At least I worked off some extra calories, I thought with a smile as I browsed the limited takeout options in Tulip.
The doorbell rang and I let out a startled gasp as I realized another twenty minutes had passed. “Dang it!” Tossing the menus on the kitchen table, I giddily made my way towards the door, feeling like I did back in tenth grade when I first started to notice Stone as something other than my best friend. I pulled the door open and grinned at the picture he made, standing there with an oversized sunflower held out to me. “Hey.”
“Hey back,” he said with a lazy grin and stepped into my space, forcing me to step back with a breathless smile. “You smell good,” he said and nuzzled my neck, swiping his tongue along the racing pulse at the base of my throat. “Taste good too.”
“Th-Thanks,” I stammered out as his hand brushed across my stomach. “Dinner’s not ready. Yet. And not because I forgot-,” Before I could explain, Stone captured my lips in a hot, intense kiss that stole my breath. Right there in the hallway, he pressed his big body against me, trapping me between him and the wall while he made sweet love to my mouth.
“No worries about dinner. I have a surprise that requires you to pack a bag.”
I blinked, trying to catch up with the conversation but my brain was still cloudy from that scorching hot kiss. “What? Why?”
“I mean you don’t have to pack a bag. I have no problem with keeping you naked all weekend. But you might not want strangers staring at your sexy naked body.”
I blinked, mouth wide open at his words. Surprise. All weekend. “Wait, what’s going on?”
“We’re going away. For the weekend.”
I frowned. “We are?” My chest pounded at the thought that I’d forgotten something as important as a weekend away.
He nodded slowly as his lips spread into a slow grin. “I wanted it to be a surprise. A romantic surprise,” he corrected with an even bigger smile. “So I booked us two nights at a B&B for the weekend because I thought it would be nice to go out in public without technically being seen.”
His words were lighthearted enough but I knew it had to bother him that I still insisted on keeping things private, but things were so good between us. They were really good between us and I just wanted to preserve that. Who knew what would happen when the outside world intruded on our little bubble? “Even though I don’t like surprises, this is a really sweet one Stone.”
“That’s me, the sweet one,” he said and puffed his chest out like a superhero before he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the living room. “So, are we going or staying?”
I knew this meant a lot to Stone and the truth was, his little romantic gestures made me feel good. Cherished and yeah, even loved. “Going. I need ten minutes.”
He barked out a laugh. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”
“Then prepare to become a believer, oh ye of little faith.” I dashed into my room and grabbed two pairs of jeans and a few blouses, filling most of my small leather duffel bag with sexy lingerie that would drive him wild. All weekend long. I tossed in a few toiletries and hair products, and two pairs of shoes when the one minute warning chirped on my phone. “Done,” I said proudly and dropped the bag on the living room floor with a satisfied smile.
“I’m impressed.” Without another word, Stone picked up my bag and headed towards the door, apparently eager to get on the road.
With Stone already headed towards the car, I turned off the lights and the timer on my coffee machine, and joined him. “In a hurry?”
“Maybe I’m just eager to walk around town and hold your hand. Or maybe I’m a big fan of vacation tchotchkes.” He shrugged and put the car in gear, a playful smile lighting up his handsome face.
I laughed and shook my head. “Then I’ll be sure to find you the perfect souvenir while we’re away.” I wanted to know more about where we were going and why Stone had chosen the particular bed and breakfast he had, but he wanted it to be a surprise and I wanted that too. Mostly. “So where are we headed?”
“It’s a place Preston told me about on my last trip to Tulip, actually. He said even Nina had been impressed with the place and once I looked it up, I knew it would fit your discerning tastes as well.”
I gasped and put ta hand to my chest. “Me? Discerning? Well, I never!”
Stone laughed and dropped a hand on my thigh. “You can take the girl away from the Worthington family, but honey you still have excellent taste. In most things, anyway.”