15. Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Doug
A fter dinner, we talked as I drove to the canal walk, a place known for its scenery and romantic setting. During the day, the area was packed with families and tourists, but by nightfall, the crowd usually thinned out.
Without thinking, I raised Beth’s hand to my lips and placed a soft kiss there after I helped her out of my truck. Because I never took my gaze off her face, I saw the slight blush rise in her cheeks. If I could make her blush by kissing the back of her hand, I wondered what would happen if I slowly kissed up her arm to her neck.
Fuck. Who cares what it’ll do to her. I’m making myself hard just thinking about it. When I stepped back to close her door, I used it as cover so I could quickly adjust myself without her seeing me.
“Have you ever been here before?” I asked.
“No, but I’ve been to places like it. My friends and I used to love going to the boardwalk when I was in high school.”
I reached for Beth’s hand and smiled when she didn’t hesitate to lace her fingers with mine. Holding Beth’s small, soft hand felt like the most natural thing in the world.
It was a beautiful evening, and I considered myself lucky to be here with Beth. The sky was clear enough that we could see the crescent moon, and the light breeze coming off the canal was the perfect complement to the warm evening weather. Every few yards, a fresh smell would fill our noses as we passed by different restaurants. If we hadn’t just filled ourselves, the aromas might have been enticing.
I was taking my normal long strides as we walked, not thinking about Beth being in heels. Or walking at a relaxed pace instead of marching along like she was on a mission. I adjusted my steps to match hers.
After a few minutes, Beth stopped and turned towards the water. Lights from the restaurants and shops surrounding the canal reflected on the dark waves in rippling colors, giving the water a hypnotic quality.
“It’s pretty,” Beth said softly beside me.
“It is.” I wasn’t usually one to stop and smell the roses, or watch lights reflect on the water, but it was nice. Better than nice because I’m doing it with Beth . The colorful lights reflected in her eyes, as she watched a tour boat sailing by, giving them a magical quality. It took all my strength to break the spell, so I didn’t lean down and kiss her then and there.