I STARED UP AT AUGUST while reclining on my beach towel after applying sunscreen to my front. It wasn't until I caught the way his jaw flexed that I realized how my question likely sounded.

Flirtatious. Teasing. Unprofessional.

That hadn't been my intention. Honestly. As much as August's hot body, handsome face, and surely-capable hands were hard to ignore, I hadn't been thinking with my vagina when I asked him to rub me down. I'd been more concerned with not looking even more like a roasted tomato in his golden, god-like presence.

"Turn over, Castle," August said gruffly. Three words, but my stomach made the tiniest flip at the sound of them. All his years of being an NFL team captain made his commands ooze confidence, and he had me turning over instantly.

I flipped onto my stomach, and August heaved a sigh. Of exasperation? I couldn't really tell. But it wasn't a happy sigh. It might have been an irritated sigh. Maybe because he realized his retirement had led him to this: rubbing sunscreen all over the Warriors reporter who had stalked him to his hometown.

"Do you want me to untie my straps?" I asked, turning my head to the side and resting it against the towel so I could still talk to him.

"Do I want you to untie your straps?" he repeated. "As in, take your top off?"

The last part came out choked, as though he couldn't believe I'd said that.

I couldn't believe I'd said that, either.

"Just thought it might make it easier," I mumbled.

The squirt of sunscreen hitting my back was so cold that I shivered. And then I shivered again when August's voice caressed my skin ahead of his hands. "If I find that I need to take your top off, I am perfectly capable of doing it."

I didn't doubt that for a minute. August likely had more than his fair share of experience with taking off women's tops. I'd documented a few of his flings over the years, although they never seemed to last long.

The thought sparked curiosity in me.

"So, August..."

"Here we go," he muttered under his breath, and I wasn't sure if he was referring to the line of questioning I was about to launch or the way his hands started smoothing the sunscreen across my back.

"Have you been seeing anyone lately?" I asked before clamping my mouth shut when August massaged the sunscreen into a pressure point, and a moan bubbled up from my throat.

"Christ, Castle," he grunted, his hands temporarily vanishing before they returned to spread sunscreen on my lower back.

"What?" My breath hitched as his fingertips dipped beneath the seam of my bikini bottoms, but then they moved into safer territory, and I somehow managed to recover. "I'm trying to get a scope of your life, including your dating habits, now that you've left the city."

"I wouldn't have offered for you to stay with me if I were seeing someone," he answered as he slicked his hands beneath my bikini straps and let them snap back into place against my skin. "I don't know many women who would be okay with that. Especially when you're...you."

I scrunched my brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He sighed one of those sighs again. "Nothing."

I wanted to push the question, but it wasn't what I should focus on. I couldn't write an article about how August felt about me; that was irrelevant. His dating life, on the other hand...

"Well, maybe you have something casual going on. Something non-exclusive?" I fished, switching back to our previous topic.

"I'm not that kind of guy," he muttered as he smoothed his hands back up to my neck, rubbing it in a way that made me want to close my eyes and let him massage me all over.

"You've dated casually," I pointed out, trying as hard as I could to focus on his words and not his touch.

There was a slight pause, and his hands stilled.

"I never considered any of those dates casual," he said bitterly. "But when I realized I was alone in thinking that, well...I'm sure you know."

Oh, shit.

"I'm sorry, August." I softened my tone. "I never really realized."

I'd thought he was just like most athletes we covered, enjoying the perks of his career and entertaining his flavor of the week. Because, in my mind, what woman wouldn't want a lasting relationship with a man like August Fletcher? Stable. Kind, although a little rough around the edges. Handsome, very handsome. Talented. A good income–to put it mildly.

When August didn't touch me again, I assumed he was done with the sunscreen application and turned over. I found him bent over me, blocking the sun with the outline of his broad shoulders. His face was tense, and I hated that I'd brought up something uncomfortable for him. I usually had better tact, but not being on new grounds clearly affected my judgment.

"People like to use me for temporary fame," he said with a shrug. "I'm used to it."

"Do you know what I would use you for?" I asked with a teasing smile.

August quirked a brow, his expression changing to something more lively and intrigued.

"Do I want to know?" he asked, his voice low enough that it made me wonder if this line of conversation was a good idea, considering my resolution to remain professional.

But then again, I'd just let August rub sunscreen all over me after sleeping in his bed last night, so maybe it was too late anyway.

"I would use you as a masseuse," I laughed. "Because the way you just put that sunscreen on my back was the best rubdown I'd had in a long time."

Okay, maybe those exact words hadn't been the right ones.

August's lips twitched in amusement, the curve of his mouth teasing me with how subtly hot it was. "The best rub down, huh? Suddenly I'm concerned about your dating life, Castle."

I gave him a playful shove, but he was immovable as he hovered over me. Of course he was.

"I didn't mean it like that."

Although my dating history wasn't exactly anything to brag about.

I grabbed the bottle of sunscreen from where he'd left it in the sand. "I'm not as skilled with my hands as you are, but I'd gladly return the favor if you want."

"Oh, yeah?" August chuckled. "You gonna give me a rub down?"

I rolled my eyes. "You have such a delightful sense of humor, Fletcher. Where has it been hiding all this time?"

"Here." August flopped back into the sand, digging his toes in and leaning back on his palms. "In Evergreen Isle."

He dipped his head back and closed his eyes, letting the sun hit his face. He really did seem remarkably at ease here. All of our interviews back in New York had seemed somewhat...pained. Like he couldn't wait to escape.

And now he had.

There had to be more, though. More to the reason he'd fled back here besides his love for his hometown.

"What else is here?" I asked, sitting into a position that mimicked his. "Besides your humor?"

His eyes flashed back open. He cocked his head to the side, considering my question.

"Uncle Sunny," he said.

"Who else?"

I knew he was an only child, and his parents had both passed. His dad in a car accident back when he was a teen, and his mom more recently. Although it was before I started working for the Warriors.

So, to my knowledge, August didn't have an immediate family living on Evergreen Isle. Did he come back just for his uncle? Or was there someone else?

"I have a few friends I've kept in touch with," he answered slowly.

"Any cousins?" I asked. "Does Sunny have kids?"

He nodded. "One of the friends is actually a cousin. We both pitch in at the bar when we can."

"Is that why you moved home?" I asked. "To help out?"

He shrugged before looking away, training his gaze down the coastline. "It was a factor."

"What were the other factors?"

August swiveled back around, and I felt a little electric shock when his eyes met mine again.

"You ask a lot of questions."

"We've been over this. It's kind of my job."

He considered that for a moment. "I just feel like I should get something in return."

"You got to ask all your questions last night."

"Something tells me your questions are going to last a lot longer than one night," he said with a little roll of his eyes.

"I already offered to rub sunscreen on your back." I shrugged, biting down on the ridiculous smile I was trying to keep off my face. I wasn't sure why, but I found his reluctance about this interview weirdly endearing. So many men loved to talk about themselves. All of my colleagues hated interviewing August because he was so hard to get answers out of. But I liked the challenge. The humble athletes were always my favorite. "I don't know what else you want from me."

August's eyes flicked over me before training back on the shoreline. "I'm sure I'll come up with something."

"As long as it doesn't involve me getting in the water," I said, hoping that wasn't where his thoughts were going.

He chuckled. "You're really not a fan of the ocean, are you, Castle?"

Not a fan was putting it lightly. There were far too many unknowns in the big, blue sea. And I'd watched one too many seasons of Shark Week.

"I'd prefer a nice lake over the ocean," I admitted, figuring that made it sound like a preference and less like an all-encompassing ridiculous fear.

"There aren't any lakes on Evergreen Isle."

I snapped my fingers together sarcastically. "Bummer."

August narrowed his eyes. "I'm starting to think you don't know how to swim."

"I know how to swim," I laughed. "I just prefer dry land." I tipped my head back, enjoying the sun like he did a few minutes ago. "This weather is nice."

"The heat's not as enjoyable when you're stuck in the city, is it?"

"No," I admitted, letting the hot day pulse over me. But I wasn't sure if the heat was from the sun or company. "It's not."

August stood, clearing his throat. "Personally, it's a bit too hot for me. I'm going to cool down in the water."

I watched him walk away, wondering, not for the first time, what I'd gotten myself into. And then I continued to wonder it for most of the morning, watching as August dashed in and out of the water every time he got just a little bit too warm.

And I especially wondered it when he eventually came out of the water for the last time, shook his hair out like a dog–a sexy dog, granted–and announced, "Let's go hop in the shower, Castle."

When I stared at him, unable to find words, he chuckled.

"Don't look at me like that. I have two showers just like I have two beds."

Right. Of course not together.

But...

"Forgive me for being alarmed, but I did end up in your bed last night despite your promise of me getting my own."

"We've been over this. You required supervision." He gave me a look that made my knees buckle as I attempted to stand. "Do you require supervision in the shower, Castle?"

"No," I replied breathlessly. "I don't."

But I soon learned that I was wrong about that, too.

☀️

a/n:

who are you when you go to the beach? Lounging in the sand, dry-land only like Quinn? Or a water-adventurer like August?

thanks for reading! hope you're enjoying so far 🫶🏻
xoxo amelie