Page 19 of The Marrying Kind
Thankfully, she shook her head as she unzipped the oversize coat. “Nope. That’s why it’s number fifteen on my list. Right afterwalk on a glacier.”
I followed suit, stripping off the layers until I was just in my swim trunks, doing my best to not ogle her in the process. Well, not too much, at least, because there was no way I wasn’t taking notice of those legs that stretched on for miles, her soft belly that led up to her full breasts ...
“Where does one walk on a glacier exactly?” I asked as I helped her down into the water.
“Haven’t got that far yet in my research. Whoa, this is nice,” she said with a sigh.
I managed to resist sitting directly against her, opting to give us a few inches of space.
“What’s the most dangerous thing on the list?” I asked.
She sank down, the water up to her shoulders as she thought it over for a moment. “Probably chase a tornado.”
I blinked rapidly with the shock of her answer. “Seriously?”
She nodded. “Or maybe skydive. Or hold a shark.”
“If I’m being honest, I’m way too afraid of heights to ever want to jump out of a plane.”
She laughed. “I’m terrified too, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do it.”
“Damn, woman. You are incredible. Okay, what’s the tamest thing on your list? Fly a kite in a thunderstorm?”
Nudging her shoulder into me, which of course sent more volts of electricity through me than if I’d been struck by lightning, she answered. “Wear a fancy hat at the Kentucky Derby. Or maybe feel the spray of Niagara Falls.”
I lowered my eyes at her. “Isn’t Niagara the honeymoon capital of the world?”
She shrugged. “I haven’t heard that before, but it won’t bother me.”
Our eyes met, and I swear something unspoken passed between us.
“I love how brave you are, just grabbing life by the balls and going for it.”
She laughed at my choice of words. “Well, it’s something I failed to do for my entire life, and it’s high time I corrected it. Life is short, and I want to fill every second with something new and interesting.”
My mind shouted,Me! Me! I’m something new and interesting!
“Thanks for bringing me here. This is awesome, by the way,” she said.
“You’re very welcome.”
Ella’s knee bumped up against mine in that moment and about knocked the wind out of my chest. Then she blinked at me through those long dark lashes. “Having a fling wasn’t on my bucket list ... but can I admit something to you?”
“Of course you can.” I waited to see where this was going and why Ella’s expression had suddenly gone serious.
“I’ve never had a one-night stand.” Her voice was soft, and her eyes lifted to mine.
My chest fell at her words, but only slightly, because the topic was still of great interest to my manhood. “Okay,” I said slowly.
“Have you?” she asked.
“Uh, I’m not really the type to kiss and tell. But yeah, I guess I have.” It wasn’t something that had happened all the time, but I’d been having sex since I was sixteen, so yeah, it had come up before.
“Do tell.” She batted her eyelashes and waited for me to continue.
When I hesitated, she moved her leg again, and it rested against mine.
“I was skiing one year. I met a woman on the slopes, we grabbed a drink after to warm up, and one thing led to another ...”
