Page 36 of Sin City Lights

He had chosen a white polo embroidered with the LarsAir logo but paired it with his sister’s gift last Christmas: black swim shorts with a blue airplane print. She had informed him that he’d become too uptight and dared him to wear them in public. He’d tossed them in his suitcase at the last minute. Normally, he would’ve picked something plain, but, hey, if they might make Eve smile, he thought he’d give them a shot.

It worked. The moment she laid eyes on him after she thoroughly checked out his biceps and his pecs, she looked down at his shorts and giggled.

“Really, Adam?”

Eve Layton, giggling. That was a first. He shrugged and gave her a lopsided grin.“My sister likes to give me gag gifts.”

That set the mood for a very pleasant trek down to the restaurant.The Ritz was huge, and getting there took a while. They paused to admire one of the paintings hanging on the walls of the very long corridors.

Eve stared at it, enchanted, eyes riveted to the bright silver moon shining in the night sky, reflected in rippling dark blue water.“That looks like you,” she softly said.

“Like me?” Adam stared blankly at the painting. He and art had never jibed.

She nodded.“First of all, that’s the exact color of your hair.”

He had to smile. Now that he looked at it, she was right.“Is there a second of all?”

She shrugged.“Just a feeling.”

He gazed at her a second longer, wanting to ask her what she meant but then decided it was best to drop it.

Art could wait. Food couldn’t.

Eve

They rode the elevator down, then descended a wide stone staircase to the pool and beach level. It didn’t take long to reach the outdoor seating at Saint June restaurant, and Eve was glad to see there were sizable umbrellas to shield them from the scorching sun.

Adam pulled out her chair and then settled in the opposing seat. As he perused the menu, the ocean breeze feathered his bright hair, which, she noted, looked even lighter in the strong beachside light. She wanted to thread her fingers into it and—

“Fish tacos look good,” he said.“So does the lemon chicken.”

You look good.

She forced her eyes back to the menu.“We can get both and split them.”

“Let’s do it. And I highly recommend their piña coladas.”

The waitress soon arrived with their drinks and food, and they ate in silence for a while. After the long trip, Eve was ravenous.

The piña colada was one of the best she’d ever had. Creamy coconut with a hint of pineapple and a dark rum swirl throughout, the smooth drink was irresistible. Eve sucked on the straw, and before she knew it, she had downed half, which, in retrospect, hadn’t been a good idea.

“These sneak up on you.” Her cheeks and chest felt warm.

He smiled.“They are strong.” He dipped his taco in the lime aioli.

“So, where were we with the questions game?”

His sapphire eyes held hers.“The hidden talent.”

“Ah, yes, that.” She laughed and speared a piece of chicken.

He focused on her mouth for a beat.“Can you really do that?”

She patted her lips with her napkin.“Do what?”

“The cherry thing.”

“You mean, knot the stem? Absolutely. Get me a cherry with a stem, and I’ll prove it.”

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