chapter 26

She comes to stand beside me. “It’s a gorgeous place. Thank you so much for organizing it.”

“My pleasure.” I turn and slip my arms around her waist. She rests her hands on my chest again, and she gives a little shiver. “Are you cold?” I ask.

“No.”

Aw. I kiss her forehead. Then her nose. Then, finally, her mouth.

She sighs and lifts her face to me, and we exchange a slow, gentle kiss that sends a frisson running down my back. It would be so easy to turn and direct her back into the bedroom, strip off her clothes, and throw her straight onto the bed, but I don’t want to do that. Even though that’s why we’re here, and we’re not strictly on a date, I want to romance her a little.

“Come on,” I say. “Let’s walk slowly down to the vineyard. We can have a drink before we eat.”

She blows out what I think is a relieved breath. “Okay.”

We lock up the villa and head out into the sunshine. The path leads around the buildings and then along the top of the ridge, with the Pacific sparkling to our le