Never Forget (Memories)

from it?''
    ''It's not what you say, Carl, it's what you don't say.'' I explain.
    ''And being the superior race, we can sense what it is you don't say.'' Jen pokes Carl.
    ''Okay, baby,'' Carl agrees.
    Jen narrows her eyes and I catch Alec's eye. He raises an eyebrow and smirks.
    I smile at him. He links our fingers on my stomach and his thumb strokes the back of my hand.
    ''They're lost in Lexy-Alec land again,'' Jen sighs.
    I smile over at her, amused, and Alec shifts closer to me. His body presses against my side and I automatically tilt towards him.
    He's like a magnet - one I'm incapable of resisting, a pull I'm unable to fight.
    His hand runs through my hair and he presses his lips to my forehead gently.
    I bite the inside of my cheek, holding back what I want to say. The words stick in my throat and I turn my head towards him.
    Actions speak louder than words.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

    ALEXIS

    ''See him?'' Alec points over my shoulder. ''That's Benny Hansen. He's won four years in a row. Owns the farm just outside the Bay.''
    ''Right.'' I look at the beefy guy with a red face. ''And he'll win this year?''
    ''Maybe.'' Alec shrugs one shoulder and leans back against his car. ''It's hit and miss, but it's likely.''
    ''You say it like it's so serious.''
    He turns raised eyebrows on me. ''Princess, this is serious in the Bay. You either got it or you don't, and if you got it, this is the day to prove it. Look around, it's not even ten yet and the place is packed.''
    ''Precisely, it's not even ten yet.'' I lean back next to him with a huff. ''So I have no idea why I'm here. I'm not even local.''
    ''You're here because besides your brother, you're the only person that isn't local.'' Alec laughs, wrapping an arm around my waist. ''You're local by blood, little city girl.''
    I wrinkle my nose up and look up at him. ''I wore wellies yesterday. I think we can say I'm a country girl. At least, a bit of me is.''
    Alec screws his mouth up to the side. ''Is it wrong if I admit I find you in wellies kinda sexy?''
    ''Uhh..'' I giggle. ''Yeah, yeah it is.''
    ''Hmph,'' he smirks. ''Well, it is sexy. Wrong or not, I can't lie.''
    ''I was digging up weeds!''
    ''And now you're back at the beach, where you're comfortable, Princess.'' He pushes off from the car and pulls me with him. He grabs my big beach bag from the back seat and we make our way onto the sand.
    The whole town has to be here. Literally, the whole town. Seriously, who knew a sandcastle competition was such a big deal?
    ''Come on.'' Alec tugs at my waist. ''I want a good spot.''
    ''It's sandcastles, Alec,'' I remind him.
    ''Yes, Miss Smarty Pants,'' he teases with a grin. ''I know that. It's fun trying to guess what everyone is building. For the last two years we've had our own competition. You have to guess what each castle is, and at the end of it the loser has to buy everyone a drink.''
    I frown. ''How do you know if someone's cheating?''
    ''You write it down.'' He shrugs. ''It's a game you wanna play, since Carl lost both years.''
    I grin as we find a spot to sit down by the rocks. Even here, people are set up for the competition.
    ''Okay, you're on.'' I lay my towel out. ''How come no one ever gets the news or paper down here? Isn't Woolacombe's sand castle competition massive?''
    ''That's why we don't get them here. Woolacombe's competition was last week or something. We keep them close. Lilac Bay is too small for too many tourists.''
    I nod my agreement. The only people that ever holiday here are family members that live elsewhere, like us.
    I pull my dress over my head and lie on the towel on my front, all too aware of Alec's eyes on me. His hot gaze sends tingles through my body. I clear my throat and his eyes snap to mine.
    ''Do you mind?'' I ask.
    ''Nope.'' He pulls his top off and lies next to me so our arms are touching. ''I don't mind looking at you in a bikini at all.''
    I roll my eyes and prop my chin on my hands, watching chaos unfolding as a klaxon sounds and the competition begins.
    Alec's finger trails lightly up my arm, over my shoulder and down my spine leaving goose pimples in its wake. He draws absent circles on the skin above my bikini bottoms. I swallow and try to ignore the feelings crawling across my skin but it's virtually impossible. My skin blazes where he's touched me, igniting hotter than the sun that burns down onto us. I glance at him out the side of my sunglasses. His eyes are fixed to me and I squirm under his intense gaze, looking away