Page 126 of Keep Me

I wiggled my fingers, and she laughed. “Then what are you waiting for? Let me show you why I brought you here.”

She rolled her eyes before slipping her hand in mine and letting me lead her across the sand. “Where are we going?”

I squeezed her hand, smiling. “You’re asking a lot of questions.”

“And you’re giving me no answers.”

“I’m giving you an answer, you just have to follow me.”

“Last time I followed you, we ended up married.”

I stopped to look at her. “Is that your way of telling me you regret that?”

She rolled her lips into her mouth and shook her head.

“Then I promise you won’t regret this either.”

We walked up to the beach in silence, and I turned to a set of sandy steps leading to a small beach house.

As I stepped forward, Britt stiffened. “Matty, where are we going?”

I pointed at the white house with baby-blue shutters. “Up there.”

She looked between me and the house for a few seconds. “That’s private property. We’re not allowed up there.”

“Yes we are.”

I tugged on her reluctant hand, and she eventually complied, stepping onto the sandy wooden steps. The closer we got to the house, the clearer the little candles flickering on the porch became.

“Matty,” she said breathlessly. Why did it sound so similar to the way she said my name when I gave her that orgasm last night?

“I know. I know.” I laughed as I led her up the back porch steps. “I shouldn’t leave candles unattended, but don’t worry, I had noidea how long we’d be walking on the beach, so I figured I’d just use battery-operated ones. It might not be as romantic, but at least I didn’t burn the house down.”

“You’re kidding, right?” she said in disbelief. “You don’t think this is romantic? No one’s ever done anything like this for me.”

“Not even Adam?” I asked with a smirk. “I heard he likes to take girls to fancy French restaurants.”

She swatted my chest, laughing. “Adam and I were never serious enough for anything like that to happen.”

I grabbed her hand before she could move it and kissed the top of her nose. “I know. I’m just kidding. Come on. There’s more inside.”

She took in a sharp breath as she turned her attention to the panoramic window with the sliding doors. Just inside was a small picnic for the two of us with champagne chilling on the side. A small smile played on her face, the only indication she was excited.

The house was still bare, I hadn’t touched or changed anything since I signed the papers since I wanted Britt to style it and she hadn’t seen it yet.

“I can’t believe you arranged this for me.”

“Only the best for my wife.” I took her hand, and led her to the picnic, helping her down. “Sorry it’s just a picnic. I didn’t have time to organize anything else.”

“How’d you get access to the house?”

“Well, it was listed for sale, so I just talked to the real estate agents and asked if I could rent it for the night.”

“And they let you?” She sounded suspicious, but I didn’t want to let her in on the secret just yet. I wanted her to enjoy this for what it was. My first real date with my wife.

I shrugged, taking a seat next to her and grabbing the champagne. Then I opened the bottle, pouring us both a glass. “You don’t ask, you don’t get.”

She let out a low laugh before looking toward the ocean in awe. Set on a small hill, the house had the perfect view of the waves and sunset.

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