McKenzie Cousins Box Set 1

She offers me a small smile. “Thank you for that.” Her arms go around my waist and her head rests against my chest. “This is my first date,” she whispers.

My arms tighten around her shoulders, as my heart takes a leap toward hers. “Then lets make sure that it’s special.”

35

Brooke

Walking toward Oia, Santorini’s artisan village, I can’t help the feeling that this is right as Michael drapes an arm around my neck. He feels really good beside me, like he was always meant to be there...just the two of us on a romantic stroll toward the restaurant on the cliff. Every now and again, he places a kiss to the top of my head.

The only shadow on the whole night is worry over what my sister is going to do or say when she finds out about tonight. She isn’t going to be happy.

“Stop thinking so hard.” Michael squeezes my shoulders. “Don’t worry about your sister, Brooke. Now I know what she’s like, I’m not going to believe anything unless it comes out of your mouth.”

I feel a huge sigh of relief at those words. “Thank you.”

He smiles and looks off into the distance. I follow his gaze and grin like an idiot. “You’re taking me to my favorite restaurant?”

“You bet.”

“How?”

“I may have overheard you talking with your mom,” he raises a brow. “Hope you don’t mind?”

Chuckling, I wrap myself around him. “I don’t mind at all.” My arms slip around his neck while he secures me against him with his strong hands around my waist. “Have you been into the village since you’ve been here?”

“No, but I’ve heard wonderful things about this restaurant.”

“You’ll hear good things about a lot of restaurants on this Island.”

He leans in and captures my lips in a sweet kiss, making my heart pound as heat rises through me. When he removes his lips, the look in his eyes causes my breath to catch in the back of my throat. “Dinner,” he whispers. He brushes the side of my face with his fingers. “I need to keep reminding myself to go slow.”

“I might be inexperienced, but I really don’t need you to go slow.”

He smiles. “I won’t always go slow, but tonight I will. I want you to experience the perfect first date. That will make me happy.”

I reach up and kiss him on the cheek. “You’re a good man, Michael McKenzie.”

“Shush,” he chuckles, “don’t tell anyone.”

Laughing, I roll my eyes.

He takes my hand and, before I can catch my breath, we’re being shown to our table on the balcony with the most amazing view of the sea—the stars bright in the moonless sky. Just a sea of diamonds laid out before us.

“I’ve only been to this restaurant once before. When my father was in the process of buying land here. It’s my favorite though and one of the most romantic.”

“I haven’t left the villa since I’ve been here, unless it had anything to do with work.” He shrugs. “I can’t tell you how good it feels to get away with such a beautiful woman.” He takes my hand and holds it on the top of the table.

“Are you trying to sweet talk me?” I ask, tilting my head and watching him.

His eyes sparkle. “Is it working?”

“Yes, but you don’t need to.”

“I know that.” He squeezes my hand, keeping it in his hold as the waiter takes our order.

“Why haven’t you eaten here again, if it’s your f

avorite place?” he asks, lifting my hand and placing a kiss on my knuckles.