chap34

"Shawn, NO!" Belle squealed, as she again dodged him in the kitchen. It was the next morning-actually, closer to afternoon-and Shawn was already picking on her.
"C'mon Belle, trust me" he said, his hands held up above his head. "No more tickling, I promise"
"Why don't I trust you?" she asked, with a small grin to show she was kidding. She was dressed for the beach in her pink bikini and cut-offs, her hair pulled back in two french braids.
"Isabella" he said, mockingly. "I'm insulted"
"Uh huh, I'm sure" she said. "Well, you forgot one minor detail in your attack on me, Mr. Brady"
"Oh yeah?" he asked. "And what would that be?"
"I've known you since you were a baby" she said.
"Yes, I was aware of this" he answered.
"And...I know where you're ticklish too!" she said, springing on him. He wasn't expecting the attack and left himself open for her tiny hands. He was dressed in a pair of navy blue swim trunks with a blue Yankees cap worn backwards over his dark hair.
"Not fair!" he insisted, as her hands moved over his sun-kissed skin, touching all the right places.
"Paybacks are a bitch!" she insisted, as she cornered him against the counters. As he wiggled away from her he began to move downwards and together they slid to the floor. Shawn tried to get the upper hand on her but she fought him and soon they were lying on their sides next to each other, laughing hysterically and tickling each other.
"Isabella!" a stern voice called out, pulling them apart. Belle ripped herself from Shawn's grasp and stood up behind the counter, her hair slightly disheveled and pushing her bikini strap back up her shoulder.
"Yes, Daddy?" she asked, meekly.
"What are you doing still in the house?" he asked.
"What?" she said, her brow furrowed, expecting something else.
"Why aren't you outside? It's a beautiful day" he said, reaching for a water bottle on the counter. "You two should go...have you seen Shawn?" Belle inwardly giggled.
"Umm, nope, haven't seen him" she answered.
"Well, go find him" he said, starting to walk away. Belle leaned up against the counter, catching her breath, and Shawn used the opportunity to run his hand up her calf.
"Oh, one more thing" John said, turning toward her again.
"Yeah?" she asked, as she bent down and silently slapped his hand away.
"Have you heard from your brother lately?" he asked. Belle thought back to her last e-mail from him-it had been over a week ago, a quick note from Italy where he had taken a year off after high school before he went on to college.
"Nope, not since I last told you" she said. "Why is something wrong?"
"No, just wondering" John said. "Now go outside and enjoy the weather"
"Alright, dad" she said. He disappeared down the steps and Shawn popped up next to her.
"Afraid we were gonna get caught?" he asked, grabbing a grape from the bowl and popping it in his mouth.
"We have nothing to hide, remember?" she asked, distracted.
"What's wrong?" he asked, picking up on her distance.
"Just worried about Brady" she admitted. "He's usually pretty good about keeping in touch with me"
"Does he know you're here at the beach?" Shawn asked. "Maybe he just figured you wouldn't be able to write back"
"No, I never told him since the trip came up so suddenly" Belle said.
"I'm sure it's nothing" Shawn said, slipping his arms around her waist and drawing her near. "He probably just met some gorgeous blonde in Italy and is just distracted by the beautiful Isabella...oh, nevermind, that's me"
"Stop" she said, playfully pushing him away.
"C'mon, let's go down to the beach, alright?" Shawn said. "John Black's orders"
"Let me just fix up my hair and I'll be ready in a minute" she said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before running down to her room.
15 minutes later, they were making their way down to the beach. Shawn, the gentleman he was, had volunteered to carry most of their stuff and Belle trailed behind, only carrying 2 beach towels. After they had found a spot to fit both of them they spread a blanket and sat down.
"Looks like we might be getting a storm later" Shawn commented, as he rubbed some lotion on Belle's back. Belle peered upward and could see that the day was sunny but overcast but there was a dark patch of clouds far off.
"We'll enjoy the weather while we can" Belle answered, once he was finished. She rolled over onto her stomach and lay down, her head propped up by her hands.
"So, Belle, when are we going to tell your parents?" Shawn asked, as he lay on his back next to her.
"Tell them what?" she asked, lazily.
"About us" Shawn said.
"I thought we agreed that we were just going to let it happen"
"Are you sure that's the best option?" Shawn questioned.
"Here's our options" she said. "One-we make a big announcement or Two-we let them find out on their own"
"I would feel stupid making such a big deal out of it" Shawn thought out loud.
"Looks like the decision is made" Belle said. Shawn settled back again and studied the group of people making their way up the beach.
"Hey Belle" he said, after a few minutes. No response came. "Belle?" he asked, turning to look at her. He found her staring intently up towards the house. He twisted himself so he could see what she was looking at. An unfamiliar looking man was making his way down the beach toward him. He was tall and tan with blonde hair, wearing a pair of black shorts with a white tank top. A tall, shapely blonde followed behind him, hurrying to keep up with his long strides. Her hair shone in the sunlight and she also had on sunglasses with a tank top and shorts.
"Who's that?" Shawn wondered out loud.
"I don't know..." Belle trailed off, as the pair came nearer. Suddenly, the man started hurry along as he flashed them a grin. "That kinda looks like....BRADY!"