He took her hand and cradled it on his thigh. “When you’ve had your fill, we can stroll to Sculpture Park and check out the Dancers.”
Soon they were walking around the tall, lithe statues, their white bodies in stark contrast against Colorado’s blue vault. The sun was dipping behind buildings, throwing long shadows. Soon the sky would turn a deeper shade, and Sarah felt a chill in the spring air.
Quinn dropped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him, his body hard and full of heat. “You cold, Sunshine?”
“Getting there, but I’d like to see the bear one more time.”
He grinned. “Absolutely.”
After one last lingering look at the bear, Sarah said she was ready to go, and Quinn took her arm and led her back to the car.
She inhaled a deep breath. “Thank you. That was … really special.” A simple outing, but the thought behind it touched her deep inside.
“I’m glad you liked it. Hungry?”
She laughed. “I could eat. But I thought restaurant dining rooms were still closed?”
“I have a special restaurant lined up.” Mischief danced in his mocha-brown eyes.
When Quinn pulled back into his own driveway, Sarah shot him a bewildered look. “Are we getting changed before we eat?”
“Nope.” He parked the car and helped her out. A smile played on his face, but he said nothing as he guided her inside the house.
A few twists and turns, and they stood at the entrance to the dark solarium. Quinn flipped a switch, and soft light winked on. Sarah gaped at what had once been the solarium. The 3-D puzzle projects had been moved out of sight, and the space had been transfigured into a fairyland. A table for two sat beside a floor-to-ceiling window, and plants had been rearranged to give it a cozy feel. Overhead, strands of twinkly lights were suspended like stars.
She turned her head, taking in the sparkling curtain above. “This is beautiful! Did you do all this?”
“Yep.” He seemed embarrassed, which turned her heart into softened butter. His hand still held hers, and he gave it a tug, leading them toward the table.
“Where’d you get the lights?”
He smoothed the back of his head. “I ducked into a Super Target.”
She stared up at him. “Today? I thought they were only selling food right now.”
“They are, but I talked a clerk into—”
“Don’t tell me,” she laughed. “Was the clerk a woman?”
“Uh, kinda. I think she’s got a few years to go before she qualifies.” He pulled out a chair for her, but rather than take a seat, she took in the beautifully decorated table before her: white linen, votives and sprigs of greenery, stacked plates flanked by varying sizes of silverware, just like in high-end restaurants. At each place setting was a wine goblet ready to be filled.
I’m a little blown away here.
“You really outdid yourself.” She paused a moment to catch her breath, hyperaware of his body beside hers, not quite touching, but so close she could feel the heat radiating from him. “You enlisted your mom’s help with all this, right?”
He scoffed. “This was me and Pinterest all the way. I have talents beyond hockey player playboy, you know.”
“You looked at Pinterest boards?” I’m a lot blown away now.
“Yep. I had no clue what I was doing—this is a first for me—so I researched. Pinterest is great.” He shrugged. This is when she noticed his silverware placement was ass-backward, which warmed her all over. He really had done it on his own.
“Yeah,” she said dumbly, “Pinterest is great.” A wild tickle in her belly suddenly annihilated her appetite. A thought pierced her romance-addled brain. “Are you cooking?”
He shook his head. “No. I ordered a dinner from Elway’s that got here just before we did. Mom knew it was coming, so she stashed it in the warming oven and texted me.”
Blown away and bowled over. She slid her hand from his and gazed up into those soft brown eyes that were roaming over her face. Overcome, she infused her voice and her expression with every emotion swelling inside of her, hoping he’d understand the unformed thoughts she was trying to communicate. “The bear, this beautiful setting … It’s all so incredibly thoughtful. I’m overwhelmed.” She pulled in a breath. “Would you be offended if we put off dinner for a little while?”
Confusion played across his face.
“It’s not that I don’t want dinner,” she murmured. “I do. Very much. But right now, my mind’s moved on to … other things.” Like jumping your bones.
His mouth and eyes went round as understanding seemed to dawn. Another smile formed, and he dropped his gaze to her mouth.
She turned, facing him fully, and rested her hands on his chest.
He swallowed, then rasped, “Whatever Sunshine wants.” Wordlessly, he drew her in, his eyes never leaving hers. He cupped her face, dipped his head, and anchored his arms around her, cinching her against him, igniting small blazes deep inside her. An instant later, his mouth was on hers, moving languidly, as if he were savoring morsels. She locked her knees to keep them from buckling.
The kiss heated quickly, their mouths and bodies merging together in a frenetic bid to meld into one. He felt so good under her hands, so powerful, so right. He engulfed her, surrounded her, and she surrendered herself to him.
He broke the connection, trailing nibbling kisses along her jaw and neck that radiated out like miniature shock waves. “I’m happy to keep doing this here, Sunshine,” he mumbled against her skin, “but how about someplace a little more private?”
A laugh rose in her throat. “Not my room. It’s too close to your mom’s.”
He pulled back and grinned. “Mine, then?”
When she nodded her answer, he drew her away from the wonderland with urgency. Like a couple of naughty kids, they raced to his bedroom, giggles spilling from them both. But when they burst into the room and he locked the doors behind them, he spun her and pinned her in place so fast
