Read The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance for Free Online Page B

for a long, long time. At least Alyssa hoped not. She looked up to see Beck studying her. She forced a smile and scooped more sand to cover Granny’s legs.
    They kept piling sand on until Granny whispered, “Okay. I think that’s good.”
    Alyssa met Beck’s eye and the laughter just spilled out. They laughed so hard her stomach hurt.
    “Get a picture quick and get me out of here,” Granny demanded.
    Beck and Alyssa handed their phones to a teenage boy tossing a football nearby. Alyssa wished she had her high quality camera. She wanted to remember this moment forever and she’d really like to zoom in on Beck’s chest.
    The young man took the first picture with each of them on one side before Granny demanded, “No. You both need to be on my right so the sun won’t ruin the picture.”
    Alyssa laughed at Granny telling her how to pose for a picture, but she obediently moved next to Beck and knelt in the squishy sand.
    “Put your arm around her, act like you actually like us,” Granny told Beck.
    He shrugged and smiled at Alyssa. “Does anyone ever tell her no?”
    “Why would anyone want to?” Granny squeaked. “Hurry up, I’m being crushed by sand granules here!”
    Beck wrapped his arm around Alyssa and drew her into his side. Alyssa should’ve stayed more upright but she found herself leaning against him and wrapping her arms around his chiseled abdomen. Her fingers touched the bumpy scars there and he stiffened for a second before relaxing and bringing his other hand to her waist. Tingles shot through her body from his firm hand.
    It felt so natural to be cuddled up like this, but at the same time more exciting than skydiving. Alyssa’s pulse was thundering in her throat and she couldn’t create any moisture in her mouth. She’d dated different men since being attacked by Hugh and though a lot of them had been nice guys she’d always felt tense and afraid when they touched her. Right now the only emotions were excitement and warmth. Was it Beck or was she finally ready to be close to a man again?
    Alyssa smiled for the shots, sad when the boy declared he had some good ones and extended their phones in his hand. Was it her imagination or did Beck let go almost as slowly as she did?
    Beck stood and retrieved their phones while Alyssa started pushing the sand off of her grandmother. Granny looked at her and winked. “Now that was more like it.”
    Beck joined them and Alyssa was relieved she didn’t have to tell Granny to knock it off because really, she didn’t want her to. Usually when Granny tried to push her toward men she balked and ran the other direction. With Beck, she wanted to run right to him.
    Alyssa enjoyed every minute with Beck. She thought of how Maryn had asked her to secure a date with him and hoped this counted, but she also hoped this was just the beginning. Then realization poured over her. She couldn’t become involved with him. If she did, she’d have to confess to taking pictures of him and his sister and selling them to a magazine that distorted the truth and sold millions of copies of that distortion. Then she would see hurt and anger instead of laugher and appreciation in his eyes. That could never happen.
     

 
    “No way!” Maryn screamed into the phone. “You spent the day with him? On the beach?”
    “He’s… impressive.” Alyssa wasn’t sure that was the right description of Beck. He was handsome, fun, smart, kind, and she was definitely impressed. She unwound the towel from her head, playing in the ocean and sand had been great but her hair needed that scrubbing.
    “Details!”
    “There’s not much to tell. We met this morning at breakfast. Granny asked him to go to the beach with us and we had a great time. Swimming, snorkeling, burying Granny in the sand, lunch at Hulu Grill.”
    “Granny Ellie is such a hoot.”
    “Yes, she is.”
    “And… how does he look without his shirt on?”
    Alyssa drew in a sharp breath and placed her hand on her heart.