Page 68 of While We Waited

She kicks up one foot to show me her sandals. The silky straps wrap around her ankles up to her knees. They’re sexy as fuck. I’d leave them on while I flipped up her dress and buried myself deep inside her. My cock twitches in agreement.

I blow out a breath. I’m not having sex with Nova tonight. She needs to realize there’s more to us than our incredible chemistry in bed.

“These sandals are not made for walking.”

“Do you want me to carry you?”

She skids to a stop. “Carry me? You’re going to carry me all the way to this mystery place we’re going to?”

I shrug. “I blew out my Achilles’ tendon but my arms still work.”

“Based on the amount of running you do every morning, your Achilles isn’t slowing you down any.”

Except it ruined my career. What is an athlete when he can’t play pro ball? A resort owner, apparently. I scowl. Resort owner was nowhere on my list of career goals.

I shake those thoughts out of my mind. I’m not going to be all melancholy on my date with the woman I’m falling for. She deserves my attention. She deserves everything.

“Do you want me to carry you?”

“Depends. How far are we going?”

“You’re not very good at handling surprises, are you?”

She shrugs. “None of my friends are.”

“Considering who your friends are, I’m not surprised.”

She elbows me. “Hey, don’t speak badly about my friends. They’re my ride and dies. If you’re with me, you’re with them.”

“I wasn’t speaking badly of them. I was merely pointing out how your friends couldn’t wait to find out where senior skip day was so they broke into the principal’s office to figure it out.”

“They should have never teased us about it being the best senior skip day ever. Who can resist the temptation?”

“Not you.” I chuckle.

“You laughed. I win!”

I shake my head. Nova is funny. What was I thinking? Avoiding her since I came home three years ago? I’ve lost three years with my funny sunshine.

We reach the resort chalets furthest from the main building.

“Are we having dinner at the resort restaurant?” Nova asks.

“No.”

“But we are going to the resort?”

“Maybe.”

She pinches me. “You’re no fun.”

“Trust me, Sunshine. I’m lots of fun.”

Her eyes flare and she licks her bottom lip. I’m tempted to touch those lips. Taste her mouth. Explore every inch of her. But I inhale a deep breath instead.

I want to give Nova a night to remember.

“Shall we?” I motion to the structure behind the main building.

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