Sandcastles & Second Chances Read online

  Sandcastles & Second Chances

  Claire Castle

  Copyright © 2019 by Claire Castle

  All rights reserved.

  This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author, except for using small quotes for book review quotations. All characters and storylines are the property of the author. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are fictitious.

  Trademarks: This book identifies product names and services known to be trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective holders. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of all products referenced in this work of fiction. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Editing provided by: Lisa Cullinan

  Warning: Intended for a mature 18+ audience only. It contains graphic language, explicit sexual content, and adult situations.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Claire Castle

  1

  KELTIE

  I took a deep breath as I scanned the crowd, wondering if he was here. Getting him to talk to me could be a feat in itself since I’d run away last time in fear.

  That kiss from Diego a year ago in Melbourne, Australia, was seared in my memory. It was the first time I’d kissed a man, not that he knew that. I touched my lips on instinct at the lingering thoughts of his hint of stubble and talented tongue. Now, here we were at the World Sand-Sculpture Championships again, this time on the edge of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. The sun was scorching my fair Irish skin, and I’d need to find shade soon.

  I paid attention to the announcer as he tapped the microphone. “Welcome, everyone.” I could have sworn his next word was “culo”—when actually it was “could”—and I couldn’t contain the laugh that escaped me. I had learned how to say “ass” last year when I’d asked Diego to teach me a few swear words from his home country, Spain. Before you were a coward, my brain retaliated immediately.

  One other laugh floated through the silent crowd. The sound went through my entire body like a feather caressing my skin. I forced myself not to look towards the far back of the crowd. He was here. It was finally time for me to make things right.

  My assistant, Dylan, elbowed me hard, almost making me fold in two. Not easy for my large build. He liked to call me a cross between a rugby player and a teddy bear. Hell, I kinda liked the analogy and lord knew I’d been called worse.

  I did need to focus on the competition that would transpire in two days’ time, so I saluted him and promised myself not to chuckle again.

  We’d be given an itinerary today, which would include the theme of our sandcastle sculpture and two days to practice before the big day. There was prize money at stake as well as the all-important bragging rights.

  And if nights with my biggest competition, Diego, were on the table, that would just be the icing on the cake.

  2

  DIEGO

  Seeing Keltie again was like seeing a ghost. I’d told myself that I’d focus solely on the competition and ignore him completely. That was until I witnessed his red hair and broad shoulders while he towered over everyone with that light skin. I knew that after a day in the sun, Keltie’s freckles would appear along his shoulders. When he’d laughed at the word the announcer had said because it sounded like the pseudo-swear word I’d taught him, it brought back our connection. Nonetheless, he’d made his bed, and that was that.

  My fierce competitiveness must be lagging since my mindset wasn’t on beating everyone, including him. Instead, I wondered what he’d been doing apart from sand sculpting over this past year. If he hadn’t been such a jerk before, sitting in a hammock in the shade while enjoying an ice-cold drink and catching up sounded like perfection.

  I shook my head and forced myself to pay attention to the stage.

  “The theme of your sculpture this year is Under the Sea. You can choose any variation of that theme.” He clapped his hands together enthusiastically. “You are the best of the best. So let’s get started. Find your stations.”

  I walked across the sand piles, checking for my name. Though the event was taking place near the beach and we could hear waves, I knew the sand set aside for us was a special blend of river sand, which combined angular grains with a tiny bit of silt and clay. Since we could only use sand, it had to bond together. There was no glue, dowels, or tape like spectators tended to joke about.

  “There you are,” my over-dramatic assistant, Leo, jumped in front of me, out of breath. “Where did you go. I thought I lost you, Diego.”

  “Darling, I’m right here at our station. Now let’s get going with ideas.” I wouldn’t look for Keltie, I told myself as I glanced up then down again. “Let’s brainstorm. It’s what we do best, after all.”

  “Yes.” He jumped up and down hysterically. Leo could be a handful, but he was the best assistant I’d ever had. When we got started, he was focused. “Okay, but we can’t repeat what we did two months ago at the Nationals. That means—sharks are out.”

  “That was epic, wasn’t it? A cross between Shark Week and that shark toy I had as a young boy in Spain.”

  I took a few steps back so I could visualize. It might only look like a huge mountain of sand, but to me it was something more. Raising my hands and pointing here and there, I thought out loud. “Maybe mermaids and mermen, or is that too obvious?”

  “Oh, I like it,” Leo exclaimed. “What about you as a little boy, or any little boy, looking down at his reflection and he sees a merman?”

  “Okay, we’re getting closer. I do love that idea, just not sure how it translates to the sculpture.” I absently tapped my chin while in deep-thinking mode. “How about a merman with his tail up in the middle there”—I pointed to the area to my left—“with starfish around him. We’ll put a crown on him and give him a fully dimensional face.” Looking over at Leo, I could see he understood already. “Okay, we can meet back here in an hour to start. I’m going to get a drink and find shade, then get changed and all that stuff.”

  “Sounds good, you need me to take you to our hotel?” he asked, holding back a giggle.

  “Hey”—I slapped him—“my sense of direction isn’t that bad. It’s that teal-colored one just there.” I pointed to our hotel or what I thought was ours considering a line of them stretched down the length of the beach.

  Leo was taller than me and came up behind me, wrapping his hand round my wrist and moving it twenty degrees. “Try that blue one, the Copacabana. You have my cell.” He waved and dashed off. Every city we went to seemed to have some sort of similar occurrence. I laughed as I made my way to a small café that was located in the opposite direction of our hotel but I still kept it in my sight.

  I ordered a cool, refreshing iced tea and sat at a table looking out at the busy beach. Beyond that, I could see the stunning water. Pulling out my notebook to sketch our design, I tried to figure out a unique element that would elevate it without making it too busy.

  After a sip of the delicious drink, I closed my eyes for a moment. Not so much from exhaustion—even though there had been a lot of travel, I was used to it—but for a moment’s relaxation.

  I could sense a shadow and I opened my eyes to Keltie. What a sight for sore eyes.

  “This seat taken?” His l
arge fingers were shaking, a sure sign of his nervousness.

  “That depends?”

  “What on? I mean, on what?”

  “If you plan on shoving me away again”—I gripped my glass tightly—“and avoiding me at every event for the past year.”

  I’d obviously fooled myself into thinking I could simply get through this. I held my breath like someone about to dive into the deep end of a pool, awaiting his reply. Or lack thereof. He could disappear just as easily as he’d appeared.

  3

  KELTIE

  Taking a risk, I sat down across from him. The tiny seat wasn’t very comfortable for my large frame, but that was the least of my worries right now.

  I waved over the waitress to ask her to bring me a lemonade. The heat was unforgiving, even in the shade. Add to that, my nervousness of the current situation, and let’s just say my body felt as if I was in a sauna. Looking at Diego, though, I’d rather be naked and in one with him. That sounded much more tolerable. As I pulled the seat in from under me, it squeaked, and I laughed to myself.

  “What’s so funny,” he bit out.

  I eyed him carefully, making sure I didn’t blurt out, Thinking of you naked in a sauna.

  There was a glint in his eye, making me think maybe there was a chance for us. Like ripping off a band aid, I just had to get it out there and tell him why I shoved him out a year ago. I’d done so much thinking since then and had come so far. And now I needed to tell him exactly that.

  “Diego, our connection before was magical, special, and meant everything to me.” I leaned over to take his hands in mine, hoping he wouldn’t resist. They felt warm as my own hands engulfed his. My previously tightened shoulders suddenly felt relaxed, so I continued talking.

  “That kiss, it was, well …” I took a deep breath.

  “Yes?” While his voice had lost some hostility, I knew I hadn’t won him over yet.

  4

  DIEGO

  To have Keltie so close again brought back many memories while we were competing against each other last year.

  I’d lost my sense of direction near the resort, but saw a bar with a small pride flag in the window. It noted they were a safe space if you were feeling at risk or uncomfortable.

  I’d weaved my way through the crowd and grabbed the last seat at the bar then ordered a beer from the bartender. There was a large, handsome man beside me. I liked to imagine stories about strangers, and to me he was a rugby player.

  His phone seemed to have held all of his attention as he looked fixedly down at it. I stared at him, admiring his jawline and stocky build. Muscular, but not too veiny. His tank top revealed the heavenly definition of each bicep in both his arms. So delectable. My finger lifted of its own accord. Then I realized what I was doing—about to touch this stranger—and I promptly pulled my hand back. In the process I managed to spill his drink, which was between us on the bar top.

  “Mierda! Sorry.” I’d asked the bartender for some napkins and sopped up the beer.

  He stood up and towered over me.

  “Oh, what a tall drink of water.” Blushing furiously, I looked at his crotch area and saw it had spilled there also. I went to brush it when he backed away so quickly that he almost toppled. I didn’t have his strength, but I’d managed to keep him upright while leaning all my weight on the bar top.

  “Please, sir, I can buy you a drink. It’s the least I can do.” Looking up at him, he had the most stunning eyes: green with flecks of gold. His straight lips, which weren’t quite a frown, turned to a smile.

  “It’s Keltie, actually.” He’d held a hand out.

  I stared blankly before clueing in that he was telling me his name and introducing himself. I’d taken his hand and the warmth of it moved through mine and down my body. “Diego,” I’d replied, my Spanish accent becoming thicker.

  “I need to go get changed, so I’ll pass on the drink here, but …”

  Not wanting to lose the connection, I’d jumped on his “but” comment.

  “But?” I leaned forward in anticipation.

  “Well, you could come back and …” Then his voice trailed off.

  I had known this was a bad idea on so many levels, but something had drawn me to him like a moth to a flame. Plus, I’d ruined his pants.

  His shoulders had fallen, as if he assumed I’d decline and he looked like a lost sheep parted from the flock.

  “Okay, lead the way.” And I had followed him to his hotel suite. Everything had just clicked. It was like we’d entered some wonderful alternate universe where two people just magically fall into place.

  After Keltie had changed his pants, he walked over to the mini bar and asked me what I’d wanted to drink. He came back with two beers in his hands and held out mine, then he sat at a distance from me on the couch.

  “Okay, well, one day I owe you a drink.”

  “Sure. And if you could not offer it to me sprayed across my lap, that works too.” Keltie had pulled a cushion across said lap and at the time I wasn’t entirely sure why.

  Who knew this slightly shy and seemingly uptight guy had had such a sense of humour? “Oh, saucy and charming. I do like that, Mr. Donovan.” I hadn’t recognized him at first but as we walked back, I’d realized he was a fellow sand sculptor. It had been driving me crazy wondering where I knew him from.

  “Wait, how do you know my surname?” he’d asked, looking baffled with his eyebrows raised.

  I hit my hand on my forehead. “Oh sorry.” I’d pointed at him. “I was trying to figure out where I’ve seen you before, but you’re here for the sandcastle competition, too, right?”

  “Yes.” He’d moved uncomfortably on the couch. I wasn’t sure what was causing it.

  I leaned forward. “Don’t be afraid of me. You aren’t, are you? We can just talk.”

  “No.” He’d nervously taken a big gulp from his beer and then another. “I just …”

  “What is it?” I didn’t know what it was about Keltie, but I had wanted to learn more about him. Everything actually.

  “I know who you are. Like, really know. I’ve studied you from afar,” he’d said and then continued, “Your sculptures are fantastic. And you, you are gorgeous. But we’re also competitors so I couldn’t exactly come up to you during a competition. When you accidentally made my drink fall over, I was more happy than anything. I’m kind of quiet, so it was a perfect opportunity.”

  I had tried to make him feel more at ease. “Oh, first time in all my life when being clumsy has been a positive.”

  We’d laughed together as the conversation continued to flow. I didn’t want to leave, and it didn’t seem like he’d wanted me to either.

  At the end of what I’d found to be a great night, I’d been so sure he was going to move in for a kiss, but then he backed away.

  I’d put my hand up slowly to his neck, hopefully letting him know without words that he could stop me if he’d wanted.

  He leaned forward then and we’d shared a kiss unlike anything I had ever experienced. He placed just enough pressure, letting me know he’d be gentle. Then it had moved to hot as fuck with open lips and twisting tongues. His lips were smooth and he’d pulled me into him as if I were his last meal and he’d wanted to devour me. And I’d let him.

  And then a knock came at the door. He’d jumped away so abruptly that I’d almost fallen to the floor like a child on a slide at the park.

  I’d been promptly moved a few feet away while he’d glanced at the balcony and the window. I’d sincerely hoped he wasn’t contemplating jumping out.

  “Be right there,” he’d said, sounding stilted. The knocking continued. He’d opened it to a man I hadn’t recognized—but would soon learn was his assistant.

  “And thank you for the room service.” He’d shoved me to the door, handing me a twenty-dollar bill as I was rudely shoved aside. I saw something in his eyes that had stopped me from barging back in and demanding an explanation. They were forlorn and almost begging me not to say a
nything.

  And poof into the night I’d gone like Cinderella at the stroke of midnight, only there was no carriage and no fancy dress.

  I had waited in the lobby for Leo. I didn’t want any awkward conversation, but I needed him to lead me to the hotel. I’d shot him a text to that effect, but I couldn’t remember which hotel we’d been staying at. He’d get a good laugh at that, yet I couldn’t even bring myself to care about any embarrassment around it. I’d needed something to distract me and keep my mind from thinking about my Prince Charming who would never actually be mine.

  Leo had found me and dragged me back to the hotel. Our rooms had been across from each other.

  The next day at the practice sand-sculpting run, I’d seen Keltie across the way and tried to catch his eye a couple of times, but when he had blatantly ignored me, I’d thought, screw you … obviously, not literally.

  From the way he had acted, I imagined he was in the closet or only wanting to be gay for a day or some shit. I knew of his type. They’d use you while they were away from home, then disappear. I’d bet he was married.

  But there’d been no ring or tan line. Not that his skin would tan. It had been so light in contrast to my own. Why had I felt so sad, as if I’d lost something?

  I’d hardly known the guy and half the time had been spent with me being a complete klutz—a disaster area. That was probably why he’d made me leave.

  5

  KELTIE

  I put my hand out, tentatively. “Care to walk?” I pointed along the beach. “We’ll get some peace there—around the corner of that cliff.”