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Happiness.
I like seeing him like this. Carefree and smiling. It’s as if the second he got behind the wheel of the sports car, he forgot all his troubles. And we’ve barely left the neighborhood.
“This was a good idea, Scar,” he says as he presses his foot on the gas, the speedometer close to eighty in seconds. “Getting away for a little bit.”
“Where are we going?” I lean my head back against the seat, watching him. The man from a few minutes ago with the dull eyes and sullen expression is gone. Now he’s smiling, that dimple in full view, his hair flipped up at the ends and blowing with the wind, barely contained by the ball cap.
I like this version of Tate much better.
“I don’t know.” He hits the blinker and glances in the rearview mirror, changing lanes. “How about the ocean? We could walk along the beach.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Not any of them close by, don’t you think? They’ll be so crowded. People will recognize you.”
“Us,” he corrects, glancing over at me quickly before he returns his attention to the road. “And that’s a valid point.”
“Something we’re trying to avoid,” I remind him. “Especially if we don’t have security with us.”
“Are you worried?”
“Not at all. I only wanted you to relax for a bit.” I smile at him, pressing my hand on top of my head to keep my hat in place. The floppy brim is waving so much I’m worried it’s going to fly off. “Just take me far away from here, and we’re good.”
“You’re right. Maybe we should go to Newport. Laguna. Oceanside?”
“We’ll need to eat.” My stomach growls to remind me. I swear I wasn’t nearly as hungry back home as I am all the time here in California. I blame the endless blue skies and sunshine.
“We can find a restaurant.”
“And I might get thirsty.”
“Are you led by your gut, Scarlett?” He sends me a look.
“Maybe.” I laugh, dropping my hand, and just like that, the wind takes my hat, making me squeal. “Oh no!”
“Too late.” He glances in the rearview mirror again, like he can see it being whisked away. “Bye-bye, hat.”
“I loved that hat.” I pout for a moment, then glance over my shoulder, but it’s already gone.
“It’s okay. I’ll buy you another one.” He reaches over and settles his hand on my knee, his fingers inching up my leg until they’re resting on my thigh. His palm is warm and broad, and his touch feels like a brand.
Claiming me.
There’s no one around to see our supposed act. What’s going on between us doesn’t feel like an act at all.
More like it feels terribly, wonderfully real.
CHAPTER28
TATE
We end up in San Clemente and walk around downtown for a little bit, peeking into the cute shops before we stop at a restaurant and have lunch. Both Scarlett and I are ravenous, ordering a bunch of seafood and sharing it between ourselves. Eventually we waddle out of the restaurant almost two hours later, the both of us groaning over how full we are.
It’s... fun, spending time with Scarlett. Especially after being so caught up in my own damn head the last few days. I know it hasn’t been fun for her. I’m stuck in that damn makeshift office pretending to get work done while she’s hanging out by the pool, bored out of her mind. Tiptoeing around the brooding security guys, who stand around and scowl wherever they are.
It sucks. The vibe at the house was bringing me down, even though I was mostly responsible for it.
A quick getaway was just what I needed.
After lunch we go to a nearby surf shop, and I buy a couple of large towels before we head to the beach. The sun is out and the wind is strong, bringing with it a slightly chilly ocean breeze. We try to lay both towels on the sand, but the wind keeps making one of them slip out of our fingers. We end up sitting close together on the one towel, Scarlett taking the other and draping it over herself like a throw blanket while we stare at the water, watching the waves roll in.
