TEN
ryder
I don’t thinkI’ve been this excited about something since…
Shit. I can’t remember.
Luckily, I know how to use the internet, so when I woke up this morning, I researched some tourist attractions in the area and found an underground hot spring not too far from here.
And not just any hot spring—one with secluded natural pools nestled in caves, with steam rising through cracks in ancient rock formations. The website promised ‘a transcendent experience.’ Perfect for breaking down the walls of a grumpy romance novelist with writer’s block.
While I wait for Noia to get ready, I rummage through her kitchen and pack a small cooler I found in the back of a closet with snacks. There’s not much food in the house, but I manage to find some fruit and cheese in the back of the fridge.
I check my watch—which was mysteriously sitting on the nightstand when I woke up this morning. It feels like the longer I’m here, the more real things are starting to become. Like the universe is filling in the blanks of my existence, one small detail at a time.
Maybe my wallet will show up next. I had to use Noia’s credit card to book today’s little excursion. I was only able to pay for our drinks at the bar because I’d found a fifty in my pocket.
I can hear her stomping around upstairs, muttering to herself and, for some reason, it makes me smile. For someone who writes about emotion for a living, she sure is terrible at controlling hers.
Goonie winds between my legs, meowing impatiently. I scoop some food into his bowl and scratch behind his ears.
“You’re on my side, right, buddy?”
He chirrups, then immediately abandons me for his breakfast.
The sound of footsteps on the stairs makes me look up. Noia is wearing black leggings, an oversized sweater that hangs off one shoulder and a scowl that could curdle milk. She’s piled her hair on top of her head in a messy bun, and she’s clutching a small bag to her chest like a shield.
“This better be worth it,” she grumbles.
I can’t help but grin. “Good morning, sunshine.”
“Don’t push it.” She drops her bag on the counter. “I packed a swimsuit, but I can’t promise you I’ll wear it.”
“We’ll see about that.”
She narrows her eyes before reluctantly following me outside. “Where are we going, exactly?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“I hate surprises.”
“No,” I correct her, shoving the cooler into the trunk of the car. “You hate not being in control. Big difference.”
Her mouth opens, then closes. She knows I’ve got her pegged.
“Come on,” I say, softening my tone. “When was the last time you did something spontaneous?”
She fidgets with the strap of her bag. “I spontaneously agreed to go on this mystery date with you, didn’t I?”
“Okay. I’ll take that.”
As I close the trunk, I can feel her watching me. The weight of her gaze makes my skin tingle and my cock twitch.
“I’m driving,” she announces, holding out her hand for the keys.
“As long as you follow my directions,” I say, dropping them into her palm.
“I’m already regretting this,” she growls, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her sexy lips as she slides into the driver’s seat.
