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“I don’t feel cold.” I feel absolutely perfect. As for cold, a chill ripples down my spine, but it’s not from the chilly air. It’s from the heat of his hands running over my skin.
I turn to face him and see the silvery reflection of the moon in his eyes, making them mysterious and captivating.
“Here. I’ve got a jacket in the saddle bag.” He leaves me to grab the jacket. He shakes it out and holds it up for me. “Put this on.”
I spin around and love the weight and feel of his jacket on my body. He takes my hand in his and leads me near the edge of the cliff. We stand behind the guardrail and stare out at the ocean as a companionable silence envelops us. The rhythmic lull of the waves creates an almost hypnotic state.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Zeb’s deep voice sends a shiver of anticipation rushing along my skin.
“Gorgeous.” I turn my face to the night sky, basking in the glow of the full moon high overhead, loving the way the wind whips through my hair.
With my eyes closed, Zeb surprises me with a gentle kiss to my forehead. My eyes open and I can’t help but smile. He pulls me close, arms wrapped tight around me, as we listen to the waves.
I don’t know how long we stand there, taking in nature’s beauty, but eventually, Zeb clears his throat.
“We should get going, or they’re going to wonder what happened to us.”
“Reality calls.” I breathe out a sigh. “Can’t we stay just a little longer?”
“Come on. There’s plenty more of this at The Facility.”
I’ve heard aboutThe Facility from Carmen. It’s some kind of halfway house/recovery facility for those Guardian HRS rescues. It sits along PCH-1, oceanside, and is supposed to be an amazing place to recover and rebuild.
He tugs gently at my hand and leads me back to the Harley. We mount up and continue our journey with the Harley growling like a beast as it chews through the curving road. Eventually, we come across a small diner perched over the rocky cliffs. The sign over it says, “Bill’s Burgers - Best on the Coast.”
An inviting little hole in the wall, my stomach rumbles with the promise of a great greasy burger.
“Are you hungry?” Zeb pulls to a stop in the small parking lot.
“Famished.”
We step off the Harley and head inside, holding hands. The moment we open the door, mouthwatering aromas attack our noses.
“Oh my, I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.” I place my hand over my belly, hoping my stomach will behave until we can order food.
Bill’s Burgers is a small burger joint with a linoleum floor, stressed wood tables, and hard plastic chairs, but the floor sparkles and the tables are clean.
“Have a seat anywhere you like.” A woman with curly hair drawn up in elegant disarray on top of her head looks like she just stepped out of the fifties. “I’ll be with you in a moment.”
Zeb guides me over to a booth at a window. When I try to slide in, he places his hand out to stop me.
“I sit there.” His voice snaps and I jump.
“Why?” A little taken aback by the brusqueness of his tone, I flinch involuntarily.
“Sorry.” He pulls me in for a hug. “Didn’t mean to startle you. I sit here because I can see the exits. I like to keep my back to the wall and my eyes where I can see who’s coming and going.”
“It’s okay. I was just startled.”
“Startled or stress response?”
“What does that mean?”
“Like a trigger. I don’t know how Scott treated you and I don’t want to do something that triggers you.”
“Oh, I get it. Um, maybe a little?”
“If I ever do something that makes you jump, or flinch, or react in a negative way, just tell me. If you can’t tell me, just tap my arm three times. I’ll know I pushed a trigger and can fix it in the moment.”
