Accepted Fate Read Free Page B

if they've been waiting for the opportunity. I guess if you put ten attractive, half naked men anywhere, they have the motivation for anything. Thank goodness I don't have to do this alone.
    Breyson hands me the ball back, looking as if he's happy with my answer, "Ladies first."
    He has to stop smiling at me like that. Every time he does, I start to shake and my breathing becomes heavier. He's so sexy and I don't think I have ever looked at a guy like this. Why, oh why, didn't I stay home today? This is the last thing I need right now. I haven't worked twenty hours a week in the gym for the last twelve years, cheering and stunting, to suddenly get distracted by some guy. I don't care how sexy that accent is. I take the ball and smile. "As long as you don't get in my way." Growing up on the beach, everyone knows how to play volleyball, and well. He smirks as if that is exactly the opposite of what he is going to do and backs up to give me some space.
    About an hour later, we're up three points. I'm standing there waiting for Lexi to serve and suddenly I feel like he's watching me. Now feeling paranoid, I glance at him underneath my shades, from the corner of my eye. He's looking right at me as if there is something he wants to say. Maybe, there is something on me. I start discretely doing a self-check to make sure my swimsuit is still in place, when I hear him chuckle. 
    I glance back across the net and see the ball sailing through the air. Not even thinking, I take off running to hit it back. Before I can stop myself, I collide with Breyson midair and land flat on my back, in the sand beneath him. Electricity shoots through my body and I feel like I can't breathe. His body is lying perfectly aligned with mine, pressed against me. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry." My voice comes out strained.
    His eyes are staring straight into mine as if he's trying to read into my soul, to discover all of the secrets that lie inside. He puts his weight on his forearm in the sand, next to my head, while his other brushes up my leg, stopping on my hip. A moan slips from my lips at the contact, causing me to close my eyes. When I open them, he bites his lips as his eyes move down to my lips. My face starts to flush. He's so close, I can feel his breath tickle my face and I find myself wishing he'd kiss me. Everything else has faded away, except him. We could have been there, staring at each other, for five minutes or five hours, I didn't know. It seems I can't think looking into those deep blue eyes. Presley clears her throat, breaking me from my somewhat frozen state. "Guys, are we going to play or just stand here and watch you two all but hump each other on the beach?" 
    Embarrassed, I place my hands on his muscular chest and try to push him back, not having any effect at all. "Can you please get off me," I say, irritated I can be so stupid around him. This is not like me at all. I should know better than to allow myself to be sidetracked by some guy. I don't even know him! How can someone I just met put me in a state of bliss in front of all my friends?
    He stands and offers out his hand to help me up. I take it and stand to my feet and begin to brush the sand from my body, trying to gain control of the emotions that are obviously in a state of panic. I'm in uncharted waters, a foreign state of mind.  Knocking the remaining sand off, I realize, I have to get out of here. "Thanks, I just remembered my parents needed me home early. I have to go. It was nice to meet you." He looks as if there's something he wants to say or do, but doesn't and I find myself slightly disappointed. I rush over to my towel, shove everything in my bag and take off towards my car.
    Hands shaking, I unlock my door and climb inside. Always in the past, I would change in the bath house because I take really good care of my car and would never allow sand inside. This time, though, I would have to make an exception. I don't know what has come over me suddenly, but I never get