The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance by Cami Checketts, Jeanette Lewis

thanks as the little boy squirmed from Alyssa’s arms.
    Captain Aaron maneuvered the boat next to an interesting World War II battleship that had run aground on the island. Alyssa imagined the stories that massive iron hull could tell.
    They continued on their journey and saw whales, dolphins, and sea turtles. The boat stopped just offshore of a sandy beach. “Time for your first swim of the day,” Captain Aaron announced.
    Alyssa straightened. “Is he crazy? I’m still half-frozen.”
    The brochure had bragged about walking on a white sand, private beach and apparently this was that opportunity. Alyssa had walked on a lot of nice beaches and was tempted to stay in the boat and wait for the snorkeling.
    Beck rubbed his hands down her arms. “Guess my hug didn’t help?”
    “Oh, it helped.” She smiled, grateful and a little surprised at how comfortable she was with him. She’d thought of little last night but his kiss and his offer to travel with him. She felt like she’d be an idiot not to go. If they kept getting as close over the next few days, she’d have no choice but to go, or experience withdrawals from being around him. “But I’d rather hug you than jump in that water right now.”
    Beck stood and offered her a hand. “And here I thought you were an adventurous girl.”
    Alyssa arched an eyebrow. She knew a challenge when she heard one. Pulling off her sweatshirt and then her swimsuit cover up, she leapt over the side and into the water. The cold liquid closed over her head and she gasped, swallowing a mouthful of water. Alyssa swam toward the surface, coughing and spitting as she hit the air.
    Beck was by her side. “You okay?”
    “Y-yes.” She coughed a few more times then started stroking toward the island. “I decided to taste the water. A bit too salty.”
    Beck chuckled and swam close by her side. They quickly reached the island and enjoyed walking in the soft sand and exploring. It reminded Alyssa of the spots she’d read about in books where someone is shipwrecked on a deserted island—sandy beach with trees and vegetation above that looked like a jungle. She glanced up at Beck’s handsome face and wished they were alone on this beautiful spot.
    Beck must’ve been feeling the same way. His grip on her hand tightened and he tugged her behind a palm tree. He smiled and trailed his fingertips lightly down the side of her face. Alyssa moistened her lips and stepped closer, waiting, hoping. She closed her eyes, savoring his soft touch as he tilted her chin up.
    “Hey, Lyssa,” Stockton yelled. “I found shells! Lyssa. Where are you?”
    Alyssa felt disappointment instead of Beck’s lips. He cleared his throat and then escorted her around the tree.
    “Hey! I didn’t know you and Beck were hiding. Look at my shells,” Stockton said.
    She and Beck walked over to the little boy and inspected his treasures. His dad, Bryant, gave Beck an apologetic smile. “Sorry, he’s kind of insistent.”
    “He’s great,” Beck said. “No worries.”
    Beck ran a hand through his hair and Alyssa liked that his frustration was evident, not at Stockton, but at the missed opportunity.
    Stockton’s mom beamed at her son. Alyssa didn’t blame her. The little guy was so cute she couldn’t find it in her to be upset that he’d interrupted their privacy. Alyssa glanced at Beck and he met her eye. She wondered what their son would look like. Blood rushed to her cheeks. What kind of a thought was that? She liked Beck, a lot, but she wasn’t ready for some lifelong commitment. She quickly looked away and shuffled her abnormal right foot through the sand.
    Captain Aaron called them back to the boat a few minutes later. The swim back felt refreshing instead of freezing. They cruised farther around the island and went to several different snorkeling spots, stopping for lunch next to some water-filled caves. Alyssa’s favorite snorkeling spot was a huge rock island that they swam around numerous times,