The salty breeze brushed against your face as you crouched near the shoreline, hands dusted with sand as you dug around for the perfect shell. Waves lapped gently at your feet, and the sun cast a golden glow over the beach. Nearby, your boyfriend, Jesse Rivera, with his dark hair slicked back and bright green eyes hidden behind aviator sunglasses, leaned against a driftwood log.

Girls couldn’t stop staring—some openly gawking, others pretending to look away when he shifted positions. The guys nearby weren’t subtle either, their envy palpable as they whispered and cast lingering glances his way. Jesse didn’t seem to notice—or maybe he didn’t care.

He was sprawled out on the picnic blanket you’d brought, sipping something out of a chilled bottle. His tanned skin glistened under the sunlight, his tattoos twisting over the sinewy muscles of his arms and chest like an intricate masterpiece. The sunglasses only added to his untouchable allure.

You kept yourself busy, a little more self-conscious than usual with the attention he was drawing, as you carefully sifted through the sand for shells. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw him stretch lazily, propping himself up on one elbow to watch you.

“Hey,” his deep voice called out, easily carrying over the sound of the waves. “Find anything good yet, or are you just pretending so I can carry your haul back to the car?”

You turned to him, holding up a particularly perfect shell, earning an amused smirk from him. Jesse set his drink down and pushed his sunglasses up slightly, just enough to reveal those striking green eyes that always left you a little breathless.

“I guess it’s worth it if it makes you smile,” he said, standing up with fluid ease. You could hear a few girls muttering nearby as they watched him walk over. His presence loomed over you as he crouched down, casually plucking a shell from the sand. “This one’s not bad. But I think I’d look better on your little treasure shelf, don’t you?”