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“Why are you whispering?” he also whispered.
“Because it’s so quiet. I don’t want to disturb it.”
“The silence?”
“Yeap.”
“Makes perfect sense. Come on.” He tugged my arm. “Just through here.”
We walked the short distance through an opening to another part of the beach and the sight stole the air from my lungs.
“Arch?”
“I wanted to watch the sunrise with you.” He pushed his hands in his pockets, toeing the sand like he was nervous.
“It’s perfect.” And it was. In front of us were four tiki torches that surrounded a huge nest of blankets and pillows. There was a tray to the side, with a flask, two mugs, strawberries dipped in chocolate, and croissants next to a black backpack.
“You must be freezing in that outfit.” He pointed at my sheer dress and tiny shorts and I was suddenly glad for the hat he’d made me put on, on the boat. “Here.” He moved to unzip the bag, handing me one of his hoodies and a pair of my joggers as well as some thick fluffy socks. “Put them on and let’s get warm. The sun should start coming up soon.”
Pulling them on quickly, I slipped under the blankets next to him, leaning against the large pillows. “When did you do all this?”
“Ah, it’s amazing what you can do when you have a team of people you can pay to arrange it for you. I just wanted to give you a night to remember.”
“Well, I think you’re succeeding. I like making new memories with you.” I tilted my head back and gazed up at the sky. “Look how many stars there are.”
“Hhhmmmm.”
“Archer Walters, I can feel you staring at me. You’re missing out on the view.”
“Nope. I have the perfect view right here.”
Twisting to look at him, I found Archer leaning his cheek on his knuckles, staring down at me with such an intensity it made my body hum. Pressing my head into his chest, I mumbled, “Stop. You have the whole expanse of space to look at. Stop staring at me.”
“You’re the brightest star there is.”
I rolled away, burying my face in my hands. “That was the ultimate in cheesy lines, Arch.”
Collapsing back onto the pillows next to me, he laughed. “I’m trying to woo you, woman, and you’re calling me out on my best lines.”
“Best? Those lips need some more practice.”
“Oh, yeah?” he husked.
“Bring them here.”
He moved his face closer. “Here?”
“Closer.”
“What about here?” I could feel his breath on my skin.
“No. Closer still.”
“I don’t want to pressure you, Nee. That’s not what tonight is about.”
“You don’t want to kiss me?”
“I want to kiss you more than I want to take my next breath.”
