5 am came quick. 

Last night I'd stayed up texting Luca. He didn't call, or suggest we meet up, but instead messaged for hours. I found out all about his family. He was first generation American, his parents were from a small town in Southern Italy. They'd immigrated a few years before he was born, working in the medical field. His dad was a doctor and his mom a nurse. He was expected to do big things, go to college, get a good paying job. Instead, he joined the marines. 

I kept asking him questions, keeping the conversation on him instead of me. And I was genuinely interested. Luca was passionate about his family but more so about his adopted family in the marines. He'd deployed, multiple times, to Iraq and Afghanistan. He'd gone to schools, become a drill instructor a few years ago and was stationed mere miles from me in San Diego. I could hardly believe we'd lived that close to each other. 

I stretched and shut off my phone alarm. Luca still didn't know my dad and grandpa had been in the marines. I omitted a lot, especially that I was essentially an orphan. All I really shared was that I inherited my grandpas house here and I'd gone to college for Human Resources. It was easier that way. I hadn't ever gotten close to a guy before. 

I need to get up...Terry is waiting. 

What does one wear to lead a group on a fishing trip? I got up and padded to the walk in closet. My clothes were all casual and beachy. I needed a hat, so I looked in a big wicker basket stowed at the top. Grandpas hats. I choose a black simple one with a logo embroidered on it very tastefully. '3DLLB'. I figured it would help keep my face shielded from the sun, along with sunglasses. 

Finally, I was dressed and ready so I locked up, slung my backpack on and walked to Terry's house down the street. He had the boat hitched up to his truck and was waiting for me. 

"Morning!" He said, holding the passenger door open. 

"Morning." I replied, sliding in. 

AC greeted me in the spacious cab. It was a new truck, with all the modern bells and whistles. Everything wrapped in leather. Veterans on this side of the island appeared to have made sound money decisions and were doing well in their retirement age. 

"That hat looks good on you. Should've worn mine." He remarked. 

I grinned and watched the sky as the colors were barely beginning to appear. The sun would come up in another hour, bringing with it a kaleidoscope of brilliance. I hoped grandpa was happy, up there in heaven fishing and watching us down below. 

"If you like it, you can work with me anytime you want Mila!" 

Terry was a good guy, and I felt lucky to get to know one of grandpas good friends. 

💋💋

I tugged on the thick line, pulling and stretching it until I was sure it would snap. This was harder than I'd thought. 

"That's it. You can't break it, you're not strong enough. Don't worry!" Terry teased. 

He had tasked me with getting each fishing pole ready, and I was doing my best. I'd never held a fishing pole before, let alone knew what a weight was or a connector. Terry had everything lined up and laid out though and had showed me what to do one by one.

"Ahh here they come. Let me help you, it'll go faster." 

I glanced up as I added the pieces to the line, clipping in the hooks. There they were indeed. A group of 7 marines, all dressed in board shorts and form fitting tees, were walking our way. Most were cut like Luca, and only two had smaller physiques. I supposed it came with the territory. Marines did a lot of physical labor and physical fitness. 

"Hi! Thanks for this Terry. We ship out next week and always wanted to try fishing on the beach." One of the tallest guys said. 

They crowded around me, watching as I finished readying the lines. I was hyper aware of their stares and looks. Not a bad thing per se, but it made me self conscious. 

"No worries! Wanted to get you some fish before you head to Africa." 

Africa? We have troops there?

Instead of asking questions, I decided to focus on the job and be a quiet employee if that was possible. Unless the clients asked me anything directly. This was my first paying job in about a year. 

"This is my late best friend's granddaughter, Mila. She's a local as well." Terry said. 

I stood up and shook each of their hands. The tallest was as handsome as Luca, dark hair and strikingly blue eyes. He held my hand for a bit longer than the others and his eyes gazed deep into mine. Holy smokes....my body responded slightly and my cheeks warmed. Was I blushing? Oh god. 

"Nice to meet you Mila." He softly said, letting my hand reluctantly go. 

"Nice to meet you too...?" I said, indicating I didn't know his name. 

"I'm Lex. Sorry, didn't say my name." He grinned. 

Lex. Similar to Luca. Dear lord...

Wishing to get my mind out of the gutter, I opened the tackle box marked 'bait' and took directions from Terry. There were packages containing dead almost pickled smelling tiny fish. Gross. But made sense. Bigger fish eat smaller ones. He had me hand out poles as the guys picked their bait. The sun was shining on us, making my skin sheen and sparkle with sweat. It was going to be a hot day. 

"Alright, get your bait hooked, then follow me towards the water. I've got the pole holders already set, just pick a spot." 

Some of the marines were squeamish and didn't enjoy putting the bait on, which was amusing. Terry laughed of course but they managed to get it done. Lex chastised them and they called him gunney, like Luca was. I knew that was an E7 for pay grade, my dad had been a first sergeant which was an E8, when he retired. Granddad had surpassed him, he retired as a master gunnery sergeant, or E9. They were enlisted marines. The ones who 'did all the work' as my dad used to say. I had so much respect for that. 

"Can you help me?" Lex asked, over his shoulder. 

Those blue eyes..

Oh boy. What was I getting into? 

💋💋

I gripped his forearm as the wave crashed onto our legs. 

My knees were buckling and not from the water. I felt a twinge of guilt as I pictured Lex as Luca. But Luca had yet to ask me out, or even spend real time with me. We'd only just met, so I didn't owe him anything...did I? It was all so confusing. And frustrating. 

"I think I felt a tug! Do I reel it in?" Lex asked loudly. 

I nodded and watched his muscles flex and he held the pole steady and reeled the line in simultaneously. He was sexy and tan, and he seemed to be interested in me. More than that. Maybe? I focused on the line as Terry yelled for him to yank it as he reeled. He needed to hook the fish good so it wouldn't fall off in the waves. 

Being a good study, he did as Terry said. Once the line was close enough, we could both spot a colorful shiny fish amongst the turquoise water. He did it! He reeled it all the way in and the fish flapped on the hook. It was beautiful. 

"I'm not keeping it....do I just unhook it?" He asked me. 

I had no clue but it sounded good to me. He gingerly grabbed the fish but it was slippery and bucked out of his hands. I remembered there were gloves back at the gear so I jogged back and slid a pair on. There were gel nubs on the palms. Better to tame the fish with I mused. Maybe I could fish. Lex was waiting with a huge grin on his face. Lord was he handsome. 

"Gloves, perfect! Want to hold it for me, and I'll get the hook?" He asked. 

I nodded and grabbed the multicolor fish. It didn't slide at all. Lex moved behind me, reaching around my body to work on the hook. I felt his length pressed on my lower back, and felt the warmth radiating onto my skin. His arms were sandwiched over my shoulders. Time seemed to stand still and the waves were muted. 

I pictured him kissing my neck in this position, his lips trailing a spot that was sensitive. Then reaching down to stroke me over my panties. We were in my house, almost naked...

Stop!! 

The sounds of the waves returned. I was jolted back to reality. Sexual tension running high between us, in an obvious way. 

"The hooks out...you can throw it back." He said huskily into my ear. 

I tossed the fish into the waves and thought of the two tall and ripped marines I was interested in. I was in deep water alright. 

**This story is only found on Wattpad. If found on another site, it was stolen. Thank you for reading.💋**