Serena POV

"What are you doing here, Clayton?" I ask and he smiles down at me.

He was wearing a nice black button-up and a pair of black jeans. His hair was slicked back attractively. He looked ready for a date.

"The real question is, why are you going for a walk on the beach by yourself? Isn't it a little late to be out in the dark alone?" He asks with a playful tone.

I cross my arms over my chest self-consciously.

"Walking on the beach alone is a great way to clear your mind," I tell him and he nods his head.

"Plus I can more than handle myself. Now, why are you here?" I ask with harshness in my voice. He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly.

"I came to apologize for my behavior. What I asked was not fair of me and I was just caught in the moment. I'm sorry for the way I acted and I have no excuse for it."

I stared at him as he looked up and met my eyes.

He was standing there so awkwardly like he had never apologized to someone before and didn't know if he was doing it right.

I let a deep breath out as I let the situation roll out.

I stare at him for a few more seconds before I point a finger at him.

"No more crazy shit, alright?" I ask but a smile peaks at the corner of my lips.

"Cross my heart," He says putting his hands up with a smile. "I got something to make up for it."

I watch as he leans down and grabs something from the floor before pulling it into view.

A little basket with a bottle of red wine, two glasses, and a baguette.

I look from the basket and then up to him.

"How did you know I was going to be here and not out with Spencer and Joyce?" I ask curiously.

"Your friend knows you better than you think," He says while leaning against the door frame. "Now how about that walk on the beach?"

A wide smile forms on my lips.

Not exactly how I pictured the night going, but I would take it.

* * *

The night was beautiful, perfect for a walk on the beach.

The moon was bright above the ocean, giving light to the night.

The cold sand between my toes, my dress whipping behind me from the wind, and the warm hand holding mine.

I look up at Clayton and smile to myself before looking forward again.

"Want to sit?" I ask and he looks down at me with a small nod. I lead him over to a few chairs and sit on the edge of one. He sets the basket in the sand before sitting next to me.

My eyes move to the stars in appreciation of their beauty.

"The stars are so bright here," I say in nearly a whisper. "I have never seen them so beautiful before."

The sounds of the waves could have drowned out my voice as he didn't speak for a while.

"You should see them in winter when they are paired with the cold brisk air," He says and I look over my shoulder at him. His head was craned up to the sky, his Adam's apple bulging out over his shirt.

He slowly moves his head to look at me and I give a small smile.

"Care for some wine?" He asks in a husky voice.

"Sure," I say in a soft voice.

I look out at the ocean as he opens the bottle and pours us glasses before handing one to me.

"Cheers," He says raising his glass.

"Cheers to what?" I ask with a small laugh.

"Cheers to a good night."

I clink my cup against his before taking a sip of the wine. It was delicious and savory as it slide down my throat.

We sat in silence with just the waves to fill the comfortable silence as we sipped the wine and ate the bread.

After a few glasses, I started feeling like I could say anything without regret.

"Want to know something about me?" I ask while laying back in the chair. I feel his eyes on me but keep my eyes on the moon above.

"Sure."

"I have never been on an actual date before today."

I guess the rumors are right about alcohol being liquid courage.

"Really?" He asks and I nod my head. I look at him briefly before closing my eyes.

"I have this ex back home," I say before I can stop myself. "He asked me to marry him before we came on vacation."

Everything seemed to silence around us. The waves seemed quieter, the birds no longer chirped, and the air no longer moved.

"We were together for years so it would make sense that I said yes," I could feel his eyes on me but kept mine closed. "Part of me wanted to have the life everyone else does. Settle down, have some kids, live a normal life. But I'm not normal. I never had feelings for him. Actually, I have never had feelings for anyone. Its as if my emotions are broken after years of being beaten away."

I cut off as the reality of the words hit me and how true they were.

"Anyways, about a year ago, he started to get physical. I could have taken him if I wanted to, but something about the feeling let me slip into this place in my mind that let me escape reality for a while. The reality was he made me feel something. Even if it was pain, it was a feeling. A feeling I welcomed as an old friend."

I cut myself off as a tear slid down my cheek. I felt his thumb slowly wipe it away as he stayed quiet, letting me speak.

"But when he asked me to marry him, reality came back. I would never find that happy ending. So I said no and he hit me... he hit me hard. It brought me back to reality," I say with a small laugh as I open my eyes and look over at him. He was intently watching me with a mixture of anger and softness in his eyes. I never knew someone could have two vastly different emotions at the same time.

"I have been running from my past for a long time and I am tired. So fucking tired," I say and move my eyes up to the sky. We were quiet for a few moments.

"The funny thing is now he's at our apartment and constantly spamming my phone. I just know if I go back hell is going to await me. Whether from him or my past," I say watching the stars glimmer above. "And before you speak, I don't want to hear how you will protect me or whatever if I stay here. I am not the kind of person to run from my problems anymore. I will handle it my way when I get back."

"I understand that need to handle it yourself," He says after a few quiet moments.

We were silent for a while longer in peaceful silence.

"What do you do for work?" I ask randomly.

"Business."

I look over at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Spencer said the same thing and wouldn't elaborate more," I say and narrow my eyes at him. I see movement a few feet away and look over briefly before back to him before he notices. "Enlighten me of what kind of business requires you to have a bodyguard."

He tenses suddenly and his grip on my hand tightens a little. His head swings behind him and he nudges his head before slowly looking back at me as I laugh.

"Your observant, normally people don't see them," he says with playfulness in his voice. I sit up and swing my legs so they are next to his.

"I see a lot of things."

"Like what?" He asks with an arched eyebrow and a sly smile.

"You always have a bodyguard on you. At the club, there were men in the dark hallway by the bathrooms watching around you. In the elevator when we first met, you nudged your head so the bodyguard wouldn't follow you in.

"The night you came to my hotel, someone followed us the whole way even though you sped there. Tonight when we left the hotel, the three men hiding in the shadows followed us only a few feet away." I say and he smirks. "I told you, I see a lot of things."

"You do indeed," he says as if in thought.

"Now are you going to tell me what you do?" I ask but he just watches me. I already knew the answer but played dumb. "Are you a hitman? FBI? Secrete service?"

A smile breaks over his face and I narrow my eyes.

"I know," I say and he tilts his head.

"Enlighten me."

"You, Clayton Harmon, are in the Italian mafia."

We stare into the eyes of each other for a few minutes before I break into laughter.

"I'm just busting your balls. What you do is your business," I say and stand up.

"Where are you going?" he asks clearing his throat lightly.

"I want to walk in the water. Coming?"

"I wouldn't pass it up for the world," He says rising to his feet and kicking his shoes off.

"Tell your bodyguards they can come closer and have fun too if they want."