Redeemed (Dirty Air 4)

??d be a fool to say no after a declaration of love like that. It looks like I’m staying in Italy after all.

“I have somewhere I want to take you.” Santiago grabs my hand and pulls me up from the couch.

“Is it an art store?”

“No.”

“The grocery store?”

“God, no. Why would I want to take you there?”

“Because I ate the last couple of Oreos last night after you fell asleep.”

“Seriously? You didn’t bother saving one?”

I shrug. “Do crumbs count?”

He shakes his head as if he can’t believe he was lucky enough to score someone as thoughtful as me. I know. I’m such a catch, even the Oreos couldn’t resist me.

An idea hits me. “Oh, I know! We’re going to the junk yard to search for your next restoration job.”

He grunts. “No. I’m taking you on our first official date as a real couple. Are you happy now?”

“Even better!” I bounce off the couch and into his arms.

He cradles my face and places a soft kiss on my lips.

I lean into his touch, silently begging for more.

“If you keep this up, we will never leave.”

“Is that the worst thing?”

He sighs. “I’d say no, but I put a little something together and I don’t want it to go to waste.”

Aw, how sweet. I step away, stopping my torture.

I look down at my T-shirt and skirt full of tiny daisies. “Am I dressed okay?”

“You look beautiful.”

“That was the best evasion technique I’ve ever heard.”

He laughs under his breath. “We better get going. It’s getting late.”

“It’s ten in the morning.”

“If you’re not early…”

“You’re late. Ugh. You’re getting predictable.”

“You won’t be saying that in an hour.”

Oh, shit.

“What are we doing in the middle of nowhere?”

Santiago parks the car off to the side of the dirt road we traveled down.