Page 169 of Pure Recklessness

‘Do you have plans this weekend?’ I asked, remembering how I’d upset her by stealing her away from her friends.

She was right. I shouldn’t have assumed she was free. But after a week of craving her and keeping my distance, I had to see her again.

And when she didn’t reply to my texts or calls, I needed to find her.

Dinner had been amazing. The conversation had flowed so easily and seeing the joy on Ellie’s face when she tried each dish made my chest do this odd, fluttery thing.

And I liked it.

So, no.

As risky as it was to continue seeing Ellie, I wasn’t going to call it quits.

Far from it.

If Ellie was free, I wanted to spend the whole damn weekend with her again.

‘No.’ She smiled. ‘I’m free.’

A wide smile spread across my face.

Excellent.

‘During dinner you said you wanted to travel.’ I took her hands in mine. I loved how small and soft they were. ‘You wanted to start with a short haul flight somewhere in Europe, correct?’

‘Yes?’ Her frown deepened.

‘Consider your wish granted.’

‘Why? How?’

‘Because first thing in the morning, we’ll take the jet to Spain. I have a villa near Marbella where we can stay.’

‘Wait, what?’ Her brows shot up. ‘You want to go to Spain. Tomorrow. With me?’

‘Yes.’

‘Oh my God!’ She squealed then threw her arms around me so tightly I almost suffocated. ‘I’m so excited!’

She pressed her lips on mine and as we kissed and warmth flooded my chest, I realised that I was excited too.

It was a sensation that I’d thought I’d lost forever.

I couldn’t remember the last time I was fired up about anything that wasn’t work-related.

But I’d noticed that whenever I was with Ellie or was about to see her, that feeling of joy that’d been alien to me for so long came whooshing back.

I enjoyed spending time with her.

A lot.

A whole weekend of sun, sand and sea with Ellie without having to worry about being seen was a great idea.

Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

63

ELLIE