Accidental Shield (Marriage Mistake #6)(26)

The only sane answer is too long.

He’s got the meal assembled in a flash and packaged up by the time I’m done paying for it.

Still at my side, Kael starts walking back to my truck with me. I try to say bye before reaching the vehicle, but he runs ahead to open the door.

Shit. I arrive before he has a chance to say anything to Val, but not before she speaks.

“Aloha!” she says.

“Aloha,” Kael replies, studying her.

“Thanks, Kael,” I say. “We’ll take it from here. See you next time.”

“Kael,” she says. “I’m Valerie.”

Damn it.

Reacting fast, I say to Kael, “Valerie runs some of the turtle tours around these parts.”

Kael nods his head and smiles at her. “Awesome! My family loves your tours, Valerie. You bring lots of business to our truck. Wildlife tours always eat here.”

“I’m glad,” she says.

I nudge Kael out of the way gently and climb into the driver’s seat, passing the food to Val. “Take care, Kael. Aloha.”

“Aloha, Flint and Valerie.”

He runs off and I close the door. She takes the food and sets it on the floor near her feet.

“You might want to pull that cheesecake out of the bag,” I tell her, backing up the pickup. “Might start melting.”

“Dessert first? Now you’re speaking my language.” Smiling, she leans down to open the bag. “I’ll eat it now so it doesn’t make a mess. Do you want yours, too?”

“Didn’t get one. I’m not big on sweets.”

“Whaaaaat?” She looks at me like I’ve sprouted a second head, pulling out the cheesecake on a stick, wrapped in wax paper. “How can you resist something this good? It’s downright sinful.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it.”

She blinks in disbelief. “Have you never had one?”

I shake my head. “No, babe. Not quite my...”

I’m trailing off as she takes a bite and closes her eyes like she’s just tasted the best thing in the universe. Just like she did this morning with the malasadas.

Once she swallows, she says, “No way. You’re not taking my word for it. Here.”

Leaning over, she holds the dessert near my mouth. I try to squirm away, but she’s pretty insistent.

“C’mon. Open up. You have to try some.”

“Shit, Val, I’m driving. You’ll make a mess.”

“I’ll hold, you bite. Simple, Flint.” She bumps the cold chocolate against my lips. “Just one itty-bitty bite for me? Come onnn.”

Honestly, the dessert isn’t half as enticing as hearing her beg.

Her eyes are shining, and there’s a full, impish grin on her lips.

“One bite, Flint. Good stuff. You know you want to.”

Goddamn, this girl.

There are things I want to do with her, all right, but they don’t involve cheesecake. I’m not that big a freak.

Things I shouldn’t even be thinking.

Snarling, I give in and chomp off a piece. It’s cold, and sweet, and yeah, it’s good.

“Like it?” she asks, giggling. “I know you do. I can tell by the way you’re smiling.”

“It’s tasty,” I admit. “Kade and Kael know their stuff.”

She takes another half-orgasmic bite and then holds the stick to my mouth again. “Want some more?”

“All yours, honey. I’m saving room for the shrimp.”

She shrugs. “Suit yourself. This’ll be ancient history by the time we get to those plates.”

“That’s fine, I bought it for you.”

“Thanks again. Thank you very much.” She takes another bite. “It’s absolutely yummy.”

Yummy? She’s in fucking rapture.

I don’t dare let my eyes wander to her lips.

Val finishes the cheesecake just as I turn off the road onto the long driveway running up to the private beach. The same man I bought my land from owns this stretch of coast.

It was a tough choice for me to make when it came time to buy. In the end, I went with my place because it’s on a more protected shore. This property is on the north side, where storms can get stronger.

It hasn’t sold yet, and I know the owner won’t care if we use the secluded beach to eat our lunch and spend some time where Valerie doesn’t need to think about the past.

After I park, we both get out and walk up the small embankment. It helps protect the land from waves that can grow insanely strong sometimes.

We reach the top of the knoll, and she gasps.

“Flint—look!” Her hand arcs out, pointing at something in the distance.

I follow her awestruck stare. There are at least a dozen huge sea turtles lounging on the fine beach sand, sprawled out nearly as far as I can see.

“They’re Greens,” she says quietly, “I think they’re nesting. They nest up to nine times a year.”

I frown. There’s an eerie sensation tickling my spine at her knowledge.

I just fed her a load of bull about the turtle tours. Yet, she seems to know more than I’d think.

“The leatherbacks don’t nest this time of year,” she continues, “and most of the others usually come ashore at night to nest.”