to try to figure it out by taking it to the next level. Regardless of the risk.
The new restaurant was built on a little knoll overlooking the lake. The grounds were surrounded by a vibrant green hedge with a latched gate. The entry had been landscaped into lots of little rock pools and greenery with a wide wooden boardwalk winding through to get to the restaurant door. There was even a little bridge they had to climb up and over and Tara couldn’t keep the smile off her face. ‘This is gorgeous. I can’t believe it’s here and I didn’t know.’
‘They’ve only just opened. Mia told me about it when I asked her where I should take you.’
She looked at him. Surprised. ‘You told Mia we were going on a date?’
‘That’s what she said.’
Tara laughed. ‘Your family is funny.’ And gorgeous, but that was okay. She had settled a lot since her ride that afternoon. Decided that clarity came with enjoying the moment, not worrying about it. She was here with Simon now, and she was going to have a wonderful evening. ‘I’m starving.’
‘Excellent.’
They started with drinks at the bar, and behind the barman a huge window overlooked the water and showcased the sunset, and to the left a narrow curving terrace gave the diners a water view while they ate.
He watched Tara sigh with pleasure as she took a sip of her pina colada and gazed around. ‘This place is amazing.’
You’re amazing. He followed her gaze. Took in the colours on the lake. ‘It is great.’ He saw it through Tara’s shining eyes and acknowledged that he hadn’t let it soak in. He had been so busy with his thoughts and plans and second-guessing his own emotions he was missing the pleasure. Vowed to stop that right now. Vowed to enjoy the pleasure of company with the woman he wanted to be with—and be like Tara and enjoy things, without worrying about tomorrow. Imagine that!
It was easier than he expected when he tried it. Everything seemed suddenly brighter. Wow.
‘How’s your drink?’
She pretended to look at him suspiciously. ‘Why? You want some?’ So then he laughed. Because it was funny.
‘No, I don’t want some, Miss I’m-Not-Sharing. I have my own drink. Though mine doesn’t look as flashy as yours, with its slice of pineapple and pretty pink umbrella.’
She grinned. ‘Good. I’ve never had one before. And I like umbrellas.’ She offered him her straw. ‘But you can have a sip if you really want.’
I’ll sip later, he thought, and suddenly the night was alive with promise and joy, and the conversation took off as he let go of worrying about the past and the future and just experienced Tara’s company.
They flowed from the bar to their table, the most private one he could acquire, and the sun went down, as did the glorious seafood and the delightful sparkling wine in the bottle.
By the time he paid the bill they were both pleasantly mellow, and he had no hesitation in capturing her hand in his for the walk home around the lake.
The lake path from the restaurant to the hospital and Louisa’s house was lit by yellow globes that matched the moon and it was almost as bright as day as they ambled along.
This time when there was a rustle in the bushes Tara just smiled at the noise and carried on walking.
He glanced back to where the undergrowth still crackled. ‘So you’re not afraid of snakes in the bushes now?’
‘Nope.’ She squeezed his hand. ‘I’m going to believe it’s a lyrebird who can sound like a motorbike. If he wants to, of course.’
‘Of course.’ And Simon realised he had become decidedly more trusting about other facets of lyrebird lore. He stopped and she stopped too. He pulled her by the hand until she faced him and lifted his fingers to her cheek. ‘You look like a lake princess in the moonlight.’
She glanced up at the moon and the angles of her face shone like those of a perfectly carved silver goddess with the reflection of the moonlight shining Tara’s truth at him.
She was frowning at him, trying to read him, and goodness knew what was flashing across his face as his mind raced, because she looked a little unsure. ‘Thank you for the compliment. I like moonlit nights the best. Never been keen on the dark.’
He just wanted to hold her safe and never let her go. One day he would ask why she preferred to have a moonlit night than a dark one. Hopefully he would have the chance to ask.
He leant in and kissed her gently because if he did it properly he wouldn’t be able to stop and she didn’t deserve that, but she lifted her hands up and held his head there.
Tara kissed him back with a warmth and generosity he remembered from the lookout and for a few minutes there he forgot his good intentions. Until they heard some people coming along the path and he put her away from him.
That’s right. He had no intention of seducing Tara in a park. ‘Let’s go home now.’
There was something in the way he said ‘home now’ that sent a whisper of promise across Tara’s skin. Home. Together. Now. That last kiss had been different, wonderful and absolutely intoxicating. Lucky Simon had heard the people coming because she’d been deaf to the world.
They were walking quite fast now. Seemed he’d decided caution was overrated and that was okay. Seriously okay because, no matter what, she wanted to sleep with this gorgeous, sexy, kind man at least once. She was not going to regret not spending time with Simon for the rest of her life. It might be her last chance.
Louisa and Maeve had gone to Mia’s so they would be alone and that removed that last of her resistance, if she’d had any.
Simon held her hand tightly as they walked even more quickly along the lit path. She resisted the urge to run.
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