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MADDOX
Dinner with Ivyis better than I could have hoped. She’s warm and relaxed, open and funny. The food’s great, the ambiance romantic.
Everything between us is perfect.
“Thanks for dinner, Maddox. That was delicious.” Ivy dabs her lips with a napkin, her eyes twinkling in the silvery moonlight.
She’s so damn beautiful, dark tendrils of hair framing her face.
“You’re welcome. You want dessert?”
“I couldn’t. I’m stuffed.”
“All right. Let’s get out of here then.” I take a chance, resting my hand on her lower back as we head out of Rudolpho’s.
“Want to see where the festival’s going to be?” I ask as we hit the sidewalk.
“Sounds good.”
I fully commit, looping my arm around her waist, and we walk toward the center of town. Usually, I’m pretty confident around women, but something about Ivy has me on edge, nervous. My heart pounds hard as I point out every interesting sight I can think of. But she hangs on every word I say, giggling in all the right places, so I think she’s enjoying herself at least.
“Over there’s where Santa’s village is set up.” I point to a large, grassy space with a gingerbread village being erected. A white picket fence sets the area apart from the main space, tall candy canes forming a winding path leading toward the house where Santa and Mrs. Claus greet people all through July.
“Then both sides of the street have different booths and tents set up, with Christmas cookies and crafts and merchandise.”
“Wow. Sounds really fun. And it goes on the entire month of July?”
“Yep. Plus, there’s a boat parade and a pageant. It’s a big production and the entire town gets involved.”
“That’s so much fun.” She smiles over at me and my mind flashes to an image of the two of us decorating the boat for the parade together, looping lights over the bow. Me driving the boat while Ivy waves at the crowd in a Santa hat.
Way to get ahead of yourself, man. One step at a time.
Thunder rumbles and the wind picks up, palm fronds rustling as the trees sway. Ivy steps in closer to me, and I instinctively hold her tighter.
I peer up at the dark clouds gathering overhead. “We should get going.”
The first drop of rain falls, plopping on my forearm. “Uh-oh. Too little, too late. C’mon”
Grabbing Ivy’s hand, we run toward the Sugar Plum Inn, the rain falling harder and faster. Now it’s raining so hard I can hardly even see, water sluicing down my face, into my eyes. Ivy’s laughing and we’re both breathing hard, hearts pounding as we race for shelter.
Finally, we turn back onto Snow Street, the inn a white beacon in the darkness, the porch lights a golden, flickering glow. We jog up the steps, both of us dripping wet.
“Oh my gosh! That storm came out of nowhere.” Ivy swipes at the water droplets on her arms, running a hand through her damp hair.
“Welcome to Florida. That’s a summer storm for you—they come out of nowhere all the time. Sorry I didn’t have the golf cart.”
“It’s fine. Got my cardio in for the day.” She smiles up at me, and I’m suddenly light-headed.
I step toward her, my hands finding her narrow waist, pulling her into me. Heat radiates between us, her chest pressed against mine. She smells like summer and rain, and I lower my lips to hers, my heart pounding.
Our lips brush, soft at first, tentative. She relaxes into me, and I take a chance, deepening the kiss. She opens to me, and our tongues touch, sending a jolt of electricity zinging through me. My entire body’s tense, coiled tightly, ready for action.
“Maddox,” she murmurs.
I pull away slightly. “Is this okay?”
Now I’m nervous I overstepped.
