Page 98 of Away We Go

My arms tighten around her, pulling her back and flush with my chest. Even though I’ve let my guard down somewhat, I must not have been making my feelings for her as clear as I thought. Luckily, I have two weeks to fix this. “There is no other way I’d want to spend my break, Cherie.”

“When do we leave?” Her eyes sparkle and I lose myself in them.When did her gaze become what I crave most in the world? Other than her lips.

“I’ll make some calls. Do you think you can be ready by the morning?”

She tilts her head, tapping her lip in what I know is her thinking face. “Yes,” she nods at last.

“Great.” Decision made. The buzzing in my chest intensifies and all I can do is grin down at her.

“Yes, great.”

We sink into silence and I shift in place, wondering what she sees in my face as she stares up at me. Now that I’m no longer hiding what she means to me.

“I can’t wait…” she whispers softly, turning to lay her cheek against my chest. Listening to my racing heart.

“So,” I say finally as I rest my chin on her soft hair. “Tell me more about thisBelow Deck Sailing Yacht.”

CHAPTER 20

Cherry

The next day, Nicky drives us to the marina a few blocks away from his house where his ‘boat’ is moored. He’s given James the mid-season break off and so for the foreseeable future, it will be just the two of us.

“I don’t think I’ve been in a car when you’re driving,” I comment, wracking my brain to dislodge a memory of it.How is it possible that in all my life he’s never been the driver when I’ve been in the car?

“Can I tell you a secret?”

He’s smiling, looking relaxed behind the wheel wearing his Gucci sunglasses with his hair ruffling from the wind breezing in through the open sunroof, just like in an ad for something rich and decadent.

He can tell me all his secrets!

“Yes, please.”

“I don’t enjoy driving.” He flicks a glance at me and smirks at my expression.

The man drives race cars for a living; how does he not like driving?

“How?”

His broad shoulders bob up and down in a casual ‘who knows’ gesture. “I find it tedious.”

“Huh. Do you want me to drive?” We’re speeding along the scenic highway in his fancy Mercedes and I wouldn’t mind giving it a go.

“Matt told me all about your driving. I think I’ve had enough crashes recently.”

My jaw hits the floor at the same time my fist hits his bicep. “I’ll have you know, I’m a great driver.”

This is debatable, as my insurance company will tell you. Even so, he doesn’t need to know that.

“Sure,” he grins, looking young and light. I love this look on him. “Maybe next time.”

We arrive at the marina and he expertly reverses into a parking spot reserved for him, with a flick of the steering wheel manoeuvre that would have taken me ten minutes and my entire sanity to complete. He may not like driving, but the man is good in a car.

Show off.

Nicky opens his door and jogs around to open mine. “Ready?” He holds his hand out to me, and I all but leapfrog out of the car, the momentum of my enthusiasm throwing me off balance and right into him.

“Careful.” He steadies me with his hands on my hips and I take a second to sniff him.

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