Page 16 of Sugar and the Skeptic
“Ever,” I say with a blush. “You must think I’m so lame sometimes.”
“Not at all. I don’t think you understand what it does to a man to know that the woman he’s falling head over heels for is having all of her firsts with him.”
“You’re falling head over heels with me?”
“Ridiculously so,” he says, dragging his teeth over his bottom lip as he looks at me like he’s still hungry.
The clinking of glasses tears our attention from each other and makes us realize the restaurant staff are trying to close up for the night.
“We should probably get going,” I say, collecting my handbag from the side of my chair.
“How ready are you for this night to end?” he asks as he pulls some cash from his wallet and lays it on the table.
“If I had my way, this night would last forever. I’m having the most wonderful time.”
“OK then. Want to walk for a while? There’s a summer light show down by the pier. The gardens are all decorated as though it’s Christmas or something.”
“I’d really like that a lot,” I say, sliding my hand into his offered one and thanking the staff as we head out the front door.
I bought a wrap with me, but the air is still so warm that I don’t need it. We walk in silence along the sidewalk until the pier comes into view, and then I realize this light show is far better than a few pretty string lights. It’s an entire adventure with fairy-like characters that scurry behind the trees when you approach and peek out shyly. It’s like entering another world.
“How did you find out about this place?” I ask, ohhing and ahhing as we walk through this wonderland arm in arm.
“I googled, ‘fun things to do on a first date in Sugar City’,” he says with a smile. “And then when you said you like fantasy romance, I figured this was the perfect after-dinner attraction.”
My heart swells in my chest. “I’ve never had anyone be so thoughtful of me before, Rafe. This is special.You’respecial.”
“I’m just trying to show you that I think the same about you. I want you to feel as special to me as you are. And I’m going to make a promise right now to go out of my way to prove that to you every day.”
“Every day?” I stop walking. “You keep talking like we’re forever, Mr. Valentine.”
He reaches out and runs his fingers down the length of my braid. “Don’t you think that’s what we are? Soulwinks. Twin flames. The half that makes a whole.”
Thinking back over the last few days together and all the overt signs from the universe that seem to be confirming as much, I nod.
“I think that we might just be,” I say in a whisper, lifting up on my toes as he bows his head and kisses me long, soft and slow as bright lights flash around us and make the moment even more magical than it already is. I never imagined myself as the relationship kind, but meeting Rafe has changed everything. He’s the first man who’s inspired me to dream of new beginnings and shared moments. I want everything with this man. Everything I’ve always dreamed of but been too scared to reach for.
“I may have done something a little presumptuous,” he says, brushing his thumbs against my cheeks as he pulls back and looks me in the eyes.
My brow shoots up in question. “Such as?”
“Rented a room. There’s no pressure. We can go back to Whisper Valley and call it a night. We can even go to the hotel and do nothing but watch movies and order room service. I just got it on the off chance we’d want to continue our city adventure a little longer before returning to the real world.”
Excitement skitters under my skin as I roll my lips together and nod. “I want to continue our adventure.”
“Yeah?” He continues moving his thumbs back and forth against my cheeks, his gorgeous green eyes searching mine.
“I want to be with you, Rafe.”
A low rumble emanates out of his chest as he brings his mouth to mine again, kissing me hard and hungry this time, making my toes curl and my knees week. If he keeps this up, he’ll have to carry me.
“Let’s get out of here,” he murmurs, dropping an extra kiss on the end of my nose before taking my hand in his and leading us back the way we came.
It doesn’t take long before we’re checked into the hotel and we’re riding up to our floor. I get a burst of nerves as I watch the numbers climb, but I reassure myself with the fact that being with Rafe just feels right. I know without a doubt in my mind that he’s going to take care of me. He’s already proven he’s more than willing to do that.
“I may have gone a little overboard,” he says, an adorably boyish grin kicking up his mouth as he pushes the door open and lets me in first.
I’m struck by the scent of roses and the soft glow of candles as I walk along a short hall and find a trail of petals leading the way to the bed. “This is beautiful. It’s like prom night but without the awkward photos.”
