Elizabeth was ready for this. It was the end of day 5 of their trip and it was time for the beach bonfire. For some reason, she was looking forward to this with more anticipation than she had felt in a long time. She felt like it was important for her to be there so she prepared well.

She straightened her hair, put on mascara and Chapstick which was the extent of her makeup and wore denim shorts and a striped tank top over her hot pink bikini.

She and Rosie arrived at the beach with a cooler of sodas. They could smell hotdogs and hamburgers all the way from the car.

"It smells amazing. I didn't realize how hungry I was," Elizabeth mentioned.

"Lee!" Rosemary yelled, rushing off to Lee, leaving Elizabeth to carry the cooler by herself.

"I got this," she said sarcastically. "No worries. It doesn't weigh that much."

"Do you need help?" a deep, gentle voice said from nearby.

"Um…sure." She watched as the adorable, tall man that had spoken took the cooler from her.

"Where should I put this?"

She couldn't form words. His arms were very well-defined, and those muscles were out there for all to see.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Um, yes. Um, follow me."

He placed the cooler down in the sand and nodded to her. "I'm Lucas." He held his hand out to shake hers. She shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you."

He raised his eyebrows at her, smirking as he waited.

"What?"

"This is where you tell me your name."

"She's Elizabeth," Rosie said, stepping up to stand beside her.

"Elizabeth. That's a pretty name."

"Thanks," she said, blushing.

He nodded. "Maybe we can talk later?"

"Sure."

"Great." He backed away and then turned, heading for the volleyball game that was starting.

"Well, he's beyond cute," Rosie said, watching him remove his shirt.

"Rosie, I'm not sure Lee would appreciate that comment."

"Are you denying it?"

"No." Absolutely not denying it.

"Hence your inability to speak?"

"Something like that."

Now she knew why she needed to be there. She felt this need to get to know him. That adorable, well-built man named Lucas.

"Maybe you should go play volleyball."

"Uh no."

"At least watch from close by. Send him that signal that you are interested."

Elizabeth took her advice and edged a bit closer, sitting down on the sand to watch.

Lucas was aware that Elizabeth was watching so he took a bit extra effort to flex his muscles a bit.

"Alright, Romeo," one of the other guys said.

"Huh?"

"I know what you are doing but it's your serve."

"Oh, right."

Lucas served, jumping up and slapping the ball, making sure to flex a little more for Elizabeth's benefit.

He was planning to talk to her later. Maybe over a cold beer by the fire.

Elizabeth watched as the lone girl on the team in a skimpy bikini threw herself into Lucas' arms when they won the game. That was her cue. He had a girlfriend.

She sighed and got up, brushing the sand off her rear and legs and going to grab a soda. Oh well. Of course he was taken. The man was hot. He probably had never not had a girlfriend.

She saw Rosie and Lee off walking by the edge of the water, holding hands and her heart and stomach told her she was jealous. She knew it and she didn't want to feel it but she was.

"Where did you go?" that deep, gentle voice said from beside her. She hadn't noticed anyone walking up.

"I'm here."

"Would you like to take a walk?"

"No. That's ok."

"Well, the burgers and hot dogs are done. Are you hungry?"

Starving. "No, thank you. It was nice meeting you, Lucas."

She started stepping away but she felt his fingers on her wrist. She glanced down and back up.

"I don't understand. I thought you agreed to talk with me. Was I wrong?"

"Will your girlfriend be coming along?" she asked, pulling her hand away from his grasp.

"My girl….I don't have a girlfriend."

"So that girl that hugged you when you won…"

"Oh…that was Lauren. She flirts with everyone. I'm not with her."

Elizabeth immediately felt a mixture of relief and embarrassment. She hugged her own waist and blushed.

"So you're single."

"Yeah." He nodded. "You?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. So now that we know we aren't breaking any rules, do you want to go for a walk? The sun will be setting soon."

"I'd like that."

A few moments later…

"An architect? Wow."

"Yeah, my grandfather and my dad are architects. I thought I'd keep it in the family." Lucas chuckled. "Really though, I've always wanted to do it. I was fascinated by my dad's blueprints, and he'd take me with him on the jobsite and I'd get to wear a cool hard hat and everything."

Elizabeth laughed. "You're cute."

She clapped her hand over her mouth and blushed, glad for the impending darkness.

"You're pretty cute too, especially when you blush."

His left hand nudged her right and she looked up at him. He had such amazing dark eyes and they sparkled with the sunlight off the water.

"So what are you going to do with your business admin degree?"

"Airbnb properties. I'm thinking Hilton Head?" She just thought of that.

"Nice. I think you would be good at that."

"Whatever, you barely know me." She smiled at him as his hand bumped hers again, this time seemingly intentional and not in a teasing way.

"I'd like to change that."

"Me too," she found herself blurting.

They wandered along the water's edge and back before her stomach started growling loudly.

"I'm hungry too. Let's go grab something. Those burgers smelled wonderful."

"Okay. And maybe," she said, grabbing his arm. He stared down at her with those dark eyes and she lost all thought again.

"Maybe…."

"Um we could take our food somewhere near the water? I just feel like everyone will be watching us and I don't want to feel like a museum exhibit."

"Yeah. I'd like that."

Of course Rosie found her the moment they were grabbing burgers. "Having a nice time?"

"Yes. You?"

"The best."

Elizabeth smiled at her. "Me too."

Rosie squealed and giggled, drawing attention to them but Elizabeth felt like squealing too. Though she didn't verbalize that.

"Ready?" Lucas said, softly touching her hand with his and letting go.

"Yeah. I'm ready."

"Beth?" Rosie said.

"We are going to eat by the water."

…..

Later

"Any siblings?" he asked.

"Two sisters. I'm in the middle. You?"

"Only child." He took another bite of his burger and just stared into her eyes. She kept her gaze fixed on him too as she sipped her soda. "Favorite color?" he wondered.

"Purple. You?"

"Blue, like the sky. Your eyes. That color blue."

"Wow, was that supposed to be considered flirting?" she teased.

"A little yeah."

"Okay. Just checking."

"Favorite movie?" he threw out there next.

"Of all time? How am I supposed to pick one?"

"I have one. Casablanca."

"Never seen it."

"Are you kidding?! Oh, we need to fix that right away. It's the best movie ever."

She giggled. "Are you asking me out?"

"Well, I'm asking you in. Will you come?"

"Yes."

"Then yes. I say this Saturday, we will watch it at my condo. Popcorn, candy, the works."

"Licorice whips?"

"Only if it's the red kind. If you say black, deal is off."

She pushed his shoulder and laughed. "I hate black licorice. Its disgusting."

"Thank you," he said, feeling validated.

"Popcorn with extra butter and a huge soda?"

"What's a movie without popcorn?"

They stood up and brushed sand off themselves. "You like s'mores?" he asked as they strolled back.

"What's a bonfire without s'mores?"

She wished he would take her hand, thread their fingers together but the gentle nudge of his hand to hers was perfect too.

"So, you graduate this year?" she wondered.

"Yeah."

"Where are you going to go, after graduation?"

"Wherever I can find a job."

"Don't you want to go back to Raleigh?"

"I'm not sure. I'm going to apply for jobs soon and I guess whoever takes me…"

She nodded.

They grabbed some sticks and the makings for s'mores. They sat down on the sand and started roasting their marshmallows.

"Lightly roasted or burnt?" he asked.

"In between. I like just a bit of color but I don't like the charred flavor." He nodded.

"So after graduation, you're going to Hilton Head?"

"I was kind of just throwing that out there. I do want to start on the beach but it doesn't have to be Hilton Head."

"Where did you grow up?" he wondered.

"Hope Valley."

"Not far from Raleigh."

"Yeah." She looked at him, questions in her eyes. "Is this going to work, Lucas?"

"What?"

"Us."

"I don't know. We haven't even gone on a date yet."

"I know…I just feel like, if you choose to move to Washington or something and I'm here or in Hilton Head…"

"Elizabeth, I'd like to see what is going to happen between us, but let's not borrow trouble. I could get a job in Raleigh, or you could decide to do your rentals somewhere near where I end up. Anything could happen." He took her hand and held it softly. "But let's see what happens. Maybe you won't even like me after seeing Casablanca with me."

"Stop."

"Seriously. What if you don't like the way I eat my popcorn, or you hate my taste in movies so you never want to see me again?"

"You're a goof."

She leaned against his shoulder and threaded their fingers together. "I like you, Lucas, and if I don't like the way you eat your popcorn, I have problems."

He gasped and pulled her stick back. "Good thing I like them charred," he said, laughing at her marshmallow.

"You are such a distraction. Look what you made me do."

"More for me."

She rolled her eyes and went to get another stick, smiling at Rosie who sat on an Adirondack chair with Lee, looking really cozy.

When she rejoined Lucas, she sat back down and roasted her marshmallow, careful not to burn it this time.

He, on the other hand, had marshmallow and chocolate all over his hands and lips.

"You have something right here," she said, pointing to her own mouth but to show him where it was on his.

"Wanna get that for me?"

Her face turned red again. "Now that was some good flirting."

"One of my talents."

Another of his talents turned out to be making her feel completely comfortable and herself by just listening to her and throwing in some of his teasing and flirting.

As he walked her to Rosie's car where she and Lee were "talking," he pulled her into his arms and hugged her for just a brief moment.

"So Saturday…I'll come pick you up."

"You don't have to. I'm two houses down."

"No, I insist. This is a date so I am going to pick you up."

"Alright. Seven pm, right?"

"Yeah. I'll get the red licorice whips, tons of popcorn and you like diet soda?"

"Yes please."

"Okay."

"Okay." She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his slightly rough cheek. "Night, Lucas."

"Goodnight, Elizabeth."