Page 58 of Places I've Never Been

She looked up and locked that sparkling gaze on his.

“I’ll never be sorry you kissed me.”

An adorable flush crawled up her cheeks. “Me either.”

“Good.”

He hummed the new song all the way down the path to the clearing where a picnic table had been set up in the shade of two large trees. A nearby grass hut housed a fully stocked bar and a counter filled with platters of sandwiches, skewers of meat, fruits, and other local snacks.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a haze filled with memories of Mattie’s kiss and the new song they’d started together on turtle beach.

“That’s bad ass,” Cooper said. “I like it…I can hear a riff going right there in the middle, building to a climax just before that end. Maybe a solo after?”

Mattie nodded. “It definitely needs something like that, and I can’t wait to hear Flynn’s take on it. He always adds energy, and I think it needs that. We want people to shout this one, you know? It’s a defiant, I’m-not-done-yet anthem.”

Tina took a long sip of the red drink she held in her hands. “To me it sounds like the person can’t accept that something is over. People should let go, you know? Move on.”

Adam stood up. “Speaking of, let’s get out of here. Bayo?”

Bayo hurried over from where she’d been sitting behind the bar. “All are ready, yes? We can make our way back when you like, Mr. Adam.”

“Finally,” Tina muttered. She stood up and walked to the dock without a backward glance at any of them.

Cooper followed her.

“She’s not right for him,” Mattie muttered.

“Don’t worry. I bet she leaves the island first thing in the morning, if not tonight. He’ll be able to relaxthen.”

She frowned. “Not sure it’s relaxation he’s looking for.”

When they reached the Jet Ski, Mattie stepped back to let him go first. He shook his head. “This time, you drive.”

Her eyes widened, and her hand did the little fluttering motion it did when she was nervous. “I can’t drive that.”

“Sure you can. It’s just like a motorcycle, only on water.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I’ve never driven one of those, either.”

“Bicycle?”

She nodded. “When I was a kid.”

“Well this is easier. Go on, I’ll be right behind you. If you get in trouble I’ll be there to help.”

“You mean you’ll fish me out of the water when I go over? Is this to get back at me for pushing you off the boat?”

He grinned. “Only one way to find out.”

She hesitated, then squared her shoulders and stepped onto the Jet Ski. Once she was in position, Adam lowered himself onto the seat and slipped his arms around her. “Okay, all set.”

Mattie started the machine. He coached her on how to throttle, and then they pulled away from the dock.

Mattie’s body was tense, but he didn’t think it was from nerves. When he was sure she had a handle on it, he settled in behind her and debated with himself on which was better, her pressed against his back or her wiggling in front of him as she navigated the waves.

When they reached the dock and climbed off the skis, she was flush with excitement and a little too much sun. “We have to do that again.”

“Not in this lifetime,” Tina said as she swept past them.

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