Page 93 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

I just stared at her, still. Of course, I knew there were people on this planet who had never seen the beach or the ocean, but I’d never met any of them.

“How long is your layoff again?” I asked.

“We have two weeks before rehearsals start,” she said.

“So you don’t have class or rehearsal or anything tomorrow?”

“Nope.”

Perfect.

“Get in the truck,” I ordered, opening the passenger door for her.

“Why?” She laughed, looking at me like I’d grown two heads.

“Get. In. The. Truck.” I paused after each word, my smirk growing every time I spoke.

“But why?”

“Just get in!” I exclaimed, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards me. “Be spontaneous, Twinkle Toes.”

She shook her head at me, but I pulled her purse off her, tossed it into the truck, then lifted her by her waist and set her in the passenger seat, buckling her in before she could protest.

I kept my hands on the seat on either side of her hips and leaned in close until my mouth was inches away from hers. Her soft pink lips parted, and she inhaled sharply.

“Trust me. You’ll like this,” I promised.

I waited for a beat, my eyes darting down to her lips, then I pulled away and shut the door so I could get in and get us on the road.

As I got in, I peeked in the backseat, checking that my camping supplies were still stored back there and that Seb or Reid hadn’t decided to borrow them without asking again.

I smiled as I started the truck, way too pleased with myself for this idea I had come up with. It was fun, slightly romantic, and it would get me to have Haven all to myself for twenty-four hours at least.

I first took us through a drive-thru to grab some coffee and food. Then we drove in relative silence for a while, the radio the only sound aside from Haven’s occasional light humming.

I stole a peek at her as I drove, trying to admire her without her knowing as she watched the trees and hills pass us by through her window.

Her red curls were wild, and the sun glinted off them, setting them aflame. She extended her long legs, her feet resting on my dashboard. Had it been anyone else, I would have gotten irritated and made them take them off, but because it was her, because of the view it gave me of her ivory skin, I let it slide.

I cut my perusal of her body short when she turned the volume down and said, “So, are you going to tell me where we’re going, Wes?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Yes, that’s why I said, ‘So are you going to tell me where we’re going, Wes?’”

I laughed, shaking my head at her, then grabbed her hand resting on the armrest between us.

“You don’t like surprises very much, do you?”

“I like good surprises.”

“This is a good surprise. I promise.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes but smiled at me. “All right then. Keep your secrets.”

“Just relax and rest a little, Frodo,” I teased her. “We still have a journey ahead of us, and I know you’re worn out from your performances.”

“Bossy,” she muttered, and I laughed again.

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