Page 94 of Risks

“Good. It is always there for youboth.” She angles her head, soft blueish eyes glistening as she observes us.“Your love shines. I saw it last time you were here.”

“Indeed,” Grandpa Kirby adds andclicks his tongue. “It is funny that my silly son and Lisa didn’t notice.”

Grandma Kirby chuckles. “Who careswhat anyone thinks. You’re lovely together. It is adorable to see.”

Varen and I share a look, and herubs my thigh under the table.

We stroll around the breathtakingproperty following breakfast, catching up while enjoying the warm, sunny day.Then we stop at the stables to check out the horses.

“Must go riding before you leave,”Grandpa Kirby encourages.

“That would be nice. I enjoyedriding the last time I was here.”

“You just like to ride, huh,” Varenteases under his breath while brushing the mane of one of the horses.

Heat rises in my neck and face. Ibump his arm and check if his grandparents heard.

Thankfully, they haven’t.

One can become preoccupied and losetime without feeling bored on such a lavish estate. We have lunch in the gardenand talk more over cards and board games. Before we know it, it’s dinnertime, atwhich the Kirbys allow us to have a bit of wine with them.

When it starts to get late, Varenand I call it a night and mosey back to the cottage.

He holds me from behind afterclosing the door and splays kisses on my neck, making me giggle.

“Tomorrow, let’s go for a drive.There are places I didn’t get to show you last time.”

“Okay.” I turn and kiss himpassionately.

He caresses my face when it comes toan end. “Want to chill on the patio and stargaze?”

I nod. “Sounds good to me.”

Varen grabs a blanket, and we stepout the kitchen door into the garden. He lights the firepit and relaxes on theloveseat with me, holding me tightly under the blanket as I snuggle into hisside.

“This is just what we needed,” hesays in a close whisper.

“Yeah,” I agree, staring at thestar-speckled sky and full moon. “It certainly feels good being here.”

After a moment, he asks, “How was itwith your grandparents over the weekend?”

“They’re both great. My grandfather,Odell, has a shit ton of books. Laila has a collection of old-school musicrecords and loves DIY stuff. They shared a lot with me in just a few days. Ican’t wait to see them again.” A smile curls my lips as I continue. “They’rekind, funny, and full of love, not only with how they treat people but witheach other.” I pause a moment, recalling Ms. Laila’s wise words. “She said thatthings would work out so long as there’s communication, and I agree.”

Thinking about Jasper’s kiss on mycheek, I ease away and meet Varen’s gaze. As much as I don’t want to ruin themood, I feel bad about keeping it a secret from him. No matter how small itseems.

He crumples his brows, studying me.“What’s up?”

“Varen, um...” I bite my bottom lip.

His scowl deepens. “Toya, didsomething happen with your grandparents?”

“No, I just… I have something totell you. We promised to always be truthful.”

His Adam’s apple bobs at a hardswallow. “Okay.”

“Um, that day when I went tocelebrate getting the internship... Well, the thing is...”

“Yeah?”

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