“Love you more. Listen, full report first thing in the morning. I want to hear how this man does between the sheets.”
I bit back a laugh. “I don’t think I’ll be able to tell you anything about that. You forget, I live with Aunt Gail and Charlie lives with his grandfather. Privacy and time alone aren’t things either of us have at hand just now.”
“I’ll settle for a hot make out session. Now go.” She hung up before I could say anything else. And having been given my marching orders, I got right to work, making myself date-ready.
By the time, Charlie knocked on the front door, I was all sparkle and shine . . . and nerves. Aunt Gail, who’d been skulking around the entire time I was primping and prepping, a huge grin on her face, called from the living room.
“Vivian! Someone’s at the door. Do you want me to get it?”
I stuck out my tongue as I passed her on my way to the front of the house. “You are a huge smartass. Seriously, it’s as though you’ve been taking lessons from my mother. I don’t think she was this bad when I was sixteen and going on my first date.”
“Your first date didn’t have as much significance as this one does,” Aunt Gail responded. “You were young, and if I remember correctly, that guy was a little bit of what we used to call a dork. You can’t say that about Charlie. Also, you’re not sixteen anymore.”
“Are you calling me old?” I paused with my hand on the doorknob, one eyebrow arched.
“Yep. You’re a total old maid, and this may be your last chance. Grab him now, and don’t let him go.” She laughed. “Okay, I can’t even say those words with a straight face. Answer the damn door, will you, before that boy breaks it down.”
I drew in a deep breath, let it out and turned the knob. Charlie stood on the other side of the door, and the sight of him made my breath catch.
I’d thought he was a hottie before, in his T-shirts, jeans, shorts . . . looking all muscled and toned. But now . . . I very nearly melted into a puddle of want right there in Aunt Gail’s foyer.
He had on jeans, so that shouldn’t have been new or different . . . yet, it was. His shirt was a short-sleeved green Henley that hugged the planes of his chest, the sleeves revealing the strength in his arms. The color set off his hair, which was freshly washed and combed, and his eyes, which were full of warmth and promise.
“Hey.” One hand was behind his back, and as he stepped into the house, he produced a single scarlet blossom. It was perfect in its simplicity, and taking it, I stroked the outside of the bloom reverently.
“What is it?” I sniffed experimentally.
“Plumeria. I’d put a plant into Grampy’s garden last year, and it’s blooming now. I thought the color was gorgeous.” He touched my hand just below the flower. “But not as beautiful as you. My God, Vivian. You look . . .” His eyes traveled down my body, where the black shirt did indeed make my boobs look incredible, to the flounce of the short skirt and the length of my tanned legs. “Uh, mouth-watering. Breath-taking. Delicious? I don’t know how many more adjectives I can come up with. But you’re all of them. And more.”
Just out of his line of sight, but fully within mine, Aunt Gail mimed clapping her hands and then pretended to faint with pleasure. I bit back a snort.
“Thank you, sir.” I brushed the plumeria over the side of my cheek. “You’re pretty handsome yourself. And you shaved.” Gone was the scruff that had been tempting my fingers. But I still wanted to test how his jaw felt under my touch. I guessed it had more to do with the man and less to do with the state of his beard.
“Are you ready to go?” He offered me a hand. “We don’t have reservations or anything, but I’d like to take advantage of the light while we have it.”
“The light, huh? Is that a clue?” I smiled as I bent to reach for my purse. “What might we do that would require light?”
“That’s for me to know, and you . . . to trust me about.” He winked. “Where’s Aunt Gail? Her car’s in the driveway. I thought she was at home.”
I pretended that I didn’t see her doing the dance of mad happiness just beyond his view. “Oh, she’s around here somewhere.” Clearing my throat, I called loudly, “Aunt Gail! Charlie and I are leaving now. See you later. Don’t wait up.”
As we walked out the door toward Charlie’s car that waited at the curb, he slid me a side glance. “Don’t wait up, huh? That sounds like you expect me to have big plans for a late night.”
I bit the inside of my lip. “Sorry. I was just messing with her. The truth is, she was on the other side of the foyer wall, where I could see her but you couldn’t. She’s such a goof sometimes.”
Charlie laughed. “She’s a riot. It’s too bad Grampy’s so much older than she is . . . and still madly in love with my grandmother, even after she’s been gone all this time. Those two would be a good pair.”
I shuddered. “Don’t let’s think of that. The world isn’t ready for Aunt Gail and Grampy together. Trust me.”
He held the car door for me, and I slid into the passenger seat of his red Toyota. “Nice wheels. Oh, is this a hybrid?” I ran my fingers over the lettering on the dashboard as Charlie climbed into the driver’s side.
“It is. Part of my commitment to sustainability is making sure our planet’s around to grow plants that improve the world. As soon as I could afford the hybrid, I made the switch. Especially down here, where I drive everywhere, it makes me feel better about owning a car.”
“Interesting.” I nodded. “So you’re intelligent, passionate about your chosen field, sensitive to environmental issues . . . and you’re not bad-looking. You, Charlie Mitford, really are the total package, aren’t you?”
He grinned, shooting me a glance of pleasure as the car started. “Not bad-looking, huh? Is that the best you can do?”
“If I told you what I was really thinking, you might get a big head. We don’t want that happening.” I folded my hands primly in my lap, one side of my mouth turning up, daring him to take my words however he wanted.
“Oh, baby. There are so many dirty things I could say just now . . . and you said that on purpose, didn’t you?”
When I didn’t respond, only continuing to look straight ahead out the windshield, biting back a grin, Charlie began to chuckle. “Vivian Rexland, are you a naughty girl?”
I blinked. “I don’t know what on earth you might mean. Now, are we going to sit here trading double entendrés all night, or are you taking me out?”
He turned in his seat, reaching one hand to the back of my neck, threading his fingers through my hair. I could feel each of his fingers against my head, moving in gentle strokes.
“I’m going to take you out. We’re going to have fun. Tonight’s going to be wonderful. But first, I’m going to do this, because I’ve been waiting to do it and wanting to do it for . . . quite a while.”
With just the slightest pressure, he guided me toward him, tilting his head. Pausing with his lips just a whisper above mine, he murmured one word.
“Yes?”
I gave a barely-perceptible nod. My heart was in hyper-drive against my ribs, and I thought distractedly that it might pound right out of my chest once Charlie actually touched me.
His mouth brushed against mine, so lightly and carefully that I might have thought I imagined it, except for his soft hum of pleasure. I wanted more, and I wanted to feel the vibration of his moans against me. I lifted my chin, taking what I needed from him, pressing my lips into his.
“Vivian . . .” His low voice rumbled through me. His hands slid forward, framing my face, and he acquiesced to me, his lips firm and sure against mine. I gripped the front of his shirt, my fingers curled into the soft cotton.
Charlie’s tongue made tentative forays against the seam of my lips, and I opened to him without hesitation, meeting him stroke for stroke. He explored the inside of my mouth, mapping it, teasing and tantalizing. My pulse beat fast and hard in every sensitive point of my body, and I couldn’t help imagining his tongue working in
other places on me . . . places that went wet at the very thought of it.
“Vivian.” Charlie kissed the corner of my mouth, and then my jaw, and then the side of my neck. “I don’t want to stop. But if we keep this up, I’m going to find an excuse for us to ditch the whole date idea and go on to something . . . else.” He swallowed, his throat working. “And I want to have this time with you. I want this first date.”
I rested my forehead against his chin. “First implies there could be others,” I observed, my voice husky with want. I was really close to telling him the date be damned and dragging him into the backseat of his car.
“It does,” Charlie agreed. “In my head, I’ve been thinking of tonight as the first of many.” He stroked my hair. “I hope you’ll feel the same by the end of the night.”
“I feel the same now.” I smiled. “But you’re right . . . we should go. There’s every chance that Aunt Gail is watching us through her front window, wondering why we’re still out here. She’s probably on the phone with my mom, giving her the blow by blow.”
“If I’d known that, I would’ve given them something to talk about.” He dropped another hard, fast kiss onto my lips before he eased away with a long sigh. “Okay. Let’s go.”
I peppered Charlie with questions as he drove, trying to figure out where he was taking me. He laughed at some of my guesses, shook his head at others, and at a few, he nodded. “That’s not where we’re going tonight, but it’s a good idea. Let’s file that for later on.” Each time he spoke about the future, a little thrill sped through my blood.
“You know, this was pretty brave of you—a transplant trying to surprise a local,” I remarked as he slowed just before we entered the outskirts of a small town.
“I should probably confess that I had some insider help.” He shot me a saucy smile. “Hey, I’m not above outsourcing, if the result is worth it.” He squinted through the windshield. “I think this is where we turn. Hold on.”
I gripped the door handle as we turned onto a narrow dirt road, the Toyota rolling with the bumps and potholes. “If you’re taking me somewhere remote to kill me and dump the body, I have to give you an A plus for location skills. Also, kudos for ambience, because this is getting kind of creepy. Like a horror movie type of creepy.”
Charlie reached over the console and took my hand, threading our fingers together. “Don’t worry. It gets better. And if I were going to dispose of your body—which I would never do, because I kind of like it—I’d put you into a lake and let the gators do the work for me.”
“Thanks. Glad to know you’ve thought it all out.” I held tight to his hand, because that connection felt so right and perfect. “Seriously, I think I came to this area once with my mom and dad and Shelby when I was in junior high. There was a street fair in the town. But I have no idea what’s at the end of this road.”
“Good.” He looked satisfied as the trees that had been hemming us in gave way to a wider, more open field. A few cars were parked here and there, and at the far side, I spotted a hand-lettered sign that read Monroe Experimental Gardens.
“I came here last year when I was visiting Grampy. I walked around by myself, but it was so cool, I knew I’d want to come back. I hope you don’t think this is lame, taking you to a garden.” Charlie shrugged. “I know plants are my passion, not yours, but I thought it might be fun to walk around and talk. Better than going to the movies, where we just sit next to each other for a few hours, watching other people interact.”
“I love it.” I grinned as Charlie offered me his hand to help me from the car. “I don’t know as much about plants and gardens as you do, but I’m endlessly fascinated and ready to learn. Take me away, plant boy.”
These gardens weren’t huge or expansive as some in the area were, but the trails were wide and the beds were obviously well-cared for. We wandered through hand-in-hand, pausing at various spots as Charlie pointed out species or varieties that were interesting.
“What’s this? It almost looks like a thistle . . . or maybe some kind of miniature pineapple.” I bent over the plant, touching it with the tip of my finger.
“That’s Eryngium yuccifolium . . . oh, you’ll like this part, it’s better known as button snakeroot or rattlenakemaster.” He winked at me. “But don’t worry. Despite the name, it doesn’t have anything to do with snakes, but it actually attracts bats. It’s also important for native bees, which is why it’s here. Part of the mission of these gardens is to encourage the development of plants that will help sustain at-risk species.”
“That’s amazing.” I glanced at Charlie, loving the way his whole face came alive when he talked about his work and his calling. “You said you wanted to start your own nursery and landscaping company, right? Are you going to have this kind of plant for sale?”
“I hope so.” His eyes grew distant. “My dream is to have multiple outlets of sustainability. I’d like to eventually have beehives on the property and give tours that teach people how to implement the same idea at their own homes, even if it’s on a more limited scale.”
“And that way, you’re spreading the word and also attracting customers. Good plan.”
“I think it is. Of course, we’ll have to see how well it works.” He gave me a crooked grin before he glanced at the sky. We were losing light as we meandered, but I was having such a good time that I didn’t want to leave.
“Let’s go this way.” He tugged at my hand. “There’s something I want to show you.”
I wiggled my eyebrows as we walked down a side path. “That sounds promising.”
“Get your mind out of the gutter, Vivian.” He fastened me with a faux-stern glare. “This is science. This is agriculture.”
The path turned, and suddenly, we weren’t in the lush gardens anymore; we were on the edge of a hill, which was a rare thing indeed in Florida, where the land is notoriously flat. What made me gasp, though, was that we were facing west, and the sun was sinking low over the horizon, casting its last rays of pink and orange light into the sky, creating a sunset the likes of which I’d never seen in my life.
Charlie stood behind me, fitting my back against his body, circling my waist with both of his arms and holding me tight.
“This is romance.”
“Oh.” I breathed, afraid to speak and break the spell. “Look at how beautiful it is.”
“I have to admit, I had a plan.” Charlie’s voice was muffled against my ear as he bent his head to speak to me. “My plan had been to be here at sunset—”
“Mission accomplished,” I interrupted.
“Right, but let me finish.” He pinched my side, and I giggled. “My idea had been to be here at sunset, and here is where I was going to kiss you for the first time.”
I sighed. “That would’ve been so romantic. What made you change your mind?”
He dipped his head to press his lips against my neck. “Once I saw you tonight, I couldn’t imagine being with you all the way out here and wandering the garden without having kissed you already. You’re irresistible, Vivian.”
I melted into him. “There are worse problems to have.”
“You’re not wrong. But I still think I can redeem my, ah, earlier weakness.” He used his fingers to nudge my chin up at the same time that he folded himself over me, taking my mouth. This time, there was nothing soft or gentle about his kiss. It was filled with need and desire and the promise of what might come later. His lips and tongue consumed me until I wasn’t sure I could stand up any longer . . . but since his arms were still around me, holding me tight, I didn’t have to worry about how weak my knees were.
One of his hands skimmed higher, cupping my breast as his thumb teased my aching nipple through my shirt and bra. I was unreasonably annoyed by the barriers between us, wanting the exquisite torture of his hands on my skin without anything dulling the pleasure. Against his relentless mouth, I made a small noise of impatience.
I felt the undeniable evidence of his desire against my hip, and the w
ild, unfettered part of my brain wondered if there wasn’t some sheltered place nearby where we could go, shed all these clothes and be together the way my body craved, right now. No more waiting.
The more reasonable, sane part of me wasn’t much better. It danced in wonder at how completely intoxicated I was, at how different it felt to be in his arms instead of Jeremy’s. This, my heart sang. This is what all the love songs are talking about. This is what you’ve been waiting to find. This is it. This is the one.
I turned in his arms, needing to be closer, not caring that I was missing the spectacular show the sun and sky were putting on right now. I was more intent on the show going on here, between this man and me. The world could have been falling to pieces around us, the earth exploding, and it wouldn’t have made a difference. I only want to feel Charlie.
“Vivian . . .” His voice sounded a little strained, and I wondered if he was struggling as I was. “I want to stay here with you forever, just like this, but . . . the gardens close at sunset, and we’ll be stuck in here. As tempting as that sounds, I’m not sure how you’d handle the company we might have here.”
“Company?” I tilted my head to give him better access to my throat, where his teeth scraped over the sensitive pulse at the base.
“Company. Like . . . ah . . . gators. There’s a pond on the site, and I’d lay money it’s home to some of those big guys. And probably some possum and raccoons and armadillos live here, too.” He sucked softly at a spot below my earlobe. “Frogs, for sure. And lots of . . .” He blew into my ear. “Snakes.”
“Ugh.” I collapsed into him. “All right, you win. We’ll go. But I want to come back.”
“That’s a promise.” He kissed my temple and took my hand. “But right now, I’ve worked up an appetite. And I have the perfect place in mind for dinner.”
I bumped against him as we traced our steps back along the paths that led to the parking lot. “Sounds good. I’m starving, too. Is the restaurant nearby?”
Charlie nodded. “Yeah, it’s in town. The food’s pretty basic, just good old Southern downhome cooking. But it’s delicious.”
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