Page 9 of Adam

He withdrew his hand quickly. “I’m sorry, did that hurt?”

“No, it… when it’s like this, I can’t feel anything.” She knocked her knuckles against the hardened skin. “See, nothing. But when you touched it I felt a zap, like a tingle.” She stared up at him for several seconds and cleared her throat. “Why haven’t I noticed your scar before?”

Adam’s face went sheet white. “Pardon?”

“The scar that runs through your left eye. I’ve never noticed it before.”

He slowly reached up to touch the old wound. Something about what she’d said had taken him by surprise. She could see him trying to come up with an explanation when he finally flashed a sly grin. “Maybe my charm and handsomeness blinded you before.”

She laughed and nodded her head. “You’re probably right.”

“We’ve got to get you down this hill and back to the car.”

“Are you going to call a rescue crew?”

The look on his face was pure bewilderment. “No, I’m going to carry you down the hill.”

She laughed. “You can’t carry me, Adam.”

Again, confusion colored his expression, “Why can’t I?”

“Why? Because I’m not a dainty little lady. Have you seen these thick thighs?”

Did he just lick his lips?

Adam leaned in and let his eyes roam her body with a heated gaze. “Oh yes, I’ve seen them, I’ve watched the way you move, the way you walk, I’ve studied every inch of you any moment I can. You are delicious, you are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I’m caring you down that hill.”

Her cheeks burned. “I…umm… thank you, but I still don’t think you can carry me all the way there.”

“Darling, I could carry you all the way back to the city one-handed without breaking a sweat.”

She tossed her head back with a laugh. “Now you’re just bragging.”

A mischievous grin spread across his face. “Want me to prove it?”

Ella shook her head, still giggling. “No, no, I’ll take your word for it.”

Without another word, Adam scooped her up and started down the hill. She wrapped her arms around his neck and breathed in his woodsy scent. And to her surprise, he hadn’t been lying about being able to carry her. He glided down the path effortlessly. as if she were as light as a feather. His calmness eased her worry about her newest injury, and she relaxed against him as he brought her back to the car.

Lowering her in the back seat, he brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes and whispered. “I’m still giving you that sunset view of the ocean. But first we need to get you looked at. Okay?

She nodded and when he entered the other side of the car and slid in next to her, she welcomed it when he pulled her against him and held her as the driver made the trek back into the city.

CHAPTER5

Adam was sendingoff texts left and right, and the car ride seemed to be taking longer than she expected. Ella sat up a little more and looked out the window to see a completely different landscape with the ocean in the distance. She stared at the sprawling houses, feeling slightly out of her element given the people they passed by on the street.

“Where are we? I thought we were going back to the hotel.” She asked with her face still practically pressed to the window.

“Malibu, I can’t show you a sunset on the ocean from the hotel.”

“Oh,” She blushed. “Do you own a hotel out here too?”

“Nope, this is my home.” He said it so casually, she almost missed it until he added. “This is where I prefer to be if I’m not at the hotel.”

“You really love that place, don’t you?”

He nodded. “It keeps me busy, I love my staff, and it keeps me close to my kids.”

---