She nods. Her hand goes to her necklace but she notices me glance at it. She pulls it away and shoves both of her hands between her legs.
I smirk and put the car into first gear. “Now sit back and enjoy the ride.”
Chapter 32
Tina
Holy crap, he’s driving fast, and other cars still pass us. “Okay. I get the point. Foot off the gas.” He slows the car down and drives to the far-right lane.
“Now I can say I’ve experienced the Autobahn.” My pulse slows down, and the death grip I have on my seat belt loosens.
“Alexa would love it here with the way she drives. But Lisa would have a cardiac arrest because she’s afraid of driving in any car. Do you drive that fast on a normal day? I can’t imagine the accidents.”
“I’m guilty to have driven as fast as one hundred sixty kilometers per hour. That’s about one hundred miles per hour.”
“That’s sick. Don’t ever go that fast when I’m in the car with you.”
He takes my left hand and kisses my fingertips. “Keine Sorgen, Süße.”
I give him the look I’m sure he has come to understand when he speaks German or French to me. “Sorry. My German cap is back on. We’re in my country now. It means no worries.”
“Speaking of worries. Since you haven’t been back here since you moved, how are your nerves holding up? Are you still worried about how people will treat you?”
He readjusts himself in his seat. “I’m fine right now, but I don’t know about later. Since we’ve gotten together, it’s not as much of a focus.”
I massage the back of his neck.
“I look forward to introducing you to my family. Mom has planned a barbecue when they come back in a couple of days.”
“Do you like to barbeque? My dad hates to cook but loves to barbeque.”
“I love to grill. You’ll have fun. Most of my cousins speak good English. One cousin is married to a woman from England. They have five-year-old twins. A boy and a girl. What’s the term in English?”
“Fraternal twins.”
“Right.” He points out his window. “Over there is the Black Forest. There’s great skiing in this area, not too far from where we’re going. It takes about an hour to get there. You said you used to ski. It’s too bad it’s not wintertime. I could’ve taken you.”
“I haven’t skied in years. I’m not sure I’d be any good anymore.”
“Now we’re approaching the exit where you’ll see vineyard after vineyard. I’ll drive the backroads so you can see them better. Once we get to my parents’ house, we can unpack and shower.” He grabs my hand and kisses the top. “Together.”
“I like our plans already.” Is my seat heated? Because I feel a bit warm. I don’t think I’ll be tired anytime soon.
“Then we can go to some of the wineries for wine tasting. A lot of them have something called a Straußi. The winery has a small restaurant where people can drink their wine and eat typical cuisine from this area, like Flammkuchen or Wiener Schnitzel.”
“Yummy. Sausages from Germany.”
He bursts out laughing. “You think sausages because I said wiener?” He laughs even louder.
“Yeah, or maybe hotdogs. Am I wrong?”
“It’s breaded veal cutlets that are fried. Then you squeeze lemon juice over them. The dish is originally from Austria.”
Now I feel like he’s making fun of me. Without responding, I turn the music up and stay quiet. The song I turn up isn’t even in English. I cross my arms and rest my head on the seat. From the corner of my eye, I see Gerry turn his head back and forth from me and to the road.
He turns the music down. “What’s the matter?”
“Just remember—I’ve never been outside the US. I’m sure I’ll say and do stupid things. Be patient with me.”
“I’m sorry. I thought it was funny.” He puts his hand out for me to hold. “This is something I dealt with all the time when I visited the US, or even when I moved there. Just like me using the word handy. You laughed at me. Now you’re in my territory.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m stupid.”
“Tina.” He huffs. “I wish I could stop this car right now and kiss you senseless. This is another country. Of course you’re going to do funny things. But I don’t care because you are, by far, the smartest, funniest, and most fascinating woman I’ve ever met. This is our vacation, and we’re here to have fun.”
“If you put it that way, handsome, laugh away.” I reach over and kiss him on the cheek. “Let’s talk about wine tasting here. I’m not a fan of Riesling. It’s too sweet.”
“Riesling seem to have that reputation, but it’s not always true. It’s possible you won’t like any of the wine here. The white wine isn’t made in wooden barrels, so it doesn’t have the oaky taste. When you’re used to California wine, you might not appreciate wines from here.”
“I’ll try some, and if I don’t like it, I’ll drink beer. Having fun and acting a little crazy is my priority—and skinny-dipping before we go to bed would make this day complete.”
“That’s what I’m looking forward to most. Well, and the shower.” His hand roams up my leg, high enough for my hormones to scream don’t stop.
“Behave and hands on the steering wheel.” He doesn’t move his hand, so I grab it and place it on the steering wheel. “I promise, you’ll be smiling later.”
He presses on the gas pedal.
Chapter 33
Gerry
She points out the window with enthusiasm. “It’s just like in my magazines. Little towns here and there with a big old church towering in the middle.”
I love how excited she is, and we’ve only been in Germany for a couple of hours.
“Oh, and look at the different colors of vines. They’re in perfect patches along the rolling hills. Why is there a patch of red in the middle of the others?” She babbles.
“It’s just a different type of grape. We can take a walk through the vineyards by my parents’ house. Then you’ll see the differences between the varieties. I don’t think they’re all picked yet.”
She turns to me with a giddy grin. “I just can’t believe I’m here. The surroundings are breathtaking. The Black Forest doesn’t look real when it’s this close. Just like a postcard.”
“My mom was right about a great golden October this year. There are more yellow and orange leaves than red in Germany. You can already see it. The colors will probably be at their peak in a week or two. The one Straußi we’ll go to has an incredible view of the forest. An excellent spot for taking pictures.”
She hangs her head out the window, her hair blowing in the wind. “Look at the colorful patch of fresh flowers. Are they for anyone to pick?”
“Yes. You’ll see several along the streets.”
“They’re for free?”
“No. There is a money box on the edge of the field where you put the money.”
“Come on. You think people really pay? Someone can easily steal the money box or the flowers.”
“Yes, people do pay. Honor system.”
She nods and relaxes in her seat.
“This area is known for tourists, so the towns put a lot of money into making everything look nice. You see what taxes pay for.”
We drive through a town that’s five minutes away from my own. She points at things and asks questions.
“In this area there are a lot of hotels or bed and breakfasts.” I point at one. “This one is a quaint hotel. If I remember correctly, the building is nearly four hundred years old. The restaurant has a Michelin star.”
“Vibrant flowers are everywhere. I love how the large stream flows through the middle of this town.”
“It’s called a Bach. Not all of them are large like this one. We had a drought years ago, and the stream was almost dry. It smelled, and the fishes were dying.”
“Fish.”
He shakes his head. “Fish and deer are the two I always get wrong. I say fishes and deer
s.”
“Anyway, what were you saying?”
“It doesn’t matter. It was very hot, and most houses and businesses don’t have air conditioning. If they do, it’s a special system. You don’t freeze like in the US. Most offices and hotels have windows that open. It’s a different culture here.”
“I’d love it since I told you I hate AC. I’d be happy with a ceiling fan.”
I turn right onto one of my favorite roads. “This is the main street that takes us directly to my hometown. If you look ahead, you’ll see my favorite view of the Black Forest. I love how the street is lined with trees. In the spring, they have white flowers and now, orange-red leaves. There are a lot of cherry, apple, and plum orchards here.”
“Do you ever get homesick?”
I downshift and put on my left blinker. “Sometimes. Mostly during the holidays. Christmas is my favorite holiday here. Lots of festive lights and Christmas markets in every town. Mom loves that time of year, so she decorates the house above and beyond. My parents hold an annual Christmas party. They really make it special. I won’t be able to spend Christmas here this year.”
“Why? Because of work?”
I pull into the driveway and park the car. I take her face into my hands. “No. Because I want to spend Christmas in New York City with you.”
Chapter 34
Tina
I fall backward on the bed. “This was the best day ever. My brain is on overdrive. I wish I’d brought a journal. Maybe I can buy one tomorrow.”
Gerry leans over me with his hands at the sides of my head. “I can’t believe we’re still awake after the amount of wine we drank and the time change. We should be dead at this point.”
“It helped we took a nap before we went out. If we stay on the bed like this, I’ll pass out though. Let’s go for a swim. It’ll wake us up for a little while longer and make it a perfect end to a perfect day.”
He kisses my cheek and backs away from the bed.
“Where did you put my sneakers? I need to see how wet they still are. I can’t believe I stepped into that tiny canal. I’m so glad a shoe store was open.”
He takes the sneakers out of a plastic bag. “Come on. It was funny how you sounded like a duck quacking every time you took a step.”
“Maybe to you but not to other people. They probably thought I was farting.”
He chuckles. “I’ll take care of them. I learned something when I was younger that will help them dry faster.”
“I’m going to rest for a minute and reminisce about today.” I stay on my back.
“Don’t fall asleep. I want to see you in that bikini you packed in your suitcase. Granted, it won’t be on you for long. I’ll be right back.”
“Give me one more kiss.” He pecks me on the lips. “You have the softest lips. They’re lethal,” I tease as he leaves the room.
I fold my arms behind my head. The Black Forest, vineyards, and orchards are all extraordinary in their own way. I can’t imagine being surrounded by this beauty every day. Or the wine. That could get dangerous. The forest must look like a dream when there’s a dusting of snow in the winter.
It’s peaceful. No crazy, loud traffic except for the motorcycles that pass. I didn’t see any malls or stores on every corner. It’s nice for vacation, but I’m not sure I could handle it on a day-to-day basis. I’d save a lot of money though.
We walked through some vineyards so Gerry could point out the differences between the grape varieties. The colors ranged from electric purple to a pale yellow. I found out red wine is red from the skin of the dark grapes, not the juice. Most white wine bottles have twisty caps, not corks. I’d always thought only cheap, bad wine had twisty caps. He told me it’s because they don’t age white wine like red wine. The white wine meant to age for a longer time will have a cork. I’ve learned so much in less than one day.
The house creaks wherever Gerry walks. I love this house. There are tall wooden beams throughout. A massive fireplace stands in the middle of the open-space living and dining room area. It reminds me of Swiss chalets I frequently see when I look through my travel magazines. The apartment section of the house is decorated the same and is very cozy.
I force myself off the bed to dig my bikini out of my luggage. We were too lazy to unpack when we first arrived. I roam to the bathroom. The pool had better be heated.
I’ve hardly worn my suit this year. I twist and turn in front of the sink mirror. Not too shabby. I brush my teeth and wash my face. No need for my makeup to run down my face when I’m in the pool. A thought hits me. What if he wears a banana hammock? He has a great body, but am I ready for something like that? I know cultures differ, but come on now.
I jump when he knocks on the door. “Did you fall asleep in there?”
Let’s get this over with. I open the door with a smile. He stands in front of me with a fluffy white robe hanging over his arm in front of him. “Want to see my new Speedo? We’re in Germany now,” he says proudly.
No he doesn’t! I swallow hard. “Yeah, um, sure.”
He hands me the robe to reveal his black swim shorts. “Just kidding.” He snickers. “I know how you women hate Speedos. The look on your face was priceless.”
I take the robe from him with relief dripping from my smile. “You mean banana hammock,” I correct him.
“Don’t worry. I don’t like Speedos either. Especially after swimming for so many years.”
“You have a great body, but I don’t know. A banana hammock could break us.” I wink at him.
“Let’s go before I rip that tiny purple bikini off of you before we even leave the room. You’ll need the robe when we get out of the pool.”
“I haven’t gone swimming at night since I was little.”
Minutes later we hang off the edge of the lit, heated pool.
“The water is just the right temperature. I feel like I’m in a hotel in your parents’ fancy backyard. It’s so secluded with the high bushes and trees. I don’t see any other houses,” I say as I push off the edge and swim to the other side.
He swims behind me.
“Where are you going? Are you trying to get away from me?”
“Maybe.” I look back at him over my shoulder.
I turn around and put my arms around his neck. He wraps my legs around his waist and then hugs me tightly. He wades us through the pool wrapped around each other in silence.
He kisses my nose. “You’re quiet. What are you thinking about?”
“You showed me such amazing things today. I’m already in love with your country.”
He lets me go, then turns around so his back is facing me. “Jump on my back. I’ll take you for a ride around the pool.”
“The food was so fresh and delicious. I’m surprised you don’t get drinks with ice. I guess it’s a good thing because you get more to drink.”
“But you never get refills like you do in some places in the US.”
“You were Mr. Popular today. I hope your picture of how people perceive you has changed. It seems the entire town knows you, and the people were genuinely happy to see you. I didn’t understand what they said, but their big hugs and smiles told me everything. Do you think you can move on now?”
He stands up slowly to let me slide off and then dives under the water. Did I piss him off? I wait for him to come up for air by the stairs. His body emerges like a big bear, and then he sits on a step.
“Are you okay?” I say as I swim toward him.
“Ja.”
I smile. “Finally a German word I know. Yes.”
He claps the water next to him for me to sit down with him.
“When we were out, I didn’t really think about what happened a year ago. My focus was on us having fun. Slowly it’s sinking in my reputation isn’t as bad as I believed, or maybe I don’t care anymore.”
“I think you care, but you have other things going on that distract you from it. Maybe you focused on it too much, which made it worse. A lot of time has passed t
oo.”
I submerge myself under the water because the air is cold.
He follows me and pulls me to him.
“It still amazes me how my life has changed since I met you. I’d never in a million years guess that two months later, I’d be in Germany with the sexiest man alive, in a pool.” I grind against him and nip at his shoulder.
He nuzzles my neck. “Get used to me being around, because I’m not going anywhere. I want to show you everything. Explore things together we’ve never done before. You make me excited about things I never dreamed of.”
I try to wiggle out of his grip when he tickles my ribs.
“I have a confession.” He wraps his arms around me again. “Before I met you, I thought I knew what would make me happy. But I realized how wrong I was.” He squeezes me against his body. “You, Tina, are and will always be my happiness.”
My heart just grew two sizes. When he says sweet things with his cute accent, I fall in love with him a little bit more. It scares me it’s even possible to fall so fast and hard. But he makes it easy. I don’t know if he can see what he means to me, but I’m going to make him feel it.
I hug him tightly and ask, “Are you sure no one can see us? Even with the pool light on?”
He nods, and something clicks between us. Our mouths and tongues connect at the same time. He presses me against the edge while still straddling him. One of his hands unties the bikini straps around my neck. He pulls away to watch it fall down and reveal my breasts. The next tie is undone, and he lays the top on the pavement.
I hang off the edge and arch my back. He devours me without hesitation. His hot mouth scorches every part of my revealed wet skin. His strong hands pull my bikini bottom off. He wraps my legs around him even tighter as he grinds into me.
“I’m not the only one who’s going to be naked in here,” I pant.
Within seconds, his suit is off and tossed somewhere. Our bodies connect. I think I see steam rising off the water from our body heat.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been more turned on by a woman. My desire for you grows every second of every day,” he moans.
Dreams Collide: Collide Series Book 2 Page 23