Page 56 of Places I've Never Been

She repeated some of it, whittling down the words to their essence, visualizing the piano in front of her and the beat underneath.

Hey

I know that it’s been rough

Things change around you

and man it’s tough

Your whole life you are what you do

Then comes the day your job is through

And all you have is what used to be.

But

There’s more…to…life.

Adam noddedalong as she spoke. When she finished, he grinned. “Again. Over and over. Don’t stop.”

She started again. Halfway through, Adam started to hum a melody. At first, it was just notes here or there, but soon it was a complete tune that supported the words with an upbeat, victorious finish.

They sang together, repeating the lines dozens of times, adding in harmony to complement his melody. Adam beat his chest and the rock behind him to keep the rhythm, and by the end they were well on their way to song number two.

Mattie leapt to her feet and whirled around on top of the notes she’d made in the sand. She didn’t need them anymore,and it felt sogood. “It’s perfect! Well, not perfect, not yet. But it will be, I can feel it.”

She flung her arms around Adam’s neck, so caught up in the euphoria of a song coming together that she acted without thinking. Her lips brushed his in an expression of the happiness the song inspired.

Adam went completely still.

She should move away. Kissing him was exactly what she was supposed to avoid doing. But she didn’t. She leaned into him and kissed him again.

Adam groaned, and his arms wrapped around her. His body was hot from sitting in the sun, and he smelled like sunscreen and coconut. He pulled her close and pressed his lips into hers, and she opened to him, exploring his tongue with delicate touches of her own.

It felt like waking up.

Her body came alive. Tremors shot through her stomach and sparked between her legs. She melted into him. She wanted more than just this kiss, she wantedallof him. She hadn’t realized how much until this moment.

“Adam,” a high-pitched voice full of irritation called out. “Mattie.”

Startled, Mattie pulled away. He let go of her immediately and turned toward the path the others had taken.

Mattie scrambled back and stumbled over her sandals. She managed to catch herself on the rock, skinning her palm in the process.

“Lunch is ready,” Tina said.

“Thanks.” Adam’s scowl was obvious to Mattie, but Tina seemed oblivious.

“Cooper says we can’t leave until you eat, so can we get going? The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can get back—” Tina narrowed her eyes and glanced from Adam toMattie and back again. “Did I interrupt something? You weren’t…ew, in the sand? It getseverywhere.”

Mattie’s cheeks burned. It felt like the time Dad had opened the door when Jimmy What’s-His-Name kissed her goodnight after her first date. She shouldn’t have kissed Adam. He was her client. They had a project to focus on, she didn’t want another Devon situation, and she’d promised Kat she’d be professional.

And he felt so good she wanted more.

Dammit.

“We’ll be right there,” Adam told Tina.

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