Page 76 of Untethered Heart
I push against her, caging her between me and the frame of the car.
“The only thing I like to wear in the moonlight is your naked body against mine.”
I can see her pulse thrumming in her neck, chest heaving as she draws in steadying breaths. “Oh.”
“It’s not easy being a gentleman around you, Lex. But I am trying. So, please”—I dip my fingers into the waistband of hersoft Lycra shorts and tug her into me, pressing a hard kiss to her lips—“get in the car, so I can take you on our date.”
Her eyes are almost crossed as she hums and nods her agreement, then drops into the seat behind her.
With the top down, I drive us to the secret spot Riley told me about. The sun is settled in the sky, the breeze is gentle as it whips over us, and her hand is still in mine.
I pull onto a gravel track that leads down to an open grass area and a playground that’s seen better days. Trees enclose the abandoned park, and I can see Lex looking confused at the less-than-romantic space. I hold our picnic basket in one hand, then lead Lex over to the edge of the grass where I know another trail is hidden.
There’s a divot in the sand that’s a clue to where the opening in the tree line is. I look over my shoulder and grin at Lex’s confused expression, and without taking my eyes off her, I grab the tree branch and pull it back. Her eyes widen, then transform into beautiful curiosity.
“What is this?” she asks with hesitant steps as she comes to stand next to me.
“Your surprise.” I flick my chin to the path, encouraging her to continue. I follow, letting the tree branch gently fall back into place behind me, and Lex leads us down the steady decline of the sandy trail.
About a hundred metres down the path, it opens into a small cove. Rock faces hide the bay, creating a small beach with a window looking straight at the setting sun.
“Caleb,” she gasps, and the way she says my name makes me feel like I’ve won something. I can’t describe the fizz of success and pride that fills me. “How did you find this place?”
I smile as I walk past her, setting the basket on the firm sand and opening it up to pull out a picnic blanket.
“Riley told me about it. It’s his secret spot.”
Lex comes to kneel on the blanket as I pull out the containers of food, including desserts from Sweet Escape and a bottle of champagne.
“Is the picnic all Riley’s doing as well?” she asks.
“I paid him extra for working on a Sunday, but yes, Riley put this together and delivered it earlier. I told him what to put in it, though. Particularly the desserts.”
“You’ve been to Sweet Escape?”
“I think I need some alcohol before admitting this.” I pour a glass of champagne for us, clinking mine against hers before taking a sip.
“After the night at the bar,” I start, pausing when her brows pinch together, a devilish smile hijacking my face, “when you came on my fingers in the middle of the dancefloor, and I came in my pants because you are so captivating when you make those sounds for me…”
Pink floods her cheeks and neck. “Yes. Go on.” Embarrassment cloaks her words, making me chuckle.
“It was after that night that you didn’t want to see me, but I was still so hung up on you. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I remembered spotting Sweet Escape out the window when we went to Claire’s salon after we left The Wayside, and the only connection I could think of without showing up on your doorstep like a creeper was running into Claire, so I visited the bakery a few times trying to spot her.”
“And did you?” she asks, wondering if her friend may not have passed on a message.
“No.” I smile. “But I did end up finding somewhere that makes an amazing hazelnut macchiato.”
“Everything Liv makes is good.”
I spread the food out between us, removing the covers and popping a grape into my mouth as I lean back on one hand.
“Christmas is next week. Do you have any plans?”
She bites into a strawberry, licking her top lip far too sensually for my liking, and then tucks her legs to the side getting comfortable.
“Claire and I normally drive down to Killara Bay for Christmas dinner with my brother and spend the week there, but I assume she’ll want to spend time with Lee this year. I’ll have four days off from the club, so I might drive down in the morning instead. I have some things to do for Legacy Malt while I’m there as well.”
“First of all, four days without you, Siren. Do you want me to die?” I ask in all seriousness, but she throws her head back and laughs anyway. I spread my palm over my chest in mock pain. “You wound me. I couldn’t possibly live without you for so long. But, back to the other thing, what do you plan to do for the distillery when you’re down there?”
