Page 46 of Adrift

“Worth the wait?”

Kieran doesn’t even answer with words. He just rolls his eyes skywards and moans enthusiastically, collapsing against my arm and spilling his wine glass everywhere.

Even right into the frittata, as the camp stove sizzles and goes out.

“Shit—”

“Whoa!” I laugh, catching Kieran’s glass in one hand. I can see him about to grab the hot frittata pan without thinking, but I just manage to grab his wrist in time with the other.

Kieran squeaks and collapses into me again.

“I’ll take that as a yes, then,” I grin at him.

Kieran beams up at me, looking so sweet and so happy that I just can’t help smiling back at him. “No,” he corrects me. “Take it as ahellyes.”

“Noted,” I wink at him. “Now, before dinner gets too cold, and the wine gets too warm… let’s eat. The special tonight is white wine frittata.”

“Perfect,” Kieran breathes out. “That sounds perfect.”

And, honestly, I have to agree. It’s not the first date I expected. But this is Kieran, so… of course it isn’t.

It’s so much better.

Chapter

Seventeen

KIERAN

“I assumeyou’ve been introduced to s’mores.”

And just when I thought this date couldn’t get any more perfect.

“No!” I beam at Gage. “I’ve heard of them, but I’ve never tried them.” I push myself upright from where I’ve been sprawled on the picnic blanket after our incredible supper.

Gage looks pleased with himself. “I was hoping they’d be new for you.” He pulls out a bag of marshmallows and skewers, and then he fiddles around with his camp stove again to turn it on.

“All of this is new for me,” I tell him softly, watching him open up the graham crackers and chocolate bars. “Nobody’s ever done anything like this for me before.”

It makes my throat go tight just to think about it.

Gage could have gotten down and dirty with me a dozen times, and he hasn’t. And not because the chemistry isn’t there. I’ve lost track of how many times we’ve made eye contact and then gotten lost in each other’s eyes.

But he’s been holding back, and now I know why. He wants me to know that he values me for more than my nonexistent gag reflex and freakishly flexible hips, or all the little tricks I learned so I could forget my loneliness with mediocre men.

Gage wants to romance me.

“I’m sorry they haven’t. But I’m really glad I get to,” Gage says softly. “Because nobody’s ever done what you’ve already done for me, either. Here. Take this.”

“Are you sure?” I giggle as I grab the skewer he’s offering up, handle-first.

“Don’t point it at me and we’ll be fine.” Gage winks. “Now, put a marshmallow—Kieran.”

“Whoops,” I cough sheepishly, lowering the point again. How long did that take, half a second? “Pointy end down.”

“Pretend it’s flaccid, if that’s easier.”

I burst out laughing so hard that I double over, and Gage has to grab my shoulder to keep me from burning my eyebrows off on the camp stove.

---