Page 39 of Liberating Mia
“Yeah, it really is.”
She glanced over at him, blushing when she noticed his gaze firmly on her and not the view.
“I meant that magnificent vista,” she said, sweeping an arm to illustrate her point.
“I know. This one’s better.”
Reaching out, he snagged her around the waist and pulled her in for a quick kiss. He should’ve known better. With their crazy chemistry, there was no such thing as a quick kiss. Giggling, she pulled back a bit.
“Let’s go grab a coffee at the café before the sun goes down — it gets freezing up here once that happens. And we don’t want to miss that.”
A glint of light caught his attention. Snapping his gaze to where he’d seen it, Finn noticed a man staring at them, partially hidden behind a large boulder.
He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Mia’s forehead. “Sounds like a good idea.”
Taking her hand, he guided her toward where the man stood.
“The café’s over this side.”
“Do you mind if we admire the view from that side a second before we do?”
“Oh, no. Not at all. From that side, you can see right across False Bay.”
Of course, the man was gone by the time they reached the boulder. He’d known he would be, but their stroll over had bought Finn enough time to get a better look at the man he suspected had been following them around all day. He’d popped up everywhere they’d been.
Something about him seemed familiar, but Finn couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was. He was grateful it seemed Mia hadn’t noticed they were being followed. To continue the ruse, he stood with his arm wrapped around Mia’s shoulders for a couple minutes, taking in the panoramic scene.
“Come on then. Let’s go get those coffees.”
Being a popular tourist destination, it was pretty crowded, and they had to stand in line for the hot drinks. Finally, it was their turn. Purchase made, Mia took his hand and excitedly tugged him from the café.
“Come on, this way. It’s the best spot to watch the sun set, but it’s popular, so we have to hurry if we want a decent spot.”
After everything he suspected this woman had been through, it amazed him how resilient she was. The day had been incredible thanks, in most part, to her. She’d gone out of her way to ensure it was enjoyable.
He wrapped her in his arms as he stood behind her, resting his chin on her head. Right then, there was nowhere else he’d rather be, her body warm and snug within his embrace. The vivid orange, purple, red, and deep blue of the African sunset put on a magnificent show, and as the sun sank below the horizon, Finn swore he felt his soul exhale. He couldn’t imagine a more perfect moment in time.
They stood like that, not saying a word.
Eventually, Mia spoke. “What’s the time?”
“What is it with you and time, woman? I’m going to have to get you a watch.” He laughed. Checking his time piece, he replied, “It’s a little after eight.”
“How little?”
“It’s eight oh seven, to be precise.”
“Oh, that’s alright then. We still have enough time. But we need to get going if we’re going to make our reservation.”
Mia tugged him in the direction of the cable car that would take them back down the mountain.
“Make it where on time? Are you planning on feeding me any time soon? I’m starving.”
Her girlish giggle made him smile. “I might be planning on feeding you. Possibly even sooner than you think.”
Their timing was impeccable. The cable car was pulling into the station as they joined the short line.
“So where to next?”
