Page 30 of Ethan

While I was preparing my nighttime snack, I contemplated asking Ethan something during our walk tomorrow. I had told him I wanted us to take our time. I wasn't sure I could stick to that. I felt like I knew him so well already. We'd essentially been dating for weeks before I vanished.

Now that we'd reconnected, my feelings for him were increasing fast. Especially after that kiss. There was something special happening between us. With him, I wanted to fall off the precipice of desire and affection we'd built and see if we would soar together.

I suspected; we'd take flight.

On Thursday evening, the parking lot at Esquimalt Lagoon was mostly vacant. At least we'd had sun all day, so the air was warm enough to linger outside down by the sea.

I'd picked up Ethan and we'd held hands for much of the drive out. He'd initiated the contact and I suspected he craved that kind of tenderness from whoever he was with.

We parked at the south end near the driftwood sculptures.

"Oh, perfect," he said. "I love seeing these."

"Thought you might." I lifted our joined hands and kissed his knuckles.

"I know I've said this before … but you're dangerous." He grinned at me and squeezed my hand. "You've got all the moves."

"I may have been accused of being a charmer in the past."

"Your ex-wife?"

I grunted. "Let's not talk about her. Today is about us."

"I like the sound of us."

God, he was peeling away every layer of protection I had assembled around my heart when Delores and I divorced. I had promised myself I wouldn't jump into any new relationship too fast.

Ethan made it impossible to even consider slowing down.

We took our time looking at the animals created out of driftwood. Ethan snapped a few pictures with his phone. A few with both of us, smiling, like we were a couple.

After climbing over the barrier of logs rough tides had brought in, we arrived on the sand along the shoreline. We had to walk single file; the strip of dry land was so thin. Ethan went first, his arm stretched out behind him so we could stay touching, our fingers entwined.

"Have you eaten yet?" I asked.

"No. I'm eyeing that food truck over there."

"You like Greek food?"

"You'll find I love most foods."

I laughed. "Noted."

Ethan led the way in picking our way back up the beach. There was a short line to order food, and we had to wait for our food to be prepared. Once we had our Greek chicken wraps, we found a log the right height to sit on and look out at the sea as gentle waves rolled in.

The setting was perfect. The man I was with—incredible.

We ate in silence; the food was so good. I liked that we didn't need to fill our time together with a bunch of chatter. We were comfortable just being together—at each other's side.

Ethan was getting into his wrap. When I turned to watch him, he inadvertently left a dollop of Tzatziki sauce at the corner of his mouth.

I kept waiting for his tongue to dart out to collect it. After a few moments, when it didn't, I reached over and used my thumb to wipe the sauce away. Ethan's gaze smoldered as he watched me put my thumb in my mouth and suck on it.

He shifted closer to me.

"That's so hot," he whispered.

Not sure what came over me, but I responded with, "I wish it was you."

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