EXCERPT
MAVERICK
TOUCH: THE HIGHWAY
CHAPTER FOUR – Monday Evening
Nadia
and her dinner companions finished up their meal, and after paying for it, they
all walked out into the front lobby of the restaurant and started to debate
what they each wanted to do next. They looked over the list of attractions, and
each started to call out what they wanted to do.
“I
want to tour the sharks,” Nadia suggested.
“Come
on, a Ferris Wheel! You know that you
want to go on it!”
“Ladies,
why don’t we separate and you both do what you wish. We will just meet back
together right here when we’re done,” Carter calmly said.
“Yes,
that’s a good idea, Carter. Come on, Nadia. Let’s go see your sharks.” Carlisle slipped his hand around her and onto her lower
back and guided her over to the entrance of the Shark Voyage train ride.
“If
you wanted to do something else, you could have. We didn’t need to do this.”
“Nonsense,
this is your vacation. It’s about what you want to do.”
“What
about what you want, Mr. A?” she teased him.
“We’ll
have plenty of time for what I want. At this moment, it’s about you.” He walked
up to the attendant. “Two please.” He pulled out his wallet, slipped the man a
ten dollar bill to pay for the ride, and then ushered Nadia onto the train.
“Better
hold on, Nadia, or you might fall off into the sea of sharks.”
She
laughed and leaned in close to him. “Will you protect me from falling?”
“You
know it.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and together they sat like
this while the train pulled away from its starting position and traveled
through the world of sharks that was found in the middle of the city of Houston.
“Look
at the sharp teeth. God, I’d hate to ever be bitten by one.”
“What
are you going to be doing that you even need to worry about that, my pet?”
“You
never know. I might have to do a deep sea fishing story next, and then what if
I’m tossed overboard and left floating in the water.”
“Lord
help us if that ever happens. The thought of your shrieking from being scared
is enough to make any man go deaf.”
“Hey!”
She jabbed her elbow into his side lightly, pretending to be hurt by his
comment.
“See,
look at you, my feisty pet.”
The
train pulled to a slow stop as they were back at the spot they’d started. They
stepped off of the platform and started to walk back to the lobby. They got
sidetracked when Nadia found an exit and started to walk outside.
“You’re
gonna drive your sister crazy if we’re late.”
“Something
tells me she won’t mind. I think she’s quite taken by your Mr. Jackson.”
“Mr.
J,” he corrected.
“Yes,
well since you’re Mr. A, he can be Mr. J. That makes sense. You two are
‘brothers in crime,’ right? Might as well have similar nicknames, I suppose.”
“I
don’t like you calling someone else mister. That’s reserved for me, so you can
just call him Carter.”
“Oh?
Is that so? Does the infamous Mr. A get jealous?”
“Absolutely.”
Carlisle pulled Nadia
to a stop by taking her hand in his and holding it tightly. Nadia turned her
head and looked at him for just a moment before he pulled her to him. His free
hand cupped her cheek, and he leaned down to capture her lips with his.
Nadia’s
eyes shut, and her body started to weaken. She felt him release her hand and
move his hand to her back to push her body onto his. They stood outside of the
Aquarium for a solid five minutes, kissing. Nadia’s mind and body were sunken
into the experience, everything about it, the way he smelled, his lips, how
they tasted, the lingering smell and taste of lobster permeating through the
air from him and onto her.
“Mr.
A…”
“Carlisle,” he whispered at her.
“You
drive me crazy.” Her words were raspy when they came out of her mouth.
“I
know, and you me. You’re an addition.”
“Likewise.”
Her hands now found his sides, and her fingers strummed over his shirt while
they exchanged their intimate moment.
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