“It’s prettier at night when the lights are lit. Haven’t you seen them?”
“Nope. Never been past the mall.” I sipped my frozen lemonade and my mind wandered to Chay and me on a boat drifting down the river, engulfed in a coat of darkness. Alone, but for the gentle waves lapping at the side of the boat. My heart started to speed up, and my breath came in small gasps. Oh, hells yeah. I wanted that boat ride.
“A boyfriend has never brought you here?”
“Hmm?” Chay’s question interrupted my semi-naughty—on its way to very naughty—daydream. “Oh. Not until today.” I didn’t mention the fact that I hadn’t had too many boyfriends, and none that lasted more than a few weeks. My heart had always been saved for another. I’d thought it was Jake, but now I knew it was Chay.
“The boat ride is great at night. There are different colored lights lining the water. All the shops and restaurants are lit up, and the boat plays music and has a small dance floor. It’s all very…”
“Very what?” I asked when he didn’t finish.
“Romantic.”
“Romantic, huh? Hmm. Are you trying to seduce me?” I teased. Sort of teased, really. He had me in knots. I wouldn’t have minded a little seduction. Or a lot.
Chay put his mouth next to my ear. His breath skimmed across my skin, pulling goose bumps from it. I felt his lips move when he spoke, and I shivered. “No. What I’m trying to do is romance you.”
Oh, wow. He has invaded me. Completely inserted himself into my life, my thoughts, my heart. He doesn’t need to romance me. I’m his. Already his.
“Uh-oh. Did I just hear you right? You’re a romantic?” I leaned closer to him. Our mouths were a fraction a part. Not touching, but hovering next to each other, our breaths mixing.
“Why is that so hard to believe?” He pulled back and looked at me.
I sighed. “You were kind of… well, distant and closed off when we first met.” I swirled my fork in my pasta. “Muriel called you dark and brooding. I wouldn’t have pegged you for the romantic type.”
“Huh.” He picked up his cup and took a drink of Coke.
“What?”
“You were talking about me to Muriel,” he said with a lazy grin.
“Don’t get an inflated ego.”
When we finished eating and left the café, we walked past a street vendor selling handmade jewelry. Chay picked up a hammered silver cuff bracelet with a heart engraved on it. He paid the vendor and slipped it on my wrist. I sucked in a breath as his warm hands slid the cool metal against my skin.
Surprise and happiness stole my words. I licked my lips and a small, tentative smile touched them. My hand shook when I reached out to trace the heart engraved in the silver. My heart swelled to the point that it pressed tears at the back of my eyes. “A souvenir of your first trip to the Waterway,” he murmured, kissing the hollow behind my ear.
“I can’t… it’s too expensive.”
“I want you to have it.”
I still looked at the bracelet, moving my finger over the heart again and again. “Thank you. It’s beautiful, but it’s not a souvenir of my trip to the Waterway.” He gave me a puzzled look. “It’s a reminder of my day with you.”
He pursed his lips to hide a grin and looked down at the ground. “I like that.” He took my hand and kissed the palm before threading our fingers together, pulling me toward a large, metal sculpture. Situated around it were benches and large containers overflowing with fall foliage and brightly colored flowers.
“What are we doing?” I asked when he stopped and stood staring at the ground.
He held up a finger for me to wait. “We are waiting for… that.” He laughed when I jumped as geysers of water shot out of the cemented area around the sculpture and created a screen between us and the visitors on the other side. Colored spotlights shone on the water, creating a rainbow.
I stuck my hand into one of the water walls surrounding us. “Wicked cool.”
“If you think that’s cool, wait until tonight.” One side of his mouth tipped up in a grin. “You want a better look?” he asked quickly.
“No!” Letting out a small scream, I fisted my hand in the front of his shirt just seconds before he pushed me into the cold spray. I pulled him in with me.
We stumbled over each other’s feet, trying not to fall and embarrass ourselves, all the while laughing loud and unrestrained. I loved seeing the openness on Chay’s face, hearing his deep laugh, seeing the skin crinkle at the sides of his eyes.
“You weren’t supposed to get me wet too!” he said, still half laughing. He pulled me against him and kissed me quickly.
“You didn’t think I was going to be the only one walking around in uncomfortable, wet jeans did you?” My jeans made a sucking sound when I pulled them away from my skin.
“I didn’t think you’d know what I was going to do in time to grab me.”
“I saw your tell.” I shrugged.
“My what?”
“Your tell. The slightest movement a person makes just before they do something or when they’re lying.”