Page 24 of The Bride's Secret

He stood and pulled her up in front of him. Then he ran his hands down her arms and pulled her close for a hug. As his arms wrapped around her, his already hot skin warming her own, he said, “this whole trip has been eye opening in every way.” He stepped away and tipped his head down to look into her eyes. “You keep thanking me, and I’ll just make things perfectly clear.” He kissed her cheek.

She tilted her head up.

He kissed her other cheek, then her forehead. He ran his lips along her nose and her jawline. By the time he got close to her mouth, her toes were curled in the sand and knees weak. He pressed his lips at the side of her mouth and the other side and then once, he let his lips cover hers.

Their softness pressed into hers once, again. Then he stepped away. “I’m falling for you Angel Fire.”

She couldn’t speak.

He turned and pulled his shorts on.

So she did the same. They both carried their shirts and shoes and headed toward the path.

“Wyatt Jackson you’re gonna be the death of me.”

He chuckled, low, the sound tripping around in her belly. “Am I now?” His eyes flashed. “And what if you’re the death of me first?”

She skipped ahead and called back over her shoulder. “Then I guess we’ll be in heaven together.”

He caught up with her and they both sat to put on their shoes. “Here we go for the incline. You up for it?” Wyatt’s concern warmed her, but was totally unnecessary.

“I’ll be fine, you?” her eyes flashed a challenge.

“Ho ho. Do I smell a race?”

“Do you think you can keep up?”

“Oh little lady. This is gonna be something. You are so on. We’ll take this in pieces. To the first switchback.”

“The second.”

He nodded. “Okay, the second.”

“You’re on!” She hopped up and took off running.

Wyatt was close at her feet, laughing as he ran. She didn’t think he did anything without full intent behind it. Intentional. That was a great word for Wyatt, one she vowed to be more herself. If she’d moved forward intentionally with Heath instead of just letting the relationship fall down around her, she could have saved herself a lot of headache, heartache and embarrassment.

They both reached the second switchback at the same time and again, Carisa knew he was pacing himself to tie with her. She didn’t mind. She rested her hands on her thighs and caught her breath for a second. “Ok, two more switchbacks.”

“These are long. You wouldn’t remember since you rode the whole way…” His teasing face was so adorable she almost kissed him right there but instead she just took off running. “Let me know if you can’t keep up.”

His feet pounded in the dirt behind her, racing to catch up, and then kept pace with her until they reached the second switchback. It was a killer, and she nearly sat on the dirt to catch her breath.

They continued all the way to the top and then she clambered up on his back again to walk across the hot lava fields. “I could get used to this.”

“I think I already have.”

They were silent the rest of the way, Carisa wondering how she could possibly keep Wyatt in her life.

Chapter 11

The next morning, Wyatt got a text from Miss Spagnoli.You haven’t called. Are you free this afternoon?

He checked to see if Carisa was paying attention and felt guilty about the whole situation. But he argued his guilt away. First of all, Caris and he had no understanding. Second of all, this was a business meeting more than anything as far as he was concerned. But third of all, she had made it obvious that she was interested in other things besides business.

He responded.You’re on my mind. I’m free. What should we do?

How about your resort? Just drinks would be fabulous.

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