36. Chapter 35
Leo
Leo - I may have deviated from the plan.
Kai - Again?
Kai - Do you want to live happily ever after with your wife?
Kai - Details now! And don’t leave anything out.
Kai - Don’t go rogue on me.
Kai - Answer me!
Kai - If you don’t reply I’m coming down there
Leo - Don’t you dare
Kai - He lives!
Leo - I may have deviated but trust me it’s for the best
Kai - The best? I’ll be the judge of that. I’ll be in your office in the morning
Ria sips on her tea, as she scribbles down answers to the crossword in her newspaper with a content smile on her lips. “You’re staring.”
“How can you tell?” Leaning forward and resting my elbows on the table, I continue to stare at her and how she seems to be fucking glowing in the early morning sun.
“A woman can always tell when a man’s eyes are on her.” Smiling down at her newspaper, she makes another mark with her pen, the sunlight bouncing off the ring on her wedding finger, and I spin mine.
“It’s hard not to look at you. I told you that earlier.”
“Yes, but I was wearing next to nothing and now I’m in leggings and a baggy sweater.” She raises her gaze to mine and lifts her brow. “My hair is messy and I have zero makeup. I’m in no way irresistible to look at.”
“You are to me.”
Cocking her head to the side, she narrows her eyes. “What has gotten into you?”
“Are you ready for that walk?” I say softly.
She places her pen down and looks at me with questioning eyes. “Deflecting?”
I shrug, still watching her, and she rolls her eyes. “Why would you want to take a walk?”
“I said I’d take you for a walk through the grounds this morning.” I stand and offer her my hand.
“You meant that?”
“Of course.” I frown.
“Sorry.” She places her hand in mine, rising with me.
“I know you did.” Sighing, she leans into my chest, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders as we walk toward the tranquil gardens.
“It’s just Ezra always said he would do these things but then he would make an excuse to get out of them.
He never understood why I enjoyed things like this so much.
” My muscles lock at the mention of his name.
“And I’ve now ruined this perfect morning by mentioning my ex. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” I force myself to relax. “I understand why you enjoy this. You’ve always been calmer in these types of environments. Living in the city is convenient because of your job, which I know you love, but you thrive in quiet and tranquility. Your plants and gardens give you that.”
“How do you know me so well?” she whispers.
“I pay attention.” I shrug as we reach the clearing that is full of unique flowers and a contrast to the perfectly manicured lawns and shrubs in the patio area.
It is wilder and awash with vibrant colors.
Bees fly between the mixture of roses, lavender, and pink and red fuchsias.
The large oak in front of us casts a shadow over the white wooden bench underneath, and my lips curve up in a smile as a tiny rabbit spots us approaching before hopping away.
“Oh my goodness,” Ria gasps at my side. “Did you know this was here?”
“I did.”
“But how?” Her eyes sparkle up at me as we pause to a stop in the center of the space that looks like it has been pulled straight from a British historical romance novel.
“I came with Rebecca when she dropped our luggage off yesterday, and when I saw the grounds, I knew I needed to take a proper look.” Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, I continue. “And I stumbled into here and knew you’d love it.”
Reaching up, she kisses the corner of my mouth and I freeze.
Last night and this morning is weighing heavy on my mind, because we haven’t spoken about it or how she feels.
I don’t want to overstep if she just got wrapped up in the moment.
Hunter’s words roll around my head—she doesn’t do one-night stands.
I don’t want just one night with her.
I want all my nights with her.
“Thank you,” she whispers, her hot breath lingering against my skin.
Swallowing, I hold back, but my fingers dust down the column of her neck, and her skin pebbles under my touch.
Her hands move to grasp the back of my head, twisting her fingers into the hair at the nape of my neck.
Pulling me down, she places another tentative kiss to my lips, but this time I return it, taking her lips in a slow, meaningful way.
It’s not hurried or rushed. As I wrap her up in my arms, she melts into me, her curves pressing against my rough, sharp edges, and I revel in the soft moans that fall from her lips as I continue to kiss her slowly.
I pour everything into the kiss, hopefully showing her that I’m in this with her.
Pressing my tongue against the seam of her lips, I deepen the kiss when she opens for me.
She takes everything I give her, and her hands slide from my hair to rest on my shoulders before she pulls away, her breaths coming quick and fast as her gaze darts between my eyes. “What are we doing?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t want to stop.”