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“And here we are.” he says, half-turning to flash me that heart-stopping smile. The one that promises mischief and something slightly more meaningful, all at once. “Surprise! I know it’s been a while since we have done anything but play with the new baby. Tonight, real life is on pause. Mom has our daughter. All we have to do is relax.”
“Just for the night?” I ask. “I don’t want to leave the baby for long.”
He kisses my knuckles. “We’ll be back at our house in the morning.”
My lips twitch, but my eyes also fill with tears. I dash away my tears. “You spoil me, River.”
He squeezes my arm. “You deserve every penny I spend on you, darlin’.”
I give a little shiver. It’s automatic; River has trained me to practically pant when he uses my pet name. I lick my lips.
“Let’s enjoy the view first. We can explore later,” he suggests.
I raise my brows and shrug. “Fine by me.”
He lets go of my hand for a moment, leaving me adrift. Soon, he returns with a pair of blankets tucked under his arm. "Thought it might get chilly," he says.
River walks me through the house. Everything is gleaming, marble and chrome and warm wood. I stifle a laugh.
“You unpacked!” I say.
He nods. “I wanted everything to be perfect for my darlin’ wife.”
My heart squeezes at the pet name.
“You did great,” I assure him. “Just having furniture is a big step up.”
“That’s a solid burn.” His lips twitch with amusement. “Come outside. There’s more I want to show you.”
He stops at a pair of French doors and throws them open. I stop and stare at the beach just a few hundred yards beyond where we stand.
Talk about a million-dollar view! I step out onto the back porch. I’m too consumed by the sunset on the water to really think of much else.
River spreads the blankets across the wooden planks of the deck beneath our feet. One blanket lies smooth and inviting, while the other gets bunched up at the corners, forming a makeshift pillow.
"You are always prepared," I note, impressed despite myself.
"Comes with the territory," he replies. He smirks and a hint of that CEO authority seeps into his tone. I love that about him. There's a playfulness there too. He issues a challenge as he pats the blanket next to him. "Join me?"
I would go anywhere this man leads me.
I settle onto the soft fabric, my eyes on him. The warmth of the day still lingers as the setting sun paints the sky in streaks of orange and purple. River sits beside me, close enough that I can feel the heat from his body. My chest constricts when I see the way his eyes darken when they meet mine. It's attraction, sure. But it's also something rawer.
Something like the vows he said to me at our little beach wedding. My mouth kicks up at the corner.
"Nice view," I say. I'm not looking at the ocean, though. My gaze is only focused on him.
"Best in the house," he agrees.
I know he's not talking about the water either.
River's gaze locks onto mine, a cool sapphire tone that threatens to drown me here and now. My heart is a hummingbird trapped within the cage of my ribs. Its frantic beat feels like a drumroll. Building to the moment unfolding between us.
"Beautiful," he murmurs. He hooks a wisp of my hair with two fingers and tucks it behind my ear.
River is a magician and I’m desperate to watch his next trick.
He leans in closer, the air charged with electricity. With every tiny shift, every breath he takes, the anticipation builds.
