Page 34 of An Adventure For Aster

“Nothing,” he said. “I know there were a lot of teens there, but there were adults too.”

“That’s right. I don’t want to come across as if I had no childhood, as that isn’t the truth. Please don’t think that. But we didn’t have a lot of money growing up. If we did something like that as kids, it was an all-day adventure and we got our money’s worth. We wouldn’t go if there was anything one of us couldn’t do. My parents were fair that way. But by the time I was old enough to drive the go-carts, River and Brooks had part-time jobs and were working weekends.”

“And wouldn’t have wanted to take the day off?” he asked.

“They did, but I know they would have liked the money too. You could say we did day things over the summer or in the fall on the weekends as vacations. We never went on a family vacation other than camping a few times. I can tell you now I don’t like sleeping in a tent. I hope you don’t ever suggest that. I’d go if we had an RV, maybe.”

He turned to look at her as they were walking back to his truck. “I’ve spent enough of my life in a tent. I don’t have any desire to do it again. Nor camp. You could say I’m getting spoiled by living in Zane’s cabin on the water. It feels like a vacation daily to me.”

“I’d feel the same way,” she said.

They drove back to her place almost in silence. Just a few words here and there. “What’s wrong?” he asked when they pulled into her parking lot.

“Nothing,” she said. “Why?”

“You’re quiet and normally aren’t. I can’t tell if something is going on or you’re planning the next event.”

“Activity,” she said, grinning. “And I am. Another one you’ll like.”

“Really?” he asked.

“Yep,” she said. “In my apartment.”

He lifted his eyebrow at her.

“What is that?” he asked. “Dinner?”

“Too early for dinner,” she said. “After.”

“After what?” he asked.

She unlocked her apartment door and took her jacket off to hang it up and slipped her shoes off.

“After we go to my bedroom,” she said quietly.

He lifted her chin with his finger. “Are you sure? You’re not acting like you are. I don’t want you to have this all planned out for me. Some things can’t be planned and shouldn’t be. Spontaneity is a thing for a reason.”

She tried not to groan over the having all things planned out comment. Something she’d heard before.

“I’m sure,” she said. “I’ve been sure for a week but didn’t want to rush. I didn’t want you to think ill of me.”

He laughed. Actually a funny sound. “I could and never would think ill of you. Sometimes I think you’re too good for me. Almost too pure.”

She shook her head. “Don’t do that to yourself. We are good for each other. I’m far from pure.”

“You have no idea how people see you,” he said quietly. “No idea how I do.”

That was part of her problem. She always knew how people saw her before and what they’d say or assume about her career and how she should act now.

But she just wanted to be Raine Scarsdale.

A woman who was dating a hot sexy man who seemed to only have eyes for her.

“Why don’t you show me,” she said, reaching her arms up to put them around his neck.

He picked her up, cradling her like she’d never been carried before. She felt as if she weighed a feather and Aster easily brought her to her room.

He kissed her softly and she didn’t want that. She didn’t want slow and steady. She didn’t want gentle and tender either.

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