Chapter Seventeen
Any reservation or hint of guilt Amber felt about being out with another man had long ago disappeared.
Only sheer excitement remained.
This was right for her and Aaron. Such a dynamic might not work in other relationships. In fact, it wasn’t for the majority of couples, she opined.
But it was for them. And there was no need to fight it any longer.
The restaurant was quaint and romantic without being fancy, and the conversation between her and Grant flowed easily. He asked questions about her past, her job, and just her thoughts on various topics.
After dinner, they took a nice stroll around the resort’s grounds, enjoying the sounds of a summer night along with the muted hues of the setting sun.
They were about fifteen minutes into the walk when Grant reached for her hand. Shockwaves rippled through her body. She prayed he couldn’t tell how excited—and nervous—she truly was.
Try not to seem completely pathetic, Amber. Act like you’ve done this before.
“It’ll be dark soon,” he noted.
She tried to respond, but it was difficult with her breath caught in her throat.
“Would you like me to walk you back to your cottage?”
Again, Amber tried to answer, but she was having trouble actually forming words.
A few seconds later, Grant said, “Or we could go to my place and continue the conversation. And if you aren’t ready to be inside, a nighttime walk doesn’t bother me, either. Whatever you’d like.”
She knew she needed to say something fast, or he might mistake her silence for apprehension rather than excitement.
Walking off the perfectly paved path and into a clearing of lush, green grass with the overhang of large trees forming a canopy, she tugged on his hand, leading him toward a bench. Maybe that would be a good place to sit and talk, where she could explain exactly what was going on inside her.
They were almost there when a loud hissing sound suddenly split the still night. It was way too loud to be a snake, and besides, it seemed to be coming from all directions.
That steady hiss was soon accompanied by crisp, ticking clicks as jets of water started flying all around them.
Amber laughed, screamed, and jumped onto Grant, as if he could protect her from the barrage of the sprinklers. Catching her, he staggered back a few paces but managed to stay on his feet.
The only problem was that sent them directly into the path of a sprinkler behind them. Grant’s back took the brunt of the blast, but Amber still got some residual spray.
“I think that’s our sign to get out of here!” she said.
“I think you’re right,” he said. Putting her down, he kept ahold of her hand as they ran back toward the walkway.
There was no other path than through the blinding barrage. By the time they reached the sidewalk, they were soaked.
“Oh my gosh!” Amber said.
“Okay, that wasn’t supposed to be part of our date,” Grant told her.
She giggled some more but stopped as their eyes locked.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as their lips inched closer together. The kiss was a tender one—sweet and slow as Grant gently caressed the side of her face. Before pulling away, he lingered just a moment, keeping her bottom lip in his mouth, as if savoring the taste for an extra second or two.
So many emotions flooded over Amber—but surprisingly, none of them were negative.
Even though she’d just kissed a man other than her husband, at that moment, she felt even closer to Aaron. It was the trust and intimacy they shared—their bond and profound connection—that gave her the freedom to have this amazing experience.
She was struck by how much she utterly loved the life they’d built and the adventure they were embarking on.
How much she loved Aaron.
And by how much she wanted Grant.
“Take me to your place.”
Grant smiled with a little nod before grabbing her hand and leading her away.