“That’s not too tight?” he asks, running a hand through my hair.
“No. It’s fine.” I can’t see anything. It would be hard to tell if my eyes are open or closed if it wasn’t for my eyelashes brushing against the fabric.
Sully gets out and walks around to open my door. I take his hand, and he patiently leads me toward what I assume is the elevator.
“Don’t bump me into any poles or let me trip over any parking blocks.” I drag my feet, worried he’ll guide me to the edge and I’ll fall to my death on the street below. Unrealistic, but it’s hard to have faith when you’re blind.
“You’re acting like a cow being taken to slaughter.” He drops my hand and moves behind me, guiding me with a gentle hand on my lower back.
“For the record, I’m not a fan of surprises. If someone pops out, fair warning, I’ll punch them in the throat.”
His chest rumbles with his laugh. “I’ll cancel the clown then.”
I freeze. My blood turns to slush, picturing a clown waiting for me. One of my ultimate childhood fears that linger on forever. “Please tell me that’s a joke.”
His hands slide up to my shoulders, squeezing them in a caring gesture. He whispers, “Yes. I promise to keep the evil clowns away.” I hear elevator doors slide open, and we enter. Sully hits a button, and we go up.
When the doors slide open again, we’re greeted with a blast of cold air. It tosses my hair back and raises goosebumps on my arms. The smell of salt and fish lingers in the air. Our steps echo as we move deeper into the room.
“Now look,” Sully says cheerfully, taking off my blindfold and wrapping his arm around my hips.
I blink a few times, allowing my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting, and look around. To our left, there’s a line of waiters dressed in black and white uniforms. A lone table sits in the middle of the room washed in dark blue, the light shining down and bouncing around the walls made of glass. I look up and my lungs squeeze out all their breath as my heart leaps out of my body.
Countless fish in different colors and sizes swim above us in a domed tank. I spot a hammerhead shark in the back corner. I twirl, laughing as the water’s reflection dances around us.
“I love it! This is so magical,” I say in a rush, grabbing Sully’s arm.
“Only fitting for my beautiful mermaid.” His lips meet mine before his mouth travels down my throat.
Classical music floats above us as the waiters move, grabbing our chairs and gesturing for us to take a seat. The tablecloth is soft and feels like handspun cotton. In the center is a vase of blood-red roses with fat pink candles in golden candlesticks on either side. One of the waiters lights the wicks as another pours white wine into our glasses.
Fresh salads with the greenest lettuce I’ve ever seen are placed in front of us.
“I didn’t order yet…” I say, confused, picking up a fork.
“Don’t worry. I planned everything.” Sully’s head darts around the flowers, trying to see me. He’s more of a floating head coming in and out of focus.
“Can we lose the roses? They’re a bit much,” Sully says, giving in.
A waiter whisks them off the table and rearranges the candles without a word.
“There’s that smile I love.” Sully’s voice is low and warm, sending a shiver across my skin. I bite my lip to hide the shy smile tugging at my mouth as a flush creeps up my neck. Needing something to steady myself, I take a giant sip of wine, hoping it will calm the jittery excitement dancing in my chest.
Above and all around us, fish glide by, moving idly through the water with nowhere to go.
“Have you ever swum with a shark?” Sully asks, gesturing to a nurse shark cruising to our right.
“I have in Fiji and Costa Rica. I was supposed to last year in Hawaii, but my dad got sick, and I canceled to stay here to help take care of him.”
“And he’s doing better, right? When we saw them,he—”
“Yes.” I dab my mouth with a cloth napkin. “It takes more than pneumonia to extinguish his fire.”
Sully nods, his crooked grin sending my heart into flips. If I’m not careful that damn smile of his will send me into v-fib. “I’m happy to hear that.”
The waiters take away our salads and place steaks with loaded mashed potatoes and buttery green beans in front of us.
“What about your family? You haven’t told me much about them.” I glance up from cutting my steak, cooked to perfection with a warm pink center, to see Sully freeze mid-cutting his steak.
