“I really like what you did with your hair,” Cliff mentioned as he moved the car onto the street.
“Thanks. I was tricked, as you know.”
“Not all surprises are bad ones.”
“True. So, tell me, where did you get this car?”
“I just borrowed it. It seemed like the occasion warranted a nicer vehicle than the truck.”
He appeared almost embarrassed at the admission and Alexis couldn’t help but reach over and grip his forearm. Cliff released his hold on the steering wheel and turned his hand over, interlacing their fingers together.
“I prefer you with the truck,” she told him, hoping to ease his discomfort. “It suits you.”
The car maneuvered over the winding roads taking them out of town and further into the mountains, Alexis admired the trek through the forest and meadows. As they approached a valley between the mountains, a large wooden and stone structure came into sight and Alexis gasped in awe at the enormousness of the place.
“This was where Avery and Logan had their first date. I thought that maybe it was good luck. I hope that it is okay,” he explained as he parked the car in the gravel-filled lot.
“It’s more than okay. I can’t wait to see the inside.”
Whatever she had expected before, this was not it. The room, though cavernous and dark, gave a sense of warmth and intimacy in the space. She was amazed at the luxurious offerings the winery and restaurant provided.
She and Cliff sampled the filet mignon and pecan-encrusted halibut for dinner, both of them exclaiming each bite as the best. They split a dessert of chocolate mousse and the creamy texture was so decadent that Alexis continued to steal extra bites when Cliff wasn’t looking.
“Are you having a good time?” he asked nervously, the tips of his fingers running circles around the condensation of his water glass.
“I’m having a great time. I. . .ugh. . .have a confession to make.”
His ears perked up as the spinning on his glass stopped. “Really? What’s that?”
“I’ve. . .never been on a date before.” Taking a deep breath, she rushed out, “I cannot believe I just told you that.”
“No, I’m glad. I don’t want any secrets between us. And I find that fact hard to believe.”
“Hard to believe, but true. Dates when you work all of the
time are few and far between.”
“That makes sense, I suppose.”
“Now, I do believe you said no secrets.”
“True, I did,” he said clasping her hands in his from across the table. “I promised myself that I would wait until a better time, but I think we should get it out of the way now.”
Alexis gripped Cliff’s hands tighter, both worry and excitement cresting in her veins. The conversation at the salon ran in her mind and she hoped that he’ll finally tell her what his actual name was. She hadn’t wanted to ask, afraid that it was a soft spot for him, wanting to wait for him to tell her himself, but curiosity had been eating away at her.
“Sure.”
She held her breath, anticipating his secret, wanting to have an authentic look of surprise.
“Dylan, Preston, and I. . .we think you should work for Logan at the clinic until your father appears.”
Chapter Eight
It had been five days, seven hours, and thirty-four minutes since Alexis stopped speaking to him. After their date and his suggestion that she work in disguise with Logan at the clinic, she had argued vehemently on the car ride home, but he wasn’t changing his mind. He promised her that it was only temporary, but he knew she didn’t believe him. He didn’t believe himself either.
Between her bout of curses and name-calling Cliff tried to explain that she could easily blend in at the location with the scrubs and mask as needed. When Logan had suggested it, Cliff saw a way to protect her that he hadn’t before. He was actually willing to use the assistance of others. Didn’t she see how big of a step that was for him? Apparently not, because for the fourth night in a row, he woke on the couch.
God, he missed waking with her in his arms, with her body curled up against his, their slow breaths working in unison. It wasn’t just the sex or the intimacy, he just missed her – Alexis, the woman he loved.