Waterfall Kisses (The Kisses 9)

“Good,” Leo said, holding out a hand for mine. He held onto the picnic basket with the other and together we stepped out into the hot Caribbean afternoon.

I was glad I had chosen a sundress. The sun beat down on my dark hair and had me wishing for the delicious air conditioned house again. Working inside had spoiled me. I hoped Leo had picked out a shady spot for us.

Leo guided me past the walkway down to the beach. I frowned slightly, but kept up. If we weren't having a picnic on the beach, I wasn't quite sure where we were going. He tugged gently, guiding me away from the house and over to the helicopter pad where one of the company helicopters was waiting.

“Where are we going, Leo?” I asked as he brought me over and helped me inside.

“It's a surprise,” he answered with a naughty grin. “You'll like it.”

I settled into the leather seats of the helicopter and put on my headset while the pilot began to power up the engine. Murdoch, Leo's bodyguard, was already seated in the co-pilot's seat looking scary and intimidating as usual. He turned as I settled and gave me a curt nod. I had no idea how old he was, just that he was as big as a mountain and strong as four men. His coal black eyes saw everything, but his stern expression implied he didn't like anything he saw. As far as bodyguards went, Murdoch was definitely the scariest one I had ever met.

Leo sat next to me, grabbing my hand as we started to lift into the air. My mouth was dry and my heart fluttered in my chest as we rose. I hoped he didn't notice that my hands were clammy with sweat. I'd been on helicopters dozens of times. It was one of the perks of working for billionaires that I never got caught in traffic to important meetings because that's how we always traveled. I'd even been on helicopters with Leo before, but this was different.

This was a date.

Chapter Twelve

The thrum of the engines vibrated the entire helicopter. I loved the feeling flying in a helicopter gave me. It was so easy and free. In a helicopter, I could go anywhere. There were no limits to how high or how fast. I wasn't human anymore, in here, I was a dragonfly.

Leo squeezed my hand. From the light in his eyes, he was a dragonfly too. There wasn't anyone else that I wanted to be a dragonfly with more.

The copter skimmed the shore for a while, each wave merging into the next as we sped onward. Dark shapes moved in the water, leviathans of the deep. But we flew past them without a care. Onward, into the island the helicopter flew.

The only flights I'd been on around the island were just ones for coming and going from the mainland. I'd never really had the chance to explore the island, especially this past trip. I'd been so busy working the auction that I'd barely even had time to leave the mansion, let alone explore.

The helicopter flew toward the middle of the island. Key Island was the playground of the rich and famous. Billionaires, movie stars, CEO's, and rock stars all came to stay on this island. The edges of the coast were lined with beach front homes and white sandy beaches.

However, the interior of the island was different. The locals lived more inland, and the further from the beaches we went, the more the tropical jungle took hold. I'd never had a reason to go to the center of the island, but that was where it looked like the helicopter was taking us. I wondered just what Leo had planned for us. This was far more than just a simple picnic.

I peered out at the lush greenery and steep mountains that made up the center of the island. As we came around a cliff, a beautiful waterfall emerged. It was huge and picture perfect. I looked over at Leo and he grinned, nodding back to the window.

The pilot took the helicopter to the base of the waterfall and then rose up alongside it. The water rushing past combined with the heady sensation of rising made me dizzy. Leo laughed as I shook my head to clear the vertigo, and then told the pilot to land.

The pilot took the helicopter up as high as possible, letting us see the whole island spread out before us like a map. The green of the forests gave way to a white ring that led to pale blue waters that turned dark as they reached for the horizon. It was absolutely breathtaking.

Slowly, the pilot brought us down to a small field just a stone's throw from the rushing waterfall. We landed with a soft thud, and Leo took off his headset and opened the door. He grabbed the picnic basket and jumped out, turning to offer me his hand once he landed. I reached for him, trying to stay graceful even though my movements were clumsy with excitement.

Leo helped me out, holding me close as the helicopter blades whirred above our heads. The wind of the blades whipped my hair into my eyes and plastered my dress to my legs as the pilot rose once more into the air.

“Is Murdoch not coming?” I asked Leo, noticing that his ever-present shadow hadn't gotten off the helicopter. The two of us were very much alone.

“This place is only accessible by helicopter,” Leo explained, taking my hand and leading me away from our landing spot. “Murdoch felt it was safe enough, but they'll come back and get us whenever I call.”

I watched as the helicopter rose and dipped, disappearing behind the crags of the mountain holding the waterfall. It was so quiet now that I could hear the gentle roar of the waterfall in the distance. It took me a moment, but I realized that I was finally alone with Leo. I was glad we weren't on the beach or out at a restaurant, because then I would have to sha

re him with the crowd. Here, we were in our own secret little world where no one could interrupt or bother us.

I turned to find him opening the picnic basket and spreading out a blanket. From where he was, we would have the perfect view of the waterfall without the sound of water drowning out our words.

“I've never been here before,” I said, picking at a blade of long grass and listening to the serenity of nature. The sound of the water filled was in the background, birds sung out, and the gentle hum of a bumblebee surrounded me. It was incredibly peaceful, especially after the hustle and bustle of the auction. It was exactly what I needed.

“I found it by accident,” Leo explained. “I don't think even the locals know about this place.”

“It's beautiful.” I looked up at him and he smiled. He was beautiful.

“Would you like to see the falls?” Leo offered, pausing in setting out dinner. “They're kind of the reason I brought you here. I thought you'd like them.”

“Yes!” I eagerly agreed. I was so glad I had eaten the cheese and crackers. I wanted to see the falls, especially with sunset coming soon. I could only imagine the rainbows that would form as the light hit the splashing water. Besides, I wasn't so hungry I couldn't wait anymore. If Leo wanted to show them to me, then I wanted to see them.