Page 51 of Sweet Passions at Bayside
“No. This is wonderful compared to home, where the humidity sucks the life out of you.”
“Careful talking aboutsucking, doll. I’m trying not to think about how sexy you look in that skimpy outfit.”
She pretended to write in the air. “Buy more skimpy outfits.Check.”
Chapter Fifteen
AS THEY NEARED the end of the path, he said, “Close your eyes, doll.”
“Hm. A long romantic walk, a mysterious request to close my eyes.” She closed her eyes and leaned into him. “You’ve got me wondering what’s up your sleeve. Not that I think you can fit much beyond those muscles of yours. But the rain boots have me curious. What exactly do you have in mind, Mr. Masters?”
“Our second example outing.”
She squeezed his arm. “You really think you can coverallthe bases of how I deserve to be treated inthreeexample outings? When I move into the Summer House on Wednesday, will I be well schooled in all things relationship related? That seems awfully fast.”
He bristled with the reminder that she hadn’t moved into his place for good. He hated the idea of her moving out, but with any luck, by the time tomorrow afternoon came, she wouldn’t want to go anywhere other than directly into his bed.
“I assure you, by the end of our third date—”
“Outing,” she corrected him with a teasing giggle.
“Right. By the end of tomorrow, I will have ruined you for any other man.”
When they reached the end of the path, the gardens Dean had planted over the spring, the area he’d cleared and prepared for the patio, and the view of the bay came into focus, along with pallets of flagstone, various tools, and other landscape paraphernalia. He’d left an unfinished border between the gardens and the area where the patio would be installed, to be filled in and planted afterward. In the center of what would become the patio stood a massive northern red oak, beneath which there was a table set for two. As if by magic, the solar lights in the tree sparked to life, twinkling above the table, where a chilled bottle of wine and dinner he’d picked up at Van Rensselaer’s, one of the best restaurants on the Cape, awaited. Their meal was hidden within fancy serving dishes he’d borrowed from his buddy who owned the restaurant.
“Okay, Em. Open your eyes.”
She gasped with awe as she took it all in. “Dean.”
Still holding on to his arm, she gazed up at the sparkling lights, at the pretty serving dishes on the table, and the view of the bay. “You did all of this for me?”
“Yes, but don’t get too excited yet, because look around us.”
She glanced around and her brows knitted, as if she’d only just noticed the pallets of flagstone and the accouterments needed for creating a patio. “Um…?”
“We’re going to lay the flagstone together.”
Her beautiful eyes widened. “This is where you’re making the patio? Really? I get to help?”
Her excitement made him laugh. “Yes. If you don’t mind.”
She threw her arms around his neck, sending him stumbling backward as he caught her around the waist.
“This is the best example outingever!” she said with a mile-wide smile. She trapped her lower lip with her teeth, and her eyes darkened as she tightened her hold around his neck. “I have a confession to make.”
“Should I be worried?”
“When you said you were looking forward to getting dirty with me, my mind went elsewhere.”
“Don’t worry, doll. We are getting down and dirty tonight.Very dirty.”
She put her mouth beside his ear and whispered, “I’m not wearing any panties.”
Holy…
His hand slid down her back, and just as his fingers grazed the curve at the base of her spine, she grabbed his wrist, stopping him.
“Uh, uh, uh, Mr. Masters. Unless you think it’s appropriate for a guy to grab my bare butt on the second date?” She wiggled out of his arms and made a show of smoothing her tiny skirt over her thighs.
