“It’s okay.I know it’s hard with Karim.”
But still, she’d been going on about Part Five for days, and now Dan was finally doing something about it, she’d been too nervous to hear what he had to say.She swallowed the pineapple and licked her lips.“We could watch them now?”
“No.There’re other things I’d like to do now.”He placed a hand at the back of her head and drew her face toward his.“First date things.”
“You British men move fast.”
“Life’s too short not to.I know firsthand how our worlds can change in a matter of seconds.”His lips grazed hers, soft and gentle, testing, exploring.“And you still don’t know how lethal you are when you eat juicy fruits.”
She smiled against his mouth.Things with Dan swung from intense to relaxed, but her heart felt safer now that they’d talked.“Are you still extending your visa to stay out here for another month?”she asked.
He nodded.“Are you?”
She nodded back, helpless to stop her grin from spreading.“We’re still heading to Australia afterwards.I’ve planned to rent a camper van that Karim and I can live in for a while.We won’t return to the UK until April.”She gazed into his deep, patient eyes.“If you have no other plans, you could come with us.I mean, we’d have to look at bigger vehicles.And maybe the BBC will fly out to interview you.”
“I’m turning them down.I don’t want to work for the BBC.I want to work with you.”
Did he mean it?
“What if I drive you nuts?”she asked.
“You already do.”He leaned in and grazed his lips against hers, teasing, drawing her to him.She kissed him back, lighting the fuse between them.Then he rolled to cover her with his big body, holding her tight and leaving his mark wherever he touched.
Treesrustledinthenighttime breeze.Warm air caressed Libby’s bare skin like a soft cotton sheet.As Dan shifted to deal with the condom, she sat up and gazed at the slither of moonlight across his bare shoulders.
Their lovemaking had been different just now.
Dan had always been a very generous lover, but tonight there’d been something else.
Something deeper, burning brighter.
They packed up the blanket and candles, scooped up their clothes, and walked naked into the hut.They took a shower, and then later, with her head resting on his chest, in the quiet of his bedroom, Libby watched the moon’s shadows flicker on his ceiling.The wind had picked up outside.
“Australia,” she said.“You really want to come?You want to travel with us in a camper van?”
“Mmm…I do.”
She raised her head and smiled.It was late.Dan was already dozing.She snuggled back against his chest.Could they do it?Her, Dan, and Karim.Traveling together.Living together.Like a family.
Visions of the three of them breezing along the wild Australian coastline danced before her.Her stomach swirled with happiness and excitement.
And a whole ton of nerves that were soon soothed and lulled to sleep by Dan’s beating heart.
Chapter 32
Karimwasbusyemptyingsaucepans out of the cupboard when Dan entered the kitchen the next morning, but it was Libby who really caught his eye.The lush curve of her rounded behind peeked out from under the hem of her shorts as she bent over the counter, reading something on her phone.
“Good morning,” he said.Reaching for a mug in the cupboard above her head, he nestled himself against her.“Excuse me,” he added, all innocence.
“You could’ve gone around the other way,” she chuckled.
“Yeah, I could’ve.”Dan kissed her cheek and then poured himself some coffee, feeling great.Last night was great.He and Libby were great.Everything was great.
Then he caught sight of Libby’s screen.A snapshot of Alicia Hunter and her kids stepping into a black London cab.His heart sank a little.
“Trust me, it’s positive news,” she said quickly, like she’d read his mind.“Rick messaged me this morning.It turns out that Alicia Hunter really is in London now, but she’s got the kids and their nanny in tow.They’ve come to check out the vibe and some schools for next year.Alicia has some big film coming up.Shooting in London starts in January for six months.That’s why she’s gone there, not for some big showdown with Isabella.”
“That’s all settled, then.”Relieved that Isabella wasn’t heading toward a big scandal, Dan took Libby’s phone out of her hand and leaned into her.Today was time for celebrating the start of his new life, not getting bogged down with the hangovers from his old one.“You still haven’t watched my Part Five clips.”
