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More bursts of laughter erupt when he finally puts me back down on the ground inside the master bedroom.
“Go on,” he encourages, angling his head toward the already-opened balcony doors.
“What’s going on?”
“Let’s go look together,” he decides. He smirks down at me like it’s a weapon. His giddiness contagious.
Between steps, I remind myself that this was his idea. Sure, he could have afforded to have gone anywhere in the world. Spend the break somewhere tropical and luxurious like most of the other students at KPA but he hadn’t. He wanted to bring me here. Cole wanted us to have this time alone.
He wants us to work, and he’s trying.
Now it’s my turn. To try that is.
I remember when I’d come here the first time. How I’d imagined what the view had looked like from this floor, but I’d never thought I’d get the chance to actually see it.
The view of the lake belowshould’vebeen the most impressive thing and it would have had I not turned my head to the side.
“How’d I do?” he asks, lips grazing the shell of my ear. His arms wrap around my waist giving me butterflies in the same swift motion.
Another ragged breath drops, pressing from my lungs. “Cole this is…”
“…All for you,” he whispers, sending jolted shivers down my spine. Finishing for me when I cannot.
I’m grateful at least one of us can speak without sounding like cotton has been shoved down their vocal cords.
Stunned. I’m stunned.
Hundreds of string lights dangle. Glowing as they light up the entire second-story balcony with a warm ambience. The brightness so calming it could compete with the relaxation of staring up at the stars.
A canopy set up on the farthest side. Sheer panels of white cloth draped over its every edge, lazily blowing with the water’s breeze.
Inside, dozens of patterned pillows are spread out with a small table set for two in the center. A colorful oversized rug tying all the colors and textures together.
Cole gives me a small squeeze and I swear it jump-starts my heart again. I blink and then I do it again. Not trusting what’s before me.
“Do you like it?” he goads, already knowing the answer, but that doesn’t stop me from hearing the smile in his voice.
My awe is carried out in my silence. Also gaping. Lots of that. I’m positive my mouth has permanently been hanging open since I first saw it all.
I spin in his hold winding my arms around his neck. He cocks his head staring down at me. I could drown in my own air at the arrogance radiating off him. Iceman knows he’s done well.
“This is incredible. All of it,” I choke out, after giving him a kiss that showed him only the start of my gratitude.
“Only the best for you,” he agrees. Eyes so alive and buoyant they almost don’t seem human. His love shines into me so proudly, it’s impossible to miss.
It’s something I haven’t felt from him in weeks.
My head arches looking up at him through pensive eyes. “How long have you been planning this?” There’s no way this was a spur-of-the-moment venture. It’s all too perfect, too well orchestrated.
“You mean wanting to bring you back here, or the date?” Tone more than borderline flirtatious.
“As long as you don’t plan on adding another one of my cars to a watery grave, I’d say the second,” I answer back as cheekily.
Cole’s mouth twitches. “Mmhmm, Ihavebeen known to overdo it a time or two.”
Thatis the understatement of the century.
“I think what you’ve done is perfect.”
