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Tonight we have plans to go to dinner, just the two of us. It’s a small step in the right direction. I hope. I confirmed with my doctor that I’m cleared to have sex again. Brady hasn’t even so much as hinted that he’s interested. I’ve shed many tears considering that maybe he’s not. Maybe he doesn’t want me. I’ve never felt like that with him. It’s the one thing I’ve always been sure of. Tonight I hope we can rekindle the spark between us before it flickers and dies completely.
After I shower, I let Liv do my hair and makeup. I’m wearing one of Brady’s favorite dresses. It’s shorter than I usually prefer to wear, but I know how much he likes it. I’m a ball of restless anxiety as I analyze myself in the mirror. I feel like I’ve aged ten years.
When I hear his footsteps approaching, I turn and face the door. I smooth the skirt of my dress with my palms. Brady stops in the doorway when he sees me. My lip quivers and my fingers tremble as his green eyes travel up and down my body. A wide smile spreads across his face as he reaches for me with both hands extended. I take his hands, stepping toward him.
He lifts his arms to spin me. I twirl once and stop.
“You look so beautiful.” His compliment fills me with renewed hope. “I love you, Victoria Maria Hunter.”
“I love you, too.”
He grabs my purse from the bed and holds his arm out. “Shall we?”
I smile and loop my arm through his.
I made reservations at a posh restaurant on Coronado, so when Brady passes the turn for the border and heads in the opposite direction, I twist my head to look at him.
He turns his head to me and smiles. “I have a better idea.”
I smile back at him, knowing exactly where we’re headed. I couldn’t be happier. The rest of the drive is quiet as we make our way through the twists and turns of the Baja coast on the road leading to my favorite place. The place where Brady took me to ecstasy island the very first time.
As we pull into the parking lot of LaFonda’s, my mind drifts back to our first visit here. We’d stayed late at the Center, and Brady had decided to spend the night at this quaint hotel after dinner. I talked him into one room that night. I knew I was in love with him beyond a doubt, and I was prepared to show him. More importantly, he wanted me to. It was the most amazing night of my life.
We never made it through dinner. We sprinted to our room and spent the night giving in to our feelings for each other. Up until a month ago, we had spent most of our time in that room. It wasn’t until the studio was finished and Second Chances started practicing daily that we moved into our house on the water. I love this place, and I love that he brought me here.
I feel his hand slide along the back of my neck. When I turn, his green eyes are sparkling like emeralds, the warmest I’ve seen them in weeks. “Reminiscing?”
I smile shyly and nod. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
He smiles back before hopping out of the car and opening my door for me.
We go into the restaurant, and Brady takes me to the table where we sat the first time we were here. It’s been reserved. I smile on the inside, knowing he’s had this planned all along.
I slide into the booth, and Brady slips in next to me, draping his arm over my shoulders. “I remember the first time I brought you here. That was the best day of my life.”
“Mine, too.” I admit. It feels like the first time all over again. I’m as scared and timid as I was that night. Nerves dance around in my stomach and I can’t catch my breath. I’m not sure what to say or how to act. It’s surreal.
“I’ve missed you.” His hand pushes my hair away from my neck
before he lands a few kisses on the skin behind my ear. My entire body shivers. It’s been so long since he’s touched me.
“I wasn’t sure.” I look down at my knotted hands. Why am I so nervous?
He leans back, his eyebrows drawing together as he studies my face. “How could you ever doubt that?”
I turn in my seat to face him, his impossibly green eyes running all over my face. He looks sad. I have to be honest with him. I’m not sure how to say it. “I don’t know. I feel like you’ve been keeping your distance.”
He reaches up with both hands and tucks my hair behind my ears before pulling my face to him and kissing my lips once. His hands fall away, but his eyes hold my gaze. “I have.”
My eyes widen as I look at him, completely confused. “Why?”
“I didn’t want to put any pressure on you.” He takes both my hands, holding them as he smoothes his thumbs over my knuckles. “I wanted you to come around on your own, not because I was telling you to.”
“I thought you didn’t want me anymore.” I blink back tears, fighting against the stinging in my eyes.
“Oh, God, Tori.” He pulls me to his chest. I wrap my arms around his waist and snuggle in close. “I’ll never want anyone else. You’re my fucking life.”
I sit up when the waitress interrupts us. Brady tells her we need another minute. I’m suddenly not hungry, at least not for food. My body craves his touch. I want to be alone with him. “Are we staying here?”
