“Want me to put the top up?”
“No, I don’t want you to put the top up. But I do want to know where we’re going. And why we’re going anywhere with dozens of reports to review.”
Kyle just grinned and shook his head. “I told you. A surprise.”
“Uh-huh.” A little grin played on her face, and he knew he was driving her nuts.
“Do you trust me?”
She licked her lips. “Should I trust you?”
“Hell no.”
She laughed. “Well, I guess I’m just a naive little female, then, because, actually, I do.”
“Wise woman. Astute. With amazing insight into the character of others.”
“Uh-huh. Quit buttering me up and drive. I’m dying of curiosity over here.”
“Aye-aye.” He focused on the road while she leaned back in her seat, soaking up the setting sun and the sea-sprayed wind.
He cast a sideways look toward her. She lookedso beautiful, so happy. She’d inched her way into his life, and he was absolutely determined that she was going to stay. No two ways about it. He didn’t care if she’d once been a thief, didn’t care if that was some huge issue for her. They’d work it out. They had to because, dammit, he’d fallen in love.
He took a deep breath, concentrating on the road, as he let the simple truth into his head once more: he’d fallen in love.
This woman had filled his heart and his head, and he didn’t intend to let her walk away.
Right now, though, he just wanted to be with her. Away from his family, away from the office, away from all his problems. Just him and Mel and the sand and the sea.
He turned onto Moss from Pacific Coast Highway and started looking for a parking place, actually lucking out and finding one near the stairs. He eased in, killed the engine and turned to Mel. “We’re here.”
She looked around. “Uh-huh.”
“Trust me.” The area wasn’t much. Just a little neighborhood and a little street. But the beach below them was a treasure, and he intended to share it with her.
“I told you,” she said, “I do.”
The words were blithe, but spoken with such sinceritythat they made his insides twist. He walked around the car, opened the door for her and then popped the tiny trunk and pulled out the cardboard box he’d shoved in earlier.
“Mailing a package?”
“Tru—”
“I know. Trust you.”
He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Come on.”
They headed down the street to the staircase that led to the small beach. He stole a glance back at her and was delighted to see the smile on her face when she saw the view. When they hit the sand, he took her hand and led her to a little nook among the rocks. He put the box down and opened it, pulling out a large blanket. He spread it on the ground and gestured for her to sit down. Amusement danced on her lips, but she didn’t argue.
Next out of the box was their dinner. He’d ordered from his favorite restaurant, and the staff had packaged it up for a picnic. An entire smorgasbord of delights, and he laid them out on the blanket in front of them.
She plucked up a piece of baklava. “Wow.”
“I brought the reports to review,” he said, tossing the folders into the middle of the blanket. “But I thought we might be more productive if we workedthrough dinner, and then took a little time off to enjoy the show.”
“Show?”
He gestured to the ocean. “Sunset,” he said.
