Keeping Mr. Right Now: A Kisses in the Sand Novel (Entangled Bliss) by Robin Bielman Page A

go?” The last thing he wanted to do was leave her side. His head quieted when he was around her—aside from the dumbass thoughts about her body—and he liked the feeling.
    She bit her lip before turning her head back toward the sea. “You don’t have to.”
    They stood in comfortable silence, sides almost touching, for a long while. Zane had the strangest desire for a pause button so he could stay in this untroubled moment for as long as he wanted.
    “Do you ever go out there when it’s like this?” she said softly. “When it’s almost dark and there’s no one else in the water?”
    “I do. It’s nice being alone out there.”
    “It doesn’t make you feel lonely?”
    “The ocean is a great companion.”
    She took a quick glance at him. “I long for that solitude sometimes, but my family is pretty much always in my business, so…”
    “You’ve got lots of brothers and sisters?”
    “No, lots of extended family, which is worse because they feel like they need to look out for me constantly. I know it’s because they care about me, but it feels really good to be here right now.”
    Yeah, it did.
    The sun hid; the breeze picked up. Sophie shivered, and he wished he had a coat to wrap her in. How would she feel about his arm around her shoulders?
    Don’t do it.
    He did it.
    Her body tensed, went rigid beneath his hold, but then she relaxed and melted against him, and her surrender almost knocked him on his ass. This woman, nervous around him one minute, unbuttoned the next, threw his sensibilities into complete disorder.
    He had women figured out. But not this time.
    And this time, too much was on the line to cross it. He’d no doubt hurt her if he acted on impulse. His liaisons were for fun, nothing more. He didn’t put his heart into anything but surfing, and he sensed Sophie wasn’t the type of woman to do anything lightly.
    He told himself he was just being nice, keeping her warm because it was the gentlemanly thing to do. But her soft body against his hard one, her even breathing, the fresh expression she wore like he didn’t impress her, he intrigued her, all made him wonder if maybe he was feeling something for her. He’d known her one day, but in that moment, he’d swear it was much longer.
    She pulled away. Brushed a strand of hair off her face. “I should get back.”
    “Wait.” He caught her arm as she twisted to one side. “You still good for being my date?” He glanced at his watch. “The screening starts in half an hour.”
    “I’m still good.”
    “Hello, gorgeous,” a woman said, drawing his attention away from Sophie.
    The muscles in Zane’s back tensed. He recognized the woman from last year’s festival. They’d had one night together. Caroline? No, Chloe. “Don’t tell me boy saves girl and suddenly they’re an item,” she added, getting closer.
    Zane stepped in front of Sophie. “Hey, Chloe. It’s cool to see you again, but this is a private conversation.”
    “Even from me?” She ran her hands down his chest. “I just wanted to see how you are.”
    He gently took hold of her wrists and dropped her hands, took a step back. And bumped into Sophie.
    She surprised the hell out of him when she wrapped her arms around his waist and lifted enough to put her chin on his shoulder. His body relaxed. Got warm. “He’s good. Very good.”
    Chloe narrowed her eyes at Sophie. “Was I talking to you?”
    “Hey,” Zane said, keeping his voice even as he addressed Chloe. “We had some fun, but I’m no longer interested.”
    “Really?” Her sarcastic tone had him wrapping his arms around Sophie’s.
    “Really.”
    “Well, if you change your mind, and we both know you will, I’ll be around.” She threw an expression of disapproval at Sophie, turned, and walked away.
    Sophie let go of him, and he spun around. She chewed her bottom lip in a far too unsettling way and blinked repeatedly. He gathered she’d surprised herself, too.
    “What was that?” he asked, his