigh and walk down the path, throwing my bag in the back seat before climbing into the passenger seat. His smile widens and he pushes the door closed. He walks around, gets in next to me and starts the engine.
    ‘‘Were you even a boy scout?’’ I peer at him out the corner of my eye.
    ‘‘Nope.’’ We both laugh. ‘‘But I bet you weren’t a girl scout either.’’
    He looks at me and I smile.
    ‘‘Got me there,’’ I admit.
    ‘‘Brownie?’’
    ‘‘Nope.’’
    ‘‘Hmm, army cadet?’’
    ‘‘Don’t be silly.’’ I elbow him and lean forward to turn the radio on. Us Against The World by Westlife is playing, and I can’t find the heart to turn it off.
    I turn my face towards the window and let the music flow through me.  I sing the words like a reflex, an automatic reaction. I don’t even realise what I’m doing until I feel Alec’s eyes on me.
    I glance at him and my cheeks flush.
    ‘‘Closet Westlife fan. I knew it,’’ he shakes his head.
    ‘‘Shut up,’’ I mumble.
     
    ~
     
    I chew the inside of my cheek anxiously as Alec picks me out a board and wetsuit from the rental place. I can see the beach from where I’m standing, and he really wasn’t lying when he said that Croyde had bigger waves than Lilac Bay.
    ‘‘Ready?’’ he asks, passing me the wetsuit. ‘‘There’s a little room out the back you can change in.’’
    ‘‘I guess,’’ I mumble and take it, walking in the direction of the changing room. The suit is a bugger to get on, and I can only zip it up halfway. I look upwards when I realise I have to ask Alec to finish zipping it up.
    ‘‘Done?’’ He turns to me as I step out.
    ‘‘Can you, er, zip me up?’’ I sweep my hair around the side of my neck, revealing my half bare back.
    ‘‘Sure.’’ He steps up to me and his fingers brush my skin. My breath catches and I hold it as he moves the zip slowly upwards.
    ‘‘You can breathe now, Princess,’’ he whispers in my ear and strokes his hands down my arms. His lips graze my earlobe and I shiver.
    He grabs my hand and pulls me towards the beach.