Why shouldn't I?" Then he took Rebecca's hand and stared
warmly into her eyes with another award-winning smile.
"We'll go for a ride when I get it."
Rebecca laughed lightly. "It sounds like fun. I like the
idea of floating in the air. More fun than surfing, I bet."
O.E. inhaled sharply and flashed a look of fake shock.
"Nothing's more fun than surfing!" This was clearly a
serious topic for him, not one to be treated lightly. Still, his
assertion made her think of so many possible replies.
She couldn't resist. " Nothing is more fun than surfing?"
She eyed him with mock surprise and a lewd smile.
He waved his hand to admit defeat. "You're right, I
misspoke. Sex with you would be much more fun than
surfing."
Talk about direct. She had wondered when he would
pounce on that subject-he'd had plenty of opportunities.
Still, most men were discrete and danced around the topic
with tact. O.E. blurted out whatever he was thinking at any
moment in the conversation. He was frank and jarringly
honest. For a poor, unemployed, and homeless man, he
exuded a level of confidence that seemed out of place.
She teased him-there was no other way to respond.
"You are such a dreamer."
"Well, you've got me there-I am a dreamer. I'm not
going to deny that I've dreamed of making love to you.
Don't tell me the thought hasn't crossed your mind either."
He held up a finger before Rebecca could answer, then went
on. "But more to the point, I dream of taking you surfing.
It's an earth-shaking thrill that you cannot believe until you
do it. I recommend it to everyone, and I'd love to teach you."
He took a few seconds to run his gaze up and down
Rebecca. His eyes had such heat that they burnt away her
clothes and made her feel naked. Naked, but worshipped.
She bit a corner of her lip.
He leaned closer. "I couldn't help but notice that you
have a fine athletic body. What's your sport?"
Rebecca gave him a shy grin. "I used to do gymnastics. I
specialized in balance beam."
O.E. gave her a satisfied smile and nodded slowly.
"Excellent! You should be a natural on a surfboard."
"I've heard otherwise. A friend of mine tried it and
failed miserably. They're actually very different sports. The
balance beam doesn't move on you-it's always in the same
place when you put your foot down. A surfboard is all over
the place."
"Yeah, but sticks are much wider and coated with wax
so you don't slip."
"Sticks?"
"Sorry, slang for surfboards."