Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Crispin asks as we pause just inside the restaurant door. “We only alerted a few of the more discreet journalists, so there shouldn’t be a mob.”
I take a deep breath and rest my hand on my tumultuous stomach. “I mean, I guess.”
“You don’t have to look at them or answer any questions. We just want them to get pictures of us together.”
I nod. “Let’s do this.”
He nods to the restaurant employee who waits patiently to open the door for us.
As I step into the doorway beside Crispin, the wind hits me immediately, and I grab my wrap before it slips off.
As promised, Belinda waits in the long black limo at the bottom of the stairs.
While we dined, the wind became a gale, and I’m forced to clutch my wrap with one hand and my skirt with the other.
They still whip around me as Crispin and I jog down the steps together.
My hair whips around my face as well, and I blow it out of my mouth.
Crispin jogs ahead to open the car door, and I tumble inside, hoping my skirt doesn’t blow up over my head and give the reporters an extra special view.
He slides in next to me, and I shake my hair back into place and smooth my dress over my thighs. “That wasn’t so bad.”
I chuckle breathlessly. “The wind distracted me. I wasn’t even aware of any reporters.”
“Good. But they were there, so we’ll make the tabloids by morning.”
“Are paparazzi and tabloids the celebrity version of making your relationship Facebook official?”
Crispin bites his lip. “Maybe. I’m sorry. Is it too much too soon? I just don’t want to have to sneak around.”
I grab his hand from his lap and squeeze. “It’s fine, Crispin. You know this world way better than I do, and I want you to do what you feel is best for the public side of our relationship.” I giggle. “I can’t even believe I just said those words.”
He frowns. “Which words?”
“Our relationship. I’m still pretty starstruck by you.”
His gaze heats, and he pulls my hand to his mouth to press a kiss against my knuckles. “It’s only fair. I lose all reason when you’re around.”
Lowering the privacy screen, Crispin says, “Change of plans, Belinda. Let’s go to the cove instead.”
“Got it, sir.”
He raises the screen again as he studies me. “You okay? Nothing blew away out there?”
I look down at my dress to make sure everything is in place. “I don’t believe so. That wind was crazy, though.”
“Yes. Very unfortunate. I was going to take you to the top of the world to enjoy a spectacular view of the city lights, but you’d probably blow away up there.”
“So, we’re going to 'the cove' instead? Sounds secluded.” My stomach flips thinking about being alone-alone with Crispin in a secluded place.
“It’s a beautiful spot. I hope you don’t mind that I’m not ready for this evening to end yet.”
I lean back against the seat and smile at him. “I wish this night never had to end.”
He takes my hand in his and brings it to his lips. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, birthday girl.”
His expression makes me catch my breath. I bite my lip with anticipation because the look in his eyes is promising something that my whole body is responding to.
With a slight shake of his head, his expression clears. He slides into a more comfortable position, extending his long legs across the floor in front of us. Our joined hands rest on the seat between us. “Are you looking forward to your party on Saturday?”
“I am. I can’t believe you did all this for me and you’re also throwing me a party.”
“I invited a couple more people that I know you’re friendly with. I hope you don’t mind.”
“From the set? That’s really thoughtful of you.” I bite my lip. “Is this a fancy thing? Do I need to dress up?”
He laughs. “Oh my gosh, no. Very casual. Wear sweats if you want.”
I roll my eyes. In no world could I ever do that.
The limo turns off the highway onto a side street that it’s probably too long to be driving on, based on how slow Belinda is forced to drive as she navigates over ruts and potholes. I stare out the window, but don’t see much besides shrubbery.
“Oh,” Crispin scrunches his nose and curls his lips. “You’ll probably want to lose the shoes.”
“Okay.” Honestly, I’m happy for an excuse to go barefoot. I slip them off and leave them on the floor next to Crispin’s discarded dress shoes and socks. I climb out of the car behind Crispin, forced to stand up straight to avoid a face full of leaves.
“Sorry. It’s a bit tight here, but it’ll open up past the car.
” Crispin takes my hand, walking sideways as he tries to shove aside branches for me.
I squeeze between the car and the bushes, trying not to let my dress or wrap snag on the shrubs.
The ground feels cold and sandy. “It’s good that there isn’t another car here. We might be alone.”
There is a narrow opening between the shrubs in front of the limo that Crispin guides me through.
My toes sink into softer sand, and I find myself in a clearing.
I hear the shushing of waves but can’t see them through the thick foliage surrounding us.
The headlights from the limo light up the clearing enough for me to see large red flowers with pointy yellow stamens, sprays of small purple flowers, and a constellation of white star-shaped flowers.
The air mostly smells like sea salt, but there is a soft, sweet scent as well.
I take a deep breath. “Wow, it smells amazing.”
“It’s the star jasmine.” Crispin nods toward the shrubs, but I don’t know which of the flowers are the ones he’s talking about.
Walking in sand is awkward, so I stumble into the middle of the clearing, where we are most definitely alone. “This is beautiful.”
“Oh, this isn’t the best part.” Crispin holds his hand out as he walks past. I notice he isn’t experiencing the same jilted gait that I am. Figures, he even looks good walking in sand.
We walk around a shrub into a smaller clearing that has some large rocks, smoothed by years of tides. The sweet scent is stronger in this smaller space. I breathe it in, feeling a little heady.
“Do you mind getting sandy?” Crispin asks.
I frown, not really understanding his question. “Aren’t I already?”
He sits on a rock that looks like a loveseat. A flat rock, just wide enough for two, rests against another, taller rock that acts like the backrest. Patting the empty seat beside him, he invites me. “Have a seat.”
I smile and tuck up next to him, under the arm he holds out and wraps around my shoulders. He pulls me close, his body heat acting like a shield against the cool evening breeze.
“I’m glad we have the place to ourselves,” Crispin says. “It doesn’t happen much during the day anymore.”
My heart lurches. “Oh, you bring all your dates here?”
He jerks and looks at me like I’m crazy. “What? No! This is my favorite beach, so I tuck in whenever I’m here surfing.”
“I didn’t know you surf.”
“My whole life. I think Dad had me out on a board when I was four.”
I grimace. “That seems young.”
He chuckles. “I might be exaggerating.”
I lean my head back against his shoulder and breathe in the scent again. “I’m pretty sure I’ve found a new favorite flower. That scent is intoxicating.” I find I’m speaking in low tones so as not to disturb the nature around us. “This really is a great spot. Thanks for sharing it with me.”
“Thanks for being willing to get sandy with me.”
I laugh. “I can’t believe you’re sitting in the sand in that gorgeous suit.”
“Ah, that’s why we have dry cleaners.”
I chuckle. “I’ve never even owned an article of clothing that requires dry cleaning.”
“Give it time. Soon, your closet will be filled with beaded gowns and fairy princess ball gowns.”
I squint up at him. “Why would I need those?”
“To attend premiers and award shows and fancy parties where you shmooze with directors and producers.”
I chuckle and shake my head. I can’t imagine that being my life. “Do you do all that?”
“Of course. It’s all part of it.”
“I guess I'd better get used to wearing heels then.”
Crispin chuckles and pulls me into him. For a second, his expensive cologne and clean scent are stronger than the jasmine and sea salt in the air, and I turn my head to draw in more of it.
Then I leave my cheek resting against his shoulder.
My forehead is so close to his neck, I feel the warmth of him.
I close my eyes and imagine tipping forward until my skin rests against his. A little thrill shoots through me.
We sit in silence for a bit, which gives my mind too much time to imagine what I’d like to have happen next.
My heart begins to beat faster, and soon, I can barely hear the crashing waves over the pounding in my ears.
I gulp, hoping to calm myself, but then realize my palms are now sweaty too, which means Crispin must know my temperature is rising.
Will he know why? Do I know why? Suddenly, I’m overwhelmed with insecurity and wish I was anywhere but here.
I don’t know what I’m doing, and Crispin is…
well, he’s Crispin Moore. Teen heartthrob.
The guy who has dated models and leading ladies and everyone far more sophisticated than me.
I’m just about to bolt from my seat when he disentangles his hand from mine. I’m sure it’s because he can’t handle how gross my sweaty palm is. But then his fingers rest gently against my jaw, and he turns my head to face him.
His brows arch, and concern fills his expression. “Are you okay?”
I’m so thankful his voice is low and doesn’t carry a hint of humor or accusation.
He truly seems concerned. Or maybe confused.
Join the club, Crispin. My swallow is audible, and when his gaze tracks the action all the way down my neck, a new fire lights in my core.
What is happening to me? My intelligent reply is, “Um…” because his fingers still rest feather-light against my jaw, but they feel like they are aflame.
His gaze lifts leisurely to meet mine, retracing the course up my neck.
When his eyes lock with mine, his fingers take over for his eyes, causing goosebumps to rise all over my body as they trace their way down my neck and come to rest against my clavicles.
I swallow again, and humor and heat sparks in Crispin’s gaze, which then drops to my lips.
“May I kiss you, Ari?”
His voice is so low, I think I feel it more than hear it. My stomach lurches with some strange response, like it wants to force my entire body forward against him.
“You want to kiss me?” I literally have no idea why I asked that. Maybe I’m trying to stall so he doesn’t learn how completely novice I am at this boy-girl thing.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since you stormed away from me in wardrobe that first day I met you.”
I jerk back to look at him. “What? That’s weird.” My voice is no longer quiet. As a matter of fact, it sounded like I yelled, even though I used a normal tone.
He chuckles, his gaze hops between my eyes and my lips. “I agree. It was an unexpected reaction that had me bespelled by you from that moment forward.”
I stare at him with a doubtful look as I imagine him filled with the desire to kiss me after being so rude. “That literally makes no sense.”
Tilting his head, he takes in all of me. “I think it was at that moment that my mind and body recognized what an incredible, independent, smart, and capable woman you are. At the risk of sounding like a caveman, I think I wanted to claim you as mine.”
My mouth drops open, then I snap it closed, because as caveman-ny as that is, it’s also flipping hot.
Especially since he didn’t give in to his base instincts.
That would have been gross. But now that I know he isn’t that guy, I imagine what it would have been like for him to stalk after me, take me in his arms, and kiss me silly.
I bite my lips. “Cavemen are kind of hot.”
He chuckles, and his hand skims up my neck to cup my face. “I’m going to kiss you now.”
“Bring it, caveman,” I whisper.
We’re both grinning when our lips touch, but the jolt of heat and brush of velvet shocks the smile off my face.
His lips move expertly against mine, and I turn my mind off so I can just enjoy the sensation and not worry if I’m responding properly.
And boy, do I enjoy the sensation. It isn’t anything like I anticipated kissing him would be.
I thought he’d be somehow more selfish, but he is all about taking his time getting to know my lips.
I feel myself melting against him, and suddenly my hand is wrapping around his neck, and my fingers are burying themselves into his silken hair.
I tilt my head so our lips are better aligned, and I sigh, which makes him lean into me more.
The kiss deepens, his tongue sweeps my lips open, and a foreign little sound I’ve never made before – like a moan – escapes me. Crispin pulls me closer, and I feel like my head is going to explode in the best way.
Without warning, he lessens the pressure against my lips and is no longer pulling me against him. His lips slow, and he breaks contact. My eyes pop open because I wonder if I did something wrong, but his eyes remain closed as he tips his forehead against mine.
His breathing is fast, and it feathers across my face and neck when he touches his nose to mine. Finally, he opens his eyes. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get so carried away.”
I blink. With his face so close, I can’t read his expression, but I can feel him struggle for control. It’s scary and exciting to know I can make him feel that way.
“That was…” He closes his eyes for a beat. “You are intoxicating.”
I smile as he pulls back.
“But it’s important to me that we take this slow. So, I’ll be better.”
I bite my tongue. “I mean…I liked it, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
I swear I feel when his gaze drops to my lips. “I’m glad to hear that, but I am more worried about keeping myself in check.”
“Oh!”
He leans in and gives me a leisurely kiss before suggesting, “Maybe we should go.”
I could sit on this rock and kiss him until the sun comes up, but I don’t want him to be miserable, so I nod and accept his help to stand. As I follow him back to the car, something about the sand clinging to his expensive black suit fills me with happiness.