Page 39 of Falling

“Looks like I already have.”

I can feel my face flame bright red. You’d think it wouldn’t embarrass me anymore. The fact she can turn me on just by speaking isn’t exactly a secret.

“Just sit there and read your book,” I mumble, and she laughs. But she has pity on me and pulls her book from her door pocket.

“Do you want me to read out loud to keep you awake?”

“Is it one of your banned romances?”

“Of course.”

“Then, no thank you. My jeans are tight enough as it is.”

She laughs again. Opening her book, she settles in to read.

There’s a small smile on her mouth. Thankfully, the near-drowning hasn’t seemed to have affected her too much.

I don’t understand why she can’t see how strong she is. Not many people can come away from that without suffering adverse effects. She seems to have just chalked it up to another life experience.

It’s dark by the time we pull into Santa Fe, New Mexico. I don’t know what it is about this town, but I’ve always loved it. One of the first projects Rand and I worked on was here. I got to know my way around pretty well in the weeks I spent working. The hotel I chose sits right in the city center. We’ll be able to walk to everything.

“This is lovely,” she says as we pull into one of the historic hotels.

“Let’s check in,” I say. “Then we’ll find somewhere to eat we can walk to.”

“That sounds perfect. I’m ready to stretch my legs.”

We climb out of the SUV. I grab our bags while she collects our coats. It’s turned cold here. The check-in process is easy. We’re shown to our suite in record time. Leaving our bags, we walk back down to the lobby. After getting several recommendations for dinner, we head out.

“Ohhh, it feels good to get out of your car for a while. What are you thinking you want to eat?” she asks.

“Southwest. What else?” She loops her arm through mine as I steer her across the street. “I haven’t had a good bowl of posole in a long time.”

“I’m on board as long as it heats me up.”

I pull her against my body to keep her warm. My arm drapes around her shoulders. She doesn’t elbow me in the ribs like she would have just a week ago. Instead, her arm wraps around my waist.

I’m tempted to lead us around town for a while just so I don’t have to let her go. She’s cold though, so I lead us just one more block to the restaurant. We’re led to a table.

“What’s the plan tomorrow?” she asks once we’re seated.

“You wanted to shop. Art, jewelry, clothes, anything you want.”

“Careful, Peter. You’ll make me come with all that foreplay.”

“I’ve got plenty more where that came from.”

“Umm,” a waiter who can’t be out of high school says. “I’ll come back.” He skitters off like he’s on fire. I’m not sure we’ll see him again tonight.

“Peter Winsloe,” she chides. “You really should learn to behave.”

“If I don’t, will you spank me later?”

“Don’t make offers you can’t keep.”

“Oh god,” the waiter says next to our table. So he did come back. We can’t help it; we burst out laughing. Now we’re scandalizing the next generation. Does that mean we’ve moved up?

I watch as Geneva placates him by placing a drink order. She winks at me, and all I want to do is yell how much I love this woman. I’m in trouble.

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