Page 29 of Bad Ruck

"I wouldn't have picked you for a romantic," I admitted. I clinked my glass lightly on his and took a sip.

"I'm not usually. For the right person…" Glass held carefully in one hand, he tangled his fingers in my hair and pulled me in for a kiss.

"That's so sweet." He tasted of sparkling wine and mint, having brushed his teeth before we left the campground.

"You're sweet." He snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me to him, facing us both to the east.

The ocean sparkled in front of us, golden with the first rays of the morning sun. Gradually, the sky turned yellow, then pink, before that gave way to blue.

This was going to be a glorious day and here we were, floating above the ground, seeing it begin.

Gavin served us breakfast of croissants, fruit and yoghurt while we admired the view, and enjoyed each other's company. Like always, Ramsey didn't say much, but he conveyed a lot from glances and brushes of his hand over my cheek, and the occasional kiss.

I could almost forget Gavin was there, operating the balloon. He stayed behind us, quiet and discreet. Letting us enjoy the beautiful morning.

"This was worth getting up early for," I said with a sigh. The ocean was spread out in front of us, and the stunning green landscape behind. We floated over valleys dotted with houses, and beaches and inlets.

"Told you," Ramsey said, looking smug.

I shoved my shoulder into his arm. "What if you were wrong?"

He scoffed. "I'm never wrong. Anyway, I knew you'd like this. It's calm."

"I certainly needed some calm after the last few weeks," I agreed. This was so relaxing, I could have happily stayed here for hours. Frankly, the idea of getting on a plane and going back to Australia, back to reality, sucked.

"Me too," he agreed.

I slid him a glance. Everything that was going on, he’d been dealing with it for longer than the other guys. Maybe even longer than Atlas and Jay. Yes, I knew about the dark side of Dusk Bay, but he'd lived it. He needed this break as much as I did, possibly more.

"You think anyone would notice if we bought one of those cottages down there and ran away?" I gestured towards the ground with my champagne glass.

"Yes, but it's tempting," he said ruefully. His gaze lingered on a cottage as we floated past. If he had a parachute, he might jump down and never be seen again. If there were two parachutes, I might follow him.

"It really is," I said softly. "But we'd both miss the team and our families."

"Unless it's a seven bedroom house," he said.

"Frost would love that." I smiled, picturing the expression on his face. I didn't know how he'd feel about living in New Zealand, but he'd love the idea of a house big enough for all of us.

"Maybe we can find something like that when we get home. Something away from the city and all the craziness." A big sprawling house on a hundred acres sounded right to me. No neighbours nearby to bother us. We could scream and shout, and play music as loud as we liked. We could fuck in every room and all over the property if we wanted to. No one would be there to see it but us.

"I'm in," Ramsey said.

"Me too. Now we just have to convince Storm." He was very attached to his apartment. Or maybe it was the idea that the space was his and we just lived in it. Someday, he’d have to accept that a space was ours, not just his.

"He can come, or get left behind," Ramsey said dryly. "That'll convince him."

I laughed softly. "Good point. He won't want to be left out." I could just imagine his irritation when he thought that might happen. We'd earn some of his best glares.

Ramsey chuckled. "Nope." He held me closer as the balloon started to descend, back towards the airfield.

"This was perfect," I said with a sigh. "Thank you."

He kissed my temple. "Of course. Anything for my beautiful woman." Before I could respond to that, he said, "I fell for you the moment I saw you." He rested the side of his head against mine and exhaled softly. Once again, saying more without words than he ever did with them.

"You intrigued me," I said. "You're not loud like some of the others. You're quiet, but intense."

"That's me," he said simply, silently owning the moment.

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