Page 21 of Risk

“Is that okay? I wanted to make sure we had something for lunch since there isn’t any place close to where we’re going.” I wasn’t sure if she thought it was romantic. That wasn’t my intention, but when she mentioned a picnic, my mind went to a romantic picnic on the beach.

“It’s okay with me as long as you’re willing to eat all these carbs for breakfast and lunch.” She quirked her lips up.

“If it means I get to spend the day with a beautiful woman by my side, then I’m more than capable of throwing out my diet. I’ll just work out a little extra tomorrow.”

“Thank you for saying I’m beautiful,” she said shyly. “Today, I feel drained after my headache from last night.” She looked down as she slathered a thick layer of jam on her croissant.

Shit, I hadn’t thought she might not be up for what I had planned.

“Are you up to our adventure today?”

She bit her bottom lip as if she was contemplating saying no. “I think so.”

A slow smile spread across my face. “Good.” I looked down at my watch to check the time. “You should eat up because our car will be here in thirty minutes.”

I grabbed a pastry and took a large bite. The flaky, buttery goodness was divine. It was days like today that made me want to chuck my lifestyle into the wind and gorge myself on the goodness in front of me.

“Car?” she asked before she took a bite and moaned. That one little moan had all my blood pumping to my dick and leaving my mind blank for a few seconds.

Shifting in my seat to ease my pulsing cock, I cleared my throat. “I thought it was best to hire a car for the day. I wasn’t sure if I’d have any problems driving, and I wasn’t sure if you’d agree.”

I shoved the rest of my croissant in my mouth and chewed angrily. I hated that what I loved most in the world was so close to being taken away from me. I knew I couldn’t have Aspen with me every time I drove for the rest of my life.

“Hey,” she called quietly. Her hand reached across the table and grasped mine. “It won’t be like this forever. I promise. You’re doing an amazing job; maybe I don’t tell you that enough, and for that I’m sorry. I can promise you that it won’t be like this forever.”

The lump in my throat was hard to swallow. I hooked my index finger with hers and shook it. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. I’m not going to lie; this has been the hardest time of my life. I hate being this weak individual that can’t get behind the wheel of a car without losing his shit.”

She sat up straighter in her seat and squared her shoulders. “Do you think someone coming back from war with PTSD is weak?”

“No, of course not, but I didn’t come back from war. I was in a car wreck. Something that happens thousands if not millions of times every day.”

Aspen linked her fingers with mine. “You almost died, Cal. That’s a lot to take into your psyche, no matter how much you love your job.”

“I’ll try to keep that in mind.” Wanting this conversation to be over with, I put some butter and some plum jam on my pastry to eat my feelings away.

We sat silently until my phone pinged, letting me know our driver was waiting for us at the hotel.

“We should go. The driver is waiting, and it’s a bit of a drive.”

“Oh?” She perked up. Her long brown hair swept around her shoulders in the light breeze. “How long?”

“About an hour and a half, but trust me, it’ll be worth it.”

Packing our food away, I texted the driver to come pick us up and swallowed the last bit of my coffee.

“Are you ready?” I stood and held my hand out to help her up.

“I’m kind of getting nervous.” She laughed apprehensively when our driver pulled up alongside where we were sitting. Opening her door, I let her slide inside before I set the basket between us. Once inside, I sat back against the cool leather seat.

The second the driver started driving, Aspen turned to me with excitement in her eyes. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going now?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her. I loved her excitement. “You’re like a kid seeing her presents under the Christmas tree for the first time, and can’t wait to open them.”

“I’m not that bad,” she laughed.

“Just be patient and enjoy the scenery. It’s a beautiful drive.”

Aspen lifted her hand as if she was going to touch me or hold my hand, but dropped it a second later. We stared out of our windows for the next thirty minutes before she broke the silence.

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