Page 81 of The Exception

“Ready for more adventures?” he asked.

“Lead on, soldier.”

They made a few more stops on his list, the spy museum winning the day as the thing both of them enjoyed most.

Watching Sonya get competitive with a tour group of senior citizens over the fake mission they’d all been assigned was definitely Trav’s favorite part. It was pretty much a wrap for the other side when the only way to get one of the clues was by crawling through a fake vent duct that outlined the perimeter of the museum, but that hadn’t dampened Sonya’s level of effort. She’d scrambled through the duct, laughing the entire way as he brought up the rear, happy to go wherever she led him.

Once their mission was successfully accomplished and the little old ladies were revealed as double agents, a triumphant Sonya couldn’t help herself from gloating about it for the entire ride to the National Mall. Trav had already determined that Sonya had a side of her that she kept hidden. He didn’t realize that hidden side of her would take so much delight in beating the Golden Girls at what basically amounted to a scavenger hunt.

And he loved every second of it. Maybe he wasn’t the only big kid in this relationship. Maybe the kid inside of her just needed a little more encouragement to come out and play.

All that competition had them both starving by the time they reached the next stop on their tour, the National Mall. They spotted a food truck claiming to have the best burgers in D.C., and she’d dragged him over to try it in a full embrace of their adventure day.

Now, they were enjoying an impromptu picnic under a willow tree in the gardens and between the shade and the cool breeze off the pond, it was a nice respite on a hot summer day. As far as Trav was concerned, it was another perfect thing to add to the perfect date day they were having.

“That was delicious and I’m stuffed!” Sonya announced before falling back into the grass with her hands over her belly.

“Definitely the best burger I’ve had in years,” Trav added, laying back in the grass with her.

“It’s so gorgeous out here.”

“It is,” he agreed. But he wasn’t talking about their surroundings. He’d seen how much moonlight loved her that night on the dock, but sunlight might love her more. Its rays kissed her brown skin and made it shine like a newly minted penny.

She turned her head and caught him staring at her, but he didn’t care.

“You know we have to go meet Dani soon,” she said.

Trav nodded, knowing their day was inching to a close and soon he’d be back in the world of sterile hallways, twelve-hour shifts, and pretending he wasn’t completely weak for the woman next to him.

She hooked her pinky with his and a shy smile played on her dusky, pink lips that he could no longer look at without wanting to kiss.

Yeah. Work was going to be a goddamn struggle.

“I had fun today,” she said. “As far as first dates go, you’re rewriting another page in my diary.”

A surge of satisfaction mixed with a hint of possessiveness pulsed through him. He wanted to erase her memories of anyone she’d been with before him and replace them with new, even better ones.

“Good. I want to rewrite all of them.”

Her smile grew even wider and he recognized that dreamy look in her eyes. He was just starting to understand the meaning of it. He shifted closer to her; close enough that the tips of their noses brushed together.

She whispered, “I read this article once about the best places to make out in D.C. and did you know that we’re in one of those places right now?”

Trav swallowed hard. “I didn’t. We should see if they’re right. For research purposes of course.”

Sonya’s smile was an invitation that he eagerly accepted by pressing his mouth against hers in a kiss that Trav hadn’t realized he’d been looking forward to.

Salt from the fries they’d shared dotted her lips, enhancing her natural sweetness and making him want a better taste. Her eyes fluttered shut and she parted her lips on a soft sigh that erased the world around them.

Trav closed his eyes and smiled against her lips. The park was okay, but he was pretty sure that any place he kissed Sonya would be the best place.

* * *

“Thanks for taking care of my car and for leaving my bag. I know that was kind of unexpected.”

Sonya had been more relieved than she’d let on when she’d gotten the text from Dani letting her know that her bag was in the bed of Trav’s truck. She hadn’t thought that part out when she’d decided to stay over. When was the last time she hadn’t thought something out?

Dani smirked and held the keys to the Pathfinder out for Sonya to take.

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