9
“Wow! Look at you two.” Chad thumped Richie on the shoulder hard enough that Melissa was surprised that he wasn’t knocked through the seat of his wicker chair.
Melissa didn’t know what there was to see about them. They’d been waiting about a beer’s worth at the restaurant. There’d been a palm-wood table—lustrous in the candlelight—set for seven, awaiting for them in an amazing locale. Twenty or so tables were out on the beach and theirs was closest to the water and offered an uninterrupted view of the ocean. Waves lapped meters away. Palm trees lined the beach and small candle lanterns lit the tables. It was one of those tropical paradise settings like they always had in the movies. It was her second such spot ever, also her second one today—a Bahamian beach shortly after sunrise and a
