Page 57 of Falling for Them

As we settled into the car, I couldn’t help but run my hands over the leather steering wheel. It was a gorgeous machine, and part of me felt a little guilty for what I was about to do. But only a little.

I pressed a random button on the steering wheel and then sat there.

Leo looked at me expectantly. “Everything okay?”

I turned to him with wide, innocent eyes. “So, uh, which one’s the gas pedal again?”

The color drained from Leo’s face. “You’re joking, right?”

I furrowed my brow, doing my best to look confused. “No? I mean, I’ve driven before, but it’s been a while. And never anything this fancy.” I reached out and started randomly pressing buttons on the dashboard. “What does this one do?”

“Ethan, stop!” Leo’s hand shot out to grab mine. “Maybe I should drive.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. “I’ve got this. It’s like riding a bike, right?” I finally pressed the ignition button to turn it on and giggled with deranged glee.

“Um-”

I pressed the gas with it still in park, and the engine revved. “Whoa! It’s so loud! Why isn’t it moving?”

Leo’s knuckles were white as he gripped the handle of the door. “Ethan, I swear to God?—”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer. A snort escaped me, quickly followed by full-blown laughter. Leo’s panicked expression morphed into one of confusion, then realization, and finally, amusement.

“You asshole,” he said, but there was no real heat behind it. “I can’t believe I fell for that.”

I wiped tears from my eyes, still chuckling. “Your face was priceless. I thought you were going to have a heart attack.”

Leo shook his head, his smile making his whole face and demeanor look different. “I’m surprised you didn’t drive us straight into a wall to really sell it.”

“Nah, I wouldn’t do that to this beauty.” I patted the dashboard affectionately.

As our laughter died down, I noticed Leo looking at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. It made my stomach clenchin a way I didn’t want it to, and I quickly turned my attention back to the car.

“So, where to?” I hoped like hell he hadn’t noticed the slight flush creeping up my neck.

Leo pressed a few buttons on the display in the car to pull up the GPS. “It’s a surprise.”

I raised an eyebrow as I saw the marina come up on the screen. “The marina? We’re going on your yacht?”

“I’m not telling.” Leo typed a few things on his phone and one of my favorite singers came on. “Now, drive.”

I pulled up to the valet stand at the marina. “We’re totally going on the yacht.”

While I was impressed, it also seemed a bit much for a first date. It took a lot to take an eight-five-foot yacht out on the water for a casual evening.

Leo looked far too pleased with himself. “Surprise.”

I shook my head, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach. “This is too much. I thought we were going for casual.”

“This is casual.” He was already getting out of the car, and I followed. “We aren’t taking her out.”

I reluctantly handed the keys to the valet and followed Leo down the dock. The Holy Cannoli loomed before us, all sleek lines and gleaming white paint. I’d been on it before, but never like this.

Never on a date. Alone.

“Welcome aboard, sir.” A man in a suit greeted us at the end of the gangway leading onto the yacht. “Everything is prepared for you on the flybridge, and dinner will be served shortly. Please let me know if you need anything else.”

“Thank you, Tom.” Leo gave him a firm handshake as we passed.

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