Chapter 2

She snapped the blanket out, making sure to be far enough away from the few people around she could avoid the sand kicking that always came with a beach. Lowering herself onto the blanket she quickly applied tanning lotion and lay back, closing her eyes to the sun as the first sigh of pure relief seeped past her lips.

She'd not rested much the last few days, the dreams had haunted her nights until she'd given up on sleep. They'd gotten so much worse since coming to Florida for vacation and it made no sense. It was always about that same guy, in various places or times, always with the long hair and startling brown eyes. Thing was, where the face had been blurry before, now it had definition. Her crazy brain had stuck the stranger’s face into her dreams and it was making her nuts.

If she was lucky she'd get a nap here while taking in the sun, and be able to maybe function again. Within moments her breathing evened out as the sun lulled her into sleep.

She felt the sensation of a body flopping down beside her and a long finger tracing over her skin. Drawing in a deep breath she could almost smell the dark dangerous scent of someone looming over her body, lips slowly moving over her skin causing her heart rate to race. A husky voice breathed endearments as fingers slipped and slid. She sat up suddenly her eyes popping open only to see waves crashing on the shore and an oh too empty side of a blanket.

Richie stretched out and breathed in the warm scent of the sea. What a strange couple of days. He'd thought being here for the short break would help ease his tension but instead it only seemed to be making him even more uptight.

He closed his eyes and thought back to the night on the pier. He couldn't get that woman out of his head. He hadn't even gotten her name. He'd kissed her and didn't even know her damn name!

It had been so surreal, the dream come to life. Once he'd gotten back to his hotel room he thought maybe they would finally stop. Not a chance in hell. Now instead of once in awhile it seemed he dreamed of her all the time, anytime he tried to sleep. It was driving him slowly crazy.

Maybe out here he could relax and just doze a bit.

She was there again, next to him. Her skin was warm from the sun, she smelled of some kind of flowers and coconut. He couldn't help himself, he let his fingers trail down her spine and heard her laugh. Pushing his luck he leaned over to press his lips where his fingers had been a moment before. He heard her gasp and jerk away.

Sitting straight up he swore. He blinked his eyes and took off his sunglasses, looking around the beach he sighed. AGAIN? The hair on the back of his neck stood up, he felt it tingling. She was near. He knew it. He stood up and looked around. The crowd of people milled past him loudly. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack but he just felt it, she was there. He took off down the beach, his eyes steadily searching.

She took a deep breath as wildfire started racing through her veins. That same sensation she felt in her dreams when he was near or touched. God help her, this was insanity. She flopped back on the blanket and slammed her eyes closed, her fingers pushing back the sunglasses that had slipped down her nose. She'd sleep if she had to force herself and Dream lover could go take a flying leap.

He stood over her, sliding his sunglasses down his down he allowed himself to take in her barely clothed form. The clothes she'd worn the other night had covered her delicious curves but her string bikini left little to the imagination. Her hair wasn't quite as dark as he'd thought. It was more of a mix. A little brown, a few shades of honey, her skin glowed bronze and shone smooth. She was petite, yet had curves that would make Hugh Hefner scream.

For once in his life he had no idea what to say. He searched his mind for a good opening line, all the while letting his eyes feast on her.

She opened her eyes to the sight of a very tall man standing over her. Within moments she was sitting and scooting backwards to stand her eyes going wide. God not even safe on a beach with people around? Some wild pervert just standing there looking at her like he could eat her for breakfast lunch supper and desert.

Standing she tilted her head, her hand lifting to nervously push back at her hair as it hit her this wasn't just any pervert. It was the Kissing bandit from the night before, and she could tell if she didn't back up quick he was probably going to try it again.

"What are ya a perv or something?"

Richie quirked an eyebrow, a bit surprised by her quick reflexes. After a short pause he relaxed and let his winning smile fly "Well...it wouldn't be the first time someone accused me of that darlin.'" He shoved his shades back up his nose, hiding his eyes from her. "And I'm sure it won't be the last."

She stepped back before dipping down to grab at her bag, the wildfire turning into some weird raging inferno under her skin. "Well, you can take your pervy self where ever you came from."

She pulled a wrap from her bag and slipped her arms into its sleeves, feeling a need to get those eyes off of her flesh. She was used to eyes following her, used to people watching her, but this guy? He made her feel a bit too off kilter, and she didn’t even know who he was. damned if she was gonna stick around to find out though.

"Hey don't go running away again!" His words were soft, yet insistent as he reached out to gently stop her. "I don't even know your name."

She stilled, her head swiveling as her eyes encountered the serious look on his face. Glancing down at a hand with insanely long fingers wrapping around her wrist she frowned. "You can let go now."

"I will," he loosened his grip just enough to make sure he wasn't hurting her but not enough to give her any chance of running "Just as soon as you tell me your name," he smiled.

Her brow arched slightly as she took in the stubborn tilt of his oh too lush looking lips. She shook her head, and started to laugh, most people at least recognized her face, knew her name. Sure she wasn't as famous as Christy or Elle, but she had a small following, and here big tall and dumb was acting like he didn’t know.

What a lame pick up line. She smiled then and decided to play along, just long enough to get that hand off her arm. "Bailey."

"Bailey." He said her name slowly, savoring it, liking the way it sounded and felt on his tongue. "Bailey, well" He let go of her wrist "Thanks, I'm used to at least getting a name before the woman leaves me. I'm Richie"

"Right, Richie. Well nice running into you again." She scooped up her blanket and turned ready to haul ass as far away from the man who with just a simple sentence had every nerve under her skin jumping. It was worse than waking up from the stupid dream, much, much worse. "I gotta go."

She was leaving again, and fast. What the hell? "Hey wait!" He called out only to watch her keep walking, then took a few steps to follow her "Bailey! wait!" he ran to catch up to her and fell into step beside her "Hey uh, you gonna be here long? I mean, I'm on vacation kinda and well," he sighed when she moved faster and kept up the pace "I thought maybe I could get your number and we could go out sometime"

She stopped and turned, her head dipping down as a hand lifted to slide her shades down to the end of her nose and stared at him over the rim of the shades. "Say what?"

He blinked rapidly. Not exactly the response he was used to "I said... can I get your number?"

A slight grin played over her lips as one brow lifted. He wanted a number? She turned and started walking, then stopped and looked back, "Fave number is 7." She laughed and started walking again, aiming for the hotel where she could hide away from a dream that wanted to come to life.

"7?" he frowned "Hey....look I'm sorry bout the other night ok? I don't know why I did that but..." she was leaving AGAIN! "Look I just wanna make it up to you."

She stopped and huffed out a cross between sigh and growl. Generally she could cut a man off at the knees with her wit and stubbornness, but this guy, he just wouldn't give up. She turned and watched him a moment, and even from fifteen steps away could feel the energy just sizzling off of him and towards her.

"Give me one good reason why."

One good reason why? She wanted one good reason? Cause maybe if he got in her pants he could sleep again? No that wouldn't work, she probably kick him in the balls. Because I dream of you every night, dreamed of you before I ever met you? No she'd run screaming thinking he was not only a perv but a lunatic as well. Hell he was beginning to think he was anyway. "Well I..." he shrugged "Because I... I'm here all alone and could use a friend?" he tried lamely.

A way too familiar puppy dog look hit those expressive brown eyes as the words flickered between them. Damn if he didn't do that look as good as the guy in her dreams. That pure unadulterated pouty flirty puppy dog look that she KNEW got him whatever he wanted usually.

She shook her head and couldn't help herself as the laugh started to rise. "Does that work often?"

"More often than not," he said honestly

She took a step forward, then another until she was standing right in front of him. Standing up on tiptoe she leaned into his ear and whispered. "If you can find me, you might can date me, and maybe even be a friend." Biting down on his ear lobe she whirled and ran like hell for the hotel.

His jaw went slack and his body shivered when her teeth bit down ever so gently. He watched as she finally retreated; his eyes narrowed and he stored the name of the hotel in his memory. So she wanted to play chase? Ok, he was game. He rubbed his hands together and cheerfully turned back the way he'd come from.

She stopped just inside the door and turned to watch him walk off, a sigh of relief whispering through her. As he vanished from view she stepped back outside and started off towards the small cottage she was renting for her vacation. Take that cute pervy guy.