The Beach House 🌸Rachel

 It was mid-afternoon by the time she got sort of where she was going. Oh, it was a new world all right for Rachel. Honestly, she wasn't sure she belonged here. It was nothing like coming into L.A. Yes, she felt as if she was all of five wondering if she'd find a bus to take her to Malibu, and even when she got here after a very warm sunny ride, she thought she might be sleepwalking. She so needed sleep.

But it was Mick's Surf Shop that she found first. Of course, right before she went in she got a text from her mother and her brother at the same time with the same message, "Are you lost yet?"

This made her even more steamed. She wished she could tell them she was laying back watching the ocean sipping a mojito. Instead, she struggled in with her suitcase that was on rollers. Immediately the guy at the counter looked at her funny.

"You can't bring stuff like that in here, we've got a policy for that," He winced hard as if he would never be her friend.

Rachel only sighed and gave him the address she was trying to find. "Do you know how to get there?"

"Yeah, it's about three blocks from here," He looked at her as if he thought she might be enjoying his one-man show of beefed biceps.

She nodded. Of course, she didn't know which way. He only smiled back as if this kid had a lot to learn. He then pointed to the sign above him. They were looking for help.

"If you let me see you in a bikini, I might hire you." He smirked.

She nodded as if she'd think about it.

"You want to try one on?" He kind of laughed. 

It was as if something got caught in her throat. "I..I haven't even got to the beach house where I'm staying," Rachel couldn't believe him. 

"Gotcha," he said with a nod. "Well, how about you go to the bathroom, put this on and you can start tomorrow....maybe."

Rachel wasn't sure whether to smile or not. "But..I'm..I'm no suntan Barbie. I'm from Davenport."

"Davenport? Where's that?" Of course, he probably still wouldn't know if she told him. She grabbed the bikini. She knew she'd need a job sooner or later.

"Where's the bathroom?" She asked.

"Let's hope you're a guy magnet," He smirked with his arms crossed. She just shook her head, no.

She knew it would be total rejection, but maybe that's what she needed. "You better take me to the beach house!" She shouted back at him.

"Fine." His voice was blunt. It was as if they had a deal already. Of course, she washed up first and then put on the floral top and bottom. Really she felt as if she was exposing herself. No way did she want him to see her ivory skin. Especially, her stomach. Well, she wasn't sure if she wanted him to see her top half either.

"Can I wear my cutoffs?" She said through the door. There wasn't a soul in the place.

"Fine." He was dead serious.

"What?" She didn't believe him.

"Go ahead."

Finally, she got up the nerve to walk back to the counter. Of course, he was judging her walk and everything else about her. She knew. 

"You'll do." He nodded. "We'll make a Cali girl out of you yet."

Rachel did her best to smile. Really she was tickled pink. She never imagined she would work at a surf shop. Bait shop was much more what she was used to.

"Oh, I'm Cobie by the way," he told her on the way to his white jeep after he locked up.

"You're not Mick?" She looked at him as if this was odd.

"That's my dad," and he left it at that.