Page 30 of Grand Escape
“My sister loved that movie,” he said softly. “But I have to admit, you don’t strike me as the type to get caught up in the whirlwind of a serendipitous meet-cute.”
“Bingo. I was more of a Blue Crush kind of girl. A hard-ass chick who falls for the rich and bossy nice guy.”
As soon as Adam murmured, “Hmm,” I realized I’d stuck my foot in my mouth.
“Back then, at least,” I said quickly, my cheeks flaming as I desperately tried to backpedal. “Anyway, my nanny, Shelby, was obsessed and had to have the frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity. The restaurant, not the movie.”
“I know the one.”
A look of nostalgia flitted over his face, and I felt guilty for bringing up the story.
Deciding to wrap it up quickly, I said, “It was crappy, and then we had to walk back outside into the bitter cold. I wasn’t made to be a cold-weather person. No, sirree.”
This got me a huge chuckle. “You should try Michigan in January.”
“No thank you. I’ll stay right here with the palm trees and blue skies.”
After my rom-com faux pas and inadvertently bringing up memories of his dead sister, I kept the conversation light. Sticking to safe topics, I talked about the weather, shared a few funny guest stories (non-celeb related), and gushed over the food.
The rest of the dinner passed quickly, with Natalie bringing courses and us enjoying easy conversation. Adam and I avoided emotional topics and mutually agreed on the deliciousness of the food.
“Can I walk you back?” he asked as we left the restaurant.
We weren’t quite touching but close enough that an electric current sizzled between us, an unspoken, unseen energy connecting us. I’d never felt a charge like that with anyone else before.
My first instinct was to beg off, but then I changed my mind. “That would be nice.”
We retraced our steps down the outdoor path, tiny lights along the walkway lighting our way. With palm trees swaying above us in the breeze, and the sound of waves breaking in the background, it was like we were creating a rom-com of our own.
“This was fun,” I blurted.
“It was,” Adam said, taking my hand.
His fingers naturally slid between mine, his palm warm in my hold, and the sparks intensified. My belly rolled like an ocean during a storm, waves crashing and all.
“You know,” I said, staring straight ahead at the path, “I don’t do this, really.”
“What? Eat dinner?”
I shook my head, my stomach too tied into knots for even a laugh to escape. “No. Date guests.”
Or get involved with anyone, especially someone heartbroken over someone else. But I didn’t say the last part.
Adam glanced at me. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I like hanging with you in, dare I say, a serendipitous adventure?”
This made me laugh.
“Seriously,” he said, squeezing my hand, “meeting you, having you drag me out of the funk hanging over me, was a pretty big surprise of this trip. I thought I’d come and sit in the sun, drink, and eventually work in my villa.”
The moonlight reflected off his fair hair as he bent his head, but I could see a smile in his profile.
“At the very least, I’m happy you’re having a good time.”
“Better than good. Also, delicious,” he said just as we arrived in front of my villa.
Turning toward me, he tugged me closer and pressed his lips gently to mine. We stood there in the dark, kissing, his tongue making its way inside my mouth and sharing a moment with mine.
As my arms wrapped tight around his waist, a foreign feeling came over me. I found myself wanting to hold on rather than push away.