He was close, inadvertently kicking sand across her back as he moved to stand beside her. She lay stretched out on her stomach, her hands pillowing her head and the sand satisfyingly warm beneath her beach towel. Eyes closed, she waited for him to speak, to break her idle state.

But he was quiet, only his shadow betraying his presence as it lay cool upon her body. Turning her head, she took a peak at his toes curling deep into the sand. She could see he'd rolled up his trousers, his unfamiliar bare legs wet from the salty water.

Smiling, she rolled onto her side, one elbow sinking into the sand. Blinking up at him, she watched as he blankly eyed the distant waves. The wind was playing with his shirt, blowing it tight against his chest. His tie hung loose around his neck, flapping in the breeze. He seemed completely unaware that she'd moved, his expression distant.

Stretching out an arm, she let a finger drift along the top of his foot, lazily dusting it of the clinging white sand. Finally, his eyes fell to hers, freezing her hand under his unexpected dark gaze. Her heart skipped, catching her breath in her throat as he stared at her.

And then, the look was gone, and he was suddenly beaming, all smiles. His eyes alight against the sun, she wondered vaguely if she'd imagined that hint of sadness.

"Hi," she grinned, her hovering hand wandering to his other foot to continue its ministrations.

"Hi," he sighed, sinking down onto the towel.

Flopping onto her back, she closed her eyes against the blinding sun, the shade he'd provided gone. She could feel him stretching out next to her, his sandy feet brushing across hers, his shoulder nudging closer as he settled onto the towel.

"Tired?" he asked, gently removing a strand of blonde hair sticking to her lips. Keeping her eyes tightly shut, she smiled, secretly pleased.

"Mmm…" she hummed.

She felt him shift, slipping his arm underneath her neck, and she lifted her head to accommodate him. Settling back, she looked up at him, her head cradled on his shoulder, and smiled.

"I wanna stay right here," she told him softly.

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, and this time she knew she wasn't imagining it.

"Me too," he whispered.

Fin