Page 41 of Shameless
She turned and gaped at me. “Why?”
“I want to take you somewhere.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Why do you need to drive? Can’t you just tell me where?”
“It’s a surprise and I don’t want you to know where we’re going until we get there.”
“Then I guess I can’t argue with that.”
* * *
Sarah tookme to one of her favorite places to eat in Las Vegas for a late lunch since I had gotten in a little after three in the afternoon. It was a New American bistro. I ordered the backyard burger, which came topped with a roasted jalapeño aioli, and she got the blue crab fondue with sourdough toast. Once we finished and I paid the bill, we walked outside and she tossed me her keys.
“Don’t get us lost.”
I grinned. “That’s what GPS is for.”
We climbed into the SUV. After I put the location into the GPS on my phone, I cranked the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. It took us almost an hour to get where we were going. Once we passed the canyon popular for hiking, I knew just another mile down the pavement was the dirt road where we’d pull off and find the place that had been recommended for watching the sunset from the car.
“Are you going to murder me?” she questioned as I pulled to a stop a little down the dirt road.
I grunted a laugh. “No, sweet thing. I’d miss you too much if I did.”
“Then what are we doing way out here where there are no people around?”
I grabbed her hand and brushed my lips against the back of it. “You’ll see.”
We got out of the vehicle and I went to the back where my suitcase was, and pulled out a blanket.
“You packed a blanket?”
“Wasn’t sure if you’d have one in your car.”
“You’re full of surprises, Blake Montgomery. I thought you’d have other plans for us.”
“Like what?” I questioned and closed the back of the Jeep.
“Something less outdoors.” She waved her hand at the desert surrounding us.
I knew where she was going with her line of thinking, and it turned me on to know she wanted to jump into bed. But while I couldn’t wait to be deep inside of her again, I didn’t want our relationship to be focused on our physical connection. Especially since we’d gotten to know each other better in Mexico. Did that mean I was maturing? The first time we’d met when I had just turned eighteen, I had tried to kiss her. I would have gone all the way if she’d let me, but that was the old Blake, the one who was still a boy. I’d like to think the twenty-eight-year-old man I’d become could keep it in his pants. Hell, I did for almost an entire week in Mexico.
“Heard this is one of the best places to watch the sun go down.”
She sighed. “I love sunsets.”
“I know.” I grinned. “And afterward, how about we go back to your place and I have you for an early dinner?” Given our late lunch, I wasn’t sure when or if we’d eat dinner, but having her as my meal wasn’t a bad idea.
“Well, how can I say no to that?” She kicked a rock in the dirt, not meeting my eyes.
“I hope you won’t.” I winked as she looked up, and then I moved to the front of her Jeep.
We still had about thirty minutes before the sun would descend behind the red rock mountains, which gave us enough time to get comfortable on the hood of her car. Or as relaxed as one could be, with only a thin blanket and no pillows or anything for comfort.
After spreading the blanket on the hood, I used the front bumper to hoist myself up and sat on the edge of the hood, which was still warm from the engine. Reaching out my hand, I helped Sarah sit next to me, and then I moved closer until we were touching. It had been weeks since I’d had her next to me and didn’t want to waste any opportunity to have some part of me touching some part of her.
