Part 18 (1/2)
She waved him off. ”I'll be out in ten.”
”Make it nine. I'm pretty sure I can't wait ten to see you again.” He turned and left the room, even though a big part of him wanted to join her in bed instead. While he waited for Honor to dress, he spent a few minutes with Jaws and then noticed a postcard from Hallmark wis.h.i.+ng her a happy birthday with a discount. He picked it up.
”What are doing?” she asked from behind him.
Bryce put the piece of mail down. ”Wondering when your birthday is.” He turned and animal-style l.u.s.t shot through his veins. ”Wow. You look amazing.”
”Thanks.” She ran her hands down the short, sleeveless coral print dress that hugged her curves. ”I wasn't sure what we were doing, but it looks beautiful out today. I'm ready for whatever the King of Fun has up his sleeve.”
He closed the distance between them, cupped her cheek with one hand, her nape with the other, and stared at the tiny flecks of silver in her eyes. She tunneled her fingers through his hair and pulled him in for a kiss.
A deep, long, slow kiss that promised they'd come back to this later. Thank G.o.d they were on the same wavelength.
”So,” he murmured against her lips. ”Birthday?”
She slowly pulled back. ”April first.” He raised an eyebrow. ”Yes, April Fool's Day. And yes, jokes are played on me left and right. When's yours?”
”July seventeenth.”
”A summer boy.”
”Yep. So come on, Spring Girl, let's go have some fun.” He took her hand and led her to his car. Mrs. Jamison stood in her front yard watering flowers and waved. Bryce waved back just as she whipped her cell phone out of her pocket.
Before putting the car in drive, he took his own cell out to check directions for their short drive.
”You figuring out my surprise?” she asked, trying to peek at his screen.
He dropped the phone into the driver's door pocket. ”Not anymore.” Twenty minutes later he parked in a dirt lot with only a few other cars and they walked toward the b.u.t.terfly pavilion tucked away in the mountains. Even from a distance he could see the shadows of tiny winged creatures in action. Honor slipped her hand inside his and practically skipped to the entrance.
The fastening of their fingers seemed very date-like, but he pushed the idea away. Today was about fun. He didn't want to think too hard about what they were doing, just enjoy Honor's company.
”I've heard about this place and was hoping to get up here.”
”It's like I can read your mind,” he teased.
She cast him a flirty glance. ”Tell me what I'm thinking right now and I'll tell you what I have on under this dress.”
h.e.l.l. She wanted him to speak when all he could do now was picture her body sans the dress?
”Problem?” She prompted, making fun of his silence.
He glanced at his wrist. ”Actually my watch tells me you're not wearing anything.”
”Sorry Charlie, but I am.”
”d.a.m.n,” he shook his arm. ”It must be fast.”
Honor snickered. ”Now that is the cheesiest line ever. And I've heard a lot of lines.”
”Any of them ever work?” They got to the entrance of the exhibit and Bryce paid the entry fee.
”You fis.h.i.+ng for the 4-1-1 on my past love life?”
He put his arm around her waist as he pushed open the door to the pavilion. ”I'll tell you about mine if you tell me about yours.”
”This is b.u.t.terfly heaven,” Honor said instead of answering his question. Greenery filled the gla.s.s-enclosed building and b.u.t.terflies collected everywhere. Hundreds of them. A huge grin spread across her face as she watched the tiny winged creatures.
”Looks like,” he said.
They followed the winding cobblestone path before them with slow measured steps. The warm, humid air left water droplets clinging to most of the leaves on the plants.
Honor put her finger out next to a leaf like she hoped the b.u.t.terfly there would climb aboard. Its turquoise blue and brown wings were stationary, but then it moved a little to the right and tickled her skin. She bounced up and down with excitement and the b.u.t.terfly quickly flew away.
”You must keep very, very still, Padawan,” Bryce said.
Honor whipped around to find a b.u.t.terfly on his shoulder, his finger, and his arm. ”You're a Star Wars fan?”
”Who isn't?” His grin widened. ”Now don't move. There's a red and yellow b.u.t.terfly in your hair. And another about to land on your shoulder.”
Super slowly, she dropped her chin and darted her eyes to her left. The tiny creature had orange wings with black trim and white polka dots. ”Hey there,” she murmured without moving her lips.
Bryce watched her in fascination before breaking his b.u.t.terfly connection and saying, ”Come on. I think I see a b.u.t.terfly orgy going on and they'll definitely want you involved.”
”I don't know. You were the first one to get some action.” She followed his lead, her little friends fluttering away. ”A guy who smells as good as you obviously attracts attention.”
He stopped and brought her flush against him. ”I could breathe you in all day, Honor. You're like suns.h.i.+ne in a bottle and I can't get enough of you.”
She touched her nose to his. ”I'm kind of stuck on you, too.”
”I didn't mean for this happen,” he admitted.
”I didn't either.”
And then like some enchantment had been cast over them, b.u.t.terflies by the bunch flew in circles around them. He and Honor kept perfectly still, eyes locked on one another, until the free flying creatures moved elsewhere and broke the spell.
”That was awesome,” she said.
Happy he'd been the guy to bring her awesome, Bryce grinned and took her hand. They explored further, discovering furry caterpillars, more spectacularly colorful species of b.u.t.terflies, and plant life that blossomed the most unique flowers.
Once they'd walked the whole cobblestone path, they settled on a concrete bench. Honor sighed with pleasure and leaned against his side.
”I've only had one boyfriend,” she whispered. ”A long time ago.”
Every time she shared another piece of herself Bryce wanted to pump his fists in the air. And foolish or not, he cared more deeply with each revelation. ”How long ago?”
”High school.”