Anyone else would’ve gloated or given them a hard time. Not Nesto; he thanked them for giving him another opportunity and didn’t waste a single breath on Misty. That was the kind of man he was, and right now he was looking at me with such genuine affection I had a hard time believing it was all for me.
He leaned closer, totally focused on me. “We’ve been going at full speed for months now, and I wanted some time just thetwo of us.” He shook his head. “Things are moving so fast, and pretty soon I’m going to have to make some decisions about the future.”
My heart sank when I heard those words. So far we’d avoided discussing the elephant in the room.
He pressed our foreheads together as he spoke. “We haven’t even talked about what it would mean for us.” This time he did blush as he waved his hands between us. “I’m seriously in unknown territory at the moment, so please stop me if I’m acting like a fool right now.”
I shook my head against the niggling feeling that said, “This is too much. You’re being careless. Whatever you let yourself have right now, will make it a hundred times worse if this doesn’t work out.” I almost told him to forget it, that we shouldn’t, thatI couldn’t.
Then I pulled back to look at him and he wasso solid. I leaned into whatI knew, what felt certain. I could trust what I had with Nesto right now.
“You’re definitely not doing that.”
Another blush.
“I asked Carmen if she’d talk to Martha about you taking today and part of tomorrow off.” He put his hands up looking embarrassed. “Was that totally creepy and over the line? Martha said it was fine.”
I kept staring at him with what I knew was a stunned look on my face, unable to talk. I could not believe Nesto managed to pull this off when he’d been working fourteen-hour days for the last two weeks.
He cringed, and the blush was now working itself down his neck. “I also packed us a change of clothes. The bag’s in the trunk.” He looked back like he was expecting the thing to jump out and slap him.
I just sat there grinning at him while he confessed.
“It’s less than an hour from Ithaca, so we can both be back after lunchtime tomorrow. I took care of the truck, too. Ari and Yin are handling everything without me.” He lifted his shoulder this time, a very naughty smile on his lips. “I figured I’d finally pay you back for that massage I promised you.”
I was having trouble deciding what to do, because there was no way I could crawl onto his lap in the limited space of his Prius. But I at least would give him a hell of a kiss. I leaned over, this time running my hand over his crotch while I bit his lower lip. He let out a surprised yelp when I tightened my hand on his hardening cock.
“Oh shit, okay. So, we’re good then?”
I didn’t answer right away. Instead I spent another moment sucking on his tongue before pulling back.
“We’re more than good. I can’t believe you did all that. How did you even get a room? That place is always booked solid in the summer.”
The tip of his tongue slid over his upper lip and he preened. My man’s swagger back in full force.
“What am I, brand new? I got some tricks up my sleeve. One of the ladies from the market, the one who runs the raw food stand, mentioned she was tight with the manager. I texted her on Sunday and she came through. They had a cancellation on a room with a lake view, so I took it.”
I knew I was looking at him like he just told me he’d climbed Mt. Everest, but I couldn’t help it. No one had ever done anything like this for me.
He waggled his eyebrows. “We better get this car on the road then, because I actually made us a massage appointment.”
More winking.
“Start driving, Ernesto. I’m ready.”
“I don’t think I’ve been this relaxed in well…ever,” I said as I heard Nesto walking onto the balcony in our room.
“I’ve got something to get you even more relaxed.” He stood behind my rocking chair and handed me a flute of champagne. I tipped my head back for a kiss and he lowered his head, lightly pressing our lips together before sitting down on the chair next to mine.
Nesto turned his head and clinked our glasses together. “Salud. Here’s to guerilla getaways.”
“Here’s to lovers with stealth for romance,” I said smiling, and reached out to hold his hand. I leaned back, closing my eyes, and felt a little dizzy from the wine we’d had at dinner, the warm night air, the lull of the rocking chair and this man.
I knew I’d been half in love with him already but today had been like something out of a dream. From the moment we got to the inn everything had been perfect.
Our room was exquisite with an amazing view of the lake and the most delicious bed I’d ever laid on. After a nap, we’d gotten lunch in the patio restaurant and then went for a couple’s massage. We took a walk along the lake before going to the dining room for a delicious dinner. We talked about books, movies we liked, the places we’d been to and others we’d like to visit someday. It was a perfect day.
Hewas perfect.
