The second he dropped and started gliding, he squeezed his eyes shut. But then something changed within him. His trepidation gave way to exhilaration and the smooth ride seemed almost liberating. Luke opened his eyes to see the treetops below and the bright beautiful ocean in the distance. Before he knew it, he was landing on the other deck and another worker was patting his back on a job well done.
Luke turned in time to see Kelly’s big, wide smile as she rushed toward him from the cable. She was absolutely breathtaking like this. And apparently had needed this adrenaline rush just as much as he did.
Something shifted inside him once again. There was something about her that propelled him to take risks, that had him wanting to know even more about what made her smile like she hadn’t a care in the world.
“You did it!” she exclaimed. “Did you like it?”
Luke nodded as he was assisted in removing his helmet. “I did. It was pretty awesome.”
“I really am sorry I terrified you.”
Luke didn’t want pity, good grief that was like just adding salt into the wound. He might as well turn in his man card.
“Honestly, I didn’t know heights bothered me that much until now,” he admitted.
“Do you want to go again?” she asked.
There was a sparkle in her eyes that he couldn’t resist. This woman was a risk-taker, which w
as a hell of a turn-on. He wanted to see that smile more. He wanted her to be happy. And most importantly, he wanted to be the man to ensure that joy never faltered.
This side of Kelly was not one he typically saw in the office and he realized he wanted to keep uncovering those layers to find out her true essence.
He dropped a kiss to her lips. “Let’s go.”
* * *
After several hours of zip-lining and hiking through trails along the mountainside, they headed back to the resort in their Jeep. Kelly loved the freedom of driving with the top down along the ocean road and having Luke by her side made the experience even more special.
“How about a walk along the beach?” she suggested once they were back inside their bungalow.
“Sounds good to me.”
She slid her arms around his waist and stared up at him. “I really am sorry you were scared earlier. I just assumed—”
“That I was brave?” he laughed. “Don’t tell anyone I nearly passed out looking at treetops.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” she assured him. “We’re all afraid of something.”
His brows drew in as he tipped his head, studying her. “You’ve found my kryptonite. What’s yours?”
Kelly’s heart clenched. What she truly wanted, more than anything was a family of her own one day. And a solid, loving relationship with a man who would put her first. But that man could not be Luke, no matter how much she might want him to be. There was no use in getting her hopes up or even letting her mind go in that direction. She’d been with him for five years and it wasn’t like one week of great sex would reprogram this incurable workaholic.
“I think a girl needs to keep some secrets.” She smiled and kissed his bearded chin. “Let’s get our suits on and go to the beach. Maybe wear that suit you had from the first day.”
“That tight thing? It will cut off circulation to the most important parts.”
Kelly slid her hand between them and cupped those said parts. “Well, we certainly can’t have that. I have plans for us later.”
He instantly jerked against her palm. “Later?”
She couldn’t help but smile as she eased her hand inside the waistband of his shorts for full-on contact.
“Now is fine, too.”
Luke groaned and dropped his head back. This is what she wanted. She wanted him to come undone for her, knowing she’d caused him to release such passion. For now, he was hers, and she planned on taking full advantage...literally.
She eased his shorts down to his ankles and dropped to her knees.