Page 54 of Taken With You
“Oh, Garrick.” She switched her hands to press against his chest. “Haven’t I said it already?”
He shook his head, his breath bated.
“I feel like my whole body is beaming the words.” She flattened her hands against him. “I love you, Garrick Kane. I love you. I love—”
His mouth captured hers. Her breath hitched as the kiss deepened, as he slid his arms around her. Suddenly they were rocking, rocking, rocking together, dancing to silent music, until a new bubble of joy rose up inside her.
Breaking the kiss, he whispered against her cheek, “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
Against her chest, she felt his heart leap.
“My family should be asleep by now.” He raised his head and tilted it toward the door. “Let’s sneak back to the cabin.”
Walk with him through a trail of fairy lights under the winking of the stars? That sounded like another dream come true.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Most definitely yes.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Amanda stepped out of the cabin under the bluest sky she’d ever seen. The grass sank beneath her feet as she headed toward the big tent, still set up in the side yard. Her limbs moved loosely as she walked, the denim of her jeans hugging her body, her eyelet lace top allowing the cool air to kiss her skin. She smelled a trace of fog still in the air, but the world was bright with wonder.
Shelley had arranged a morning-after breakfast just for family and friends, some of whom had come from the east coast, and one from Brazil, to join the winery launch celebration. Now Amanda approached the crowd, all of them chattering with familiarity, clustered around a few sprawled tables. Shelley’s arms flew as she regaled the party with a story, with no regard to the coffee inside her cup, threatening to splatter over the side.
Garrick turned his head before he could possibly hear her approach. All morning, she’d lounged in secret in his bed as he strode through the cabin, hustling his family outside to the breakfast prepared for them under the tent. She’d listened from behind the bedroom door, tracking his footsteps all through the cabin until he returned, poked his head around the door, and with a wink gave her the all-clear.
“There you are,” he said, rising from his chair, putting those eighth-grade dramatic skills to the test as he behaved like they hadn’t spent the night making love. “Glad you could make it.”
“I promised I would come.”
He raised a brow. “And so you did.”
She flushed at his teasing…and his vibrant good looks. He wore khaki shorts and a polo shirt that molded to the shoulders she’d gripped last night, determined not to wake the entire sleeping house as he stroked her into a delirious orgasm. The subterfuge had added a sexy edge to their coupling, but in the light of morning both she and Garrick agreed they would have to tell his family, and soon. As in so many things, he’d left the decision as to when and how in her hands. She had no clue how to best spill the secret…she just preferred a more dignified reveal than being caught waltzing out of his bedroom in the wee hours of the morning.
She tore her attention away from her hot, secret lover as Maggie jogged around a table toward her, arms outstretched, wearing a lovely Moroccan wrap dress. Mags nearly knocked Amanda over with the force of her hug.
“You’re the woman of the hour.” Mags gripped her shoulders. “You rocked it last night.”
“Thanks, Mags.”
“I tried to find you after the last guest left. I was hoping for a final glass of port and maybe a little relationship advice.”
Garrick took his cue and turned away to speak to his mother, giving her and Mags some privacy.
“You couldn’t find me last night because I got caught up in business,” Amanda raised her brows so Maggie would understand. “The work never ends around here.”
“Glad to hear you two are still…working.” Maggie winked and then leaned in to whisper, “So what do you know about his brother?”
She paused, confused, thinking of the business announcement she and Garrick were planning to make today, an announcement that concerned Garrick’s late brother Dominic.
“Luke.” Mags said, with emphasis, under her breath. “I’m talking about that tall, brooding hunk of gorgeousness over there.”
“Oh.” She glanced at Luke, tilting his chair too far back on its rear legs, flirting with danger.
Mags dipped her head. “Just tell me he’s single.”
“Unmarried for sure,” she whispered. “But as for unattached…I don’t know. He’s a bit of a brooder, so good luck.”
