“Sounds perfect. We can have dinner and do that. A low-key night,” he said, sleepily.
Reaching out, she ran her hand through his hair and said, “Kay. Enjoy your nap.”
He reached up and took the hand that was stroking through his hair, pressed a kiss to her knuckles, then placed it back in his hair. A moment later, his eyelids closed, a slight smile playing over his lips.
She took that as a sign to keep running her hand through his hair. She watched him for a moment, and could tell he dropped off to sleep almost immediately. Setting her book to the side, she stretched out next to him.
Thinking back to the conversation she’d had with the masseuse earlier today, she smiled. As she’d been working on the knots in her shoulders, the woman had been friendly. She’d asked the requisite questions. Business or pleasure? Are you enjoying your stay?
Chloe wasn’t sure if it was the fact that she was really relaxed or if it was just that this person was a non-biased third party. She found herself discussing Chris and all the changes that had taken place in their friendship recently. The woman had smiled and said, “Ah, young love.”
Chloe had dismissed it at the time, but, lying next to him now, she thought, “Maybe.”
Chloe sifted through the evidence in her brain and decided that the jury was still out. She’d never had such an intense physical connection to anyone, but it was more than that. There was something about the way they interacted with each other and the conversations they had. She’d never had that level of intimacy with anyone.
She didn’t know whether it was the fact they already had a friendship and knew so much about one another or if there was something special here. He’d given her a key to his place. They were on vacation together, for god’s sake. Things seemed to be moving quickly between them, and normally she’d freak out but it just seemed right.
Deciding that there was no particular reason to search for any meaning in anything yet, she sighed. She wasn’t ready to travel down this road yet anyway. She much preferred the idea of just enjoying things as they were. Closing her eyes, she drifted to sleep on that thought.
Chris must have moved toward her in his sleep because when she woke up, he had his arm wrapped around her waist. She tried to slide out from underneath it, when she realized he was still asleep, but failed miserably. He stirred after a moment and mumbled, “Hey,” with a smile on his face, then added, “What time is it?”
Grabbing her phone off the nightstand, she said, “Five thirteen.”
Blinking, he said, “Wow. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sleep so long.”
“I napped, too. I didn’t get much sleep last night either. I couldn’t go back to bed after you left,” Chloe said, yawning.
Reaching out now, he rubbed a hand down her arm and said, “Your skin is really soft. More so than usual. Spa?”
Nodding, she stood up and stretched, then asked, “Do you want to get room service? I’m starved right now.”
Sitting up now, he said, “No, no. Let me change into something and we’ll go out and get dinner. Can we do something casual?”
“Of course. I don’t do fancy pretty much as a rule,” she said, smirking.
“My kinda girl,” he said as he stood and moved toward his suitcase. Pulling out a pair of cargo shorts and a T-shirt, he started to change.
Chloe moved into the bathroom, putting on some lip balm and brushing her hair. It had become slightly tangled during her nap. As she was clipping it up, Chris moved into the bathroom behind her.
He wrapped his arms around her and asked, “Almost ready?”
Nodding, she said, “Shoes, sweater, and purse. Then I’m ready.”
A few minutes later, they walked out of the room and headed down toward the main lobby. Stopping at the concierge desk, they got a recommendation for a local pub that was supposed to be pretty decent. Chloe was already dreaming about the burger that the woman at the desk had described.
A short walk later, they were immediately seated in a dimly lit corner booth. The place was about half-full. It reminded her a little bit of Greeley’s, but maybe with a little more character. There was British memorabilia hanging everywhere.
They both ordered a drink when the waiter came by with the menus. Both deciding on the cheddar bacon burger, they placed their dinner orders and sipped on their drinks.
Chris looked around the bar and patted the seat next to him. Chloe scooted around the circular booth until they were next to each other and looked at him curiously.
“I think,” he said, grinning, “we’re about to cross another item off your bucket list.”
Intrigued now, she said, “Oh really?”
Leaning closer, he brushed his lips against hers, then said, “Go to the ladies room and take off your panties. Unless you can manage it here.”
Raising her eyebrow, she asked, “Was that a challenge?”