Part 24 (1/2)

We Drove Down to the Beach By the time we parked, got out, and walked a little way, barefoot in the cool, damp sand near the water's edge, I had mostly sobered up.

I sat, combing the sand with my toes, as I told him pretty much everything about my pitiful life.

When I talked about Kyra and Mom, he kept nodding. Turns out he, his brother, and father have a similar relations.h.i.+p. Like Dad, Shane is a high-priced criminal attorney.

And me? Well, I'm just a lowly photographer. Never mind that I've shot most of the top modeling talent in this country.

Which explained the company name on his business card: Perfect Poses.

”So what are you doing in Santa Cruz? Why not L.A. or New York?”

He exhaled deeply. My dad lives in Los Angeles. But my mom hated the city. She lived here ...

until she died a few weeks ago.

”Oh wow. I'm so sorry. I hope I didn't ...” I couldn't finish.

I had sure stuck my big ol'

foot in my even bigger mouth.

No. It's okay. I came here to help settle the estate. She left her house to me. So I really don't know many people here yet.

Which explained why he wasn't busy that night. In need of a subject change, I moved on to Lucas. ”Not everyone here is worth knowing. ...”

I told the whole virgin thing. When I finished, he responded with a hand, placed gently on my knee. What an idiot. Does he not recognize what a gift you gave him, what an amazing opportunity you are?

You've lost not a thing, lovely lady. You've lost not one thing.

Okay, His Syntax Can be a bit elevated. Overeducated, maybe, like having a PhD in poetry, which should come from the heart, not from some cardboard rulebook.

But hey, n.o.body's perfect. And Bryn comes just about as close as a guy can come. Since that night, we've seen each other almost every day.

It hasn't been that long-only a couple of weeks. But day by day, I tumble deeper and deeper in love with him. Yeah, it was fast.

Can falling in love be too fast?

I don't think so, and neither does Bryn. Best of all, he isn't afraid to tell me he loves me.

The First Time He Told Me Was the same time as our first kiss. It was only a few days after we started seeing each other.

He said he wanted to wait, thinking I wasn't quite ready for someone new. I wanted you to be sure. Rebound things can be incredible letdowns. So stop me if you don't want to hear this, okay? I don't know how you feel about love at first sight, but that day in the mall, I knew right away that you were unique, a girl who stood out in the crowd.

And when I saw you sitting there on the curb, crying over someone who didn't deserve your broken heart, I wanted to make everything right again for you. I've never fallen for anyone so fast!

We were at our favorite beach hideaway, listening to the symphony of the waves as the sun set, tangerine, on the horizon.

Bryn pulled me into his lap, leaned his forehead against mine, kissed me softly. This is so odd for me, Whitney. I've photographed many beautiful girls. Had flings with a few. But I never felt for any of them what I already feel for you, and we barely know each other.

You are more than a pretty face.

You are beautiful inside, and that beauty radiates, s.h.i.+nes like a star.

I know it's wrong-I am a few years older than you-but you have filled an empty place inside me.

He turned to look me in the eye.

I love you, Whitney. I really do.

Then he kissed me, and though I found hunger there, I also found the love that he professed. And now I experience that love every day.

We Haven't Made Love Yet He says he wants me to be very, very sure I want to, because he treasures me for more than just my body. I'm pretty sure I'm ready, but that isn't quite ”very, very sure.”

Still, maybe today will be the day.

Yes or no, first he's going to take some pics of me. I want to show you just how beautiful you are, he said.

Then he took me shopping for what he wants me to wear-a long, flowing skirt and gauzy off-the-shoulder blouse.

Both white. A celebration of virginity, was his explanation. We'll send a couple to your old boyfriend.

He meant that last part too.

It's an incredible day-seventy degrees, nonintrusive breeze.

Just enough to rile your hair, carry scents of summer blossoms.

I feel pretty, all decked out in white, with just enough makeup to enhance my features, not make them obvious, as per Bryn's request. Virginal.

We'll Do the Shoot Where else? At the beach.

But down the coast, away from town. As we S-curve along serpentine Highway 101, I can't help but think about Lucas and our first time together.

Driving this same stretch of road.

Getting high. ”You don't happen to have any pot, do you?” Bryn has never offered to get high with me. Come to think of it, we've never even discussed it.

He doesn't slow down. Afraid not.

I haven't smoked marijuana in years.

I do have some Valium, if you're a little nervous. In there. He points at the center console. Valium?

Why not? ”I'm not exactly nervous. But a good buzz never hurt anyone, right?” I pop one, wait for it to kick in, watching the ocean's heave. By the time we reach Bryn's chosen location, I'm feeling pretty darn fine.

We walk down the deserted beach until he finds a nice stretch of undisturbed sand. This will do.