His lips brush softly against mine, and I melt into him, tasting the mint on his tongue and feeling the caress of his fingers in my hair. I move my hands to his face, feeling his freshly shaven skin and drinking in every bit of this kiss that I can.
As the driver’s door opens, Caleb breaks the kiss but keeps his hand on the back of my head, still cradling it.
“Are you ready, Mr. Collings?” Peter asks.
“Yes, Peter,” he says, briefly directing his attention to the driver’s seat. “Everything we’ve discussed, please. And thank you.”
Peter nods, and a privacy screen is raised to separate us from the front seat. We’re alone now.
“Hi,” I murmur to Caleb.
“Hi,” he says, drawing my mouth closer for another kiss. I melt into it, my tongue dancing with his. His other arm moves along mine, stroking the bare skin, and he groans. “Your skin feels so soft.”
I relish the feel of his strong, rough hand moving over my arm. We kiss again, and finally, I pull back, as I have things I want to say.
“I missed you,” I confess as the car pulls into traffic. “I was counting down the days for Montreal, and it seemed like forever until I could see you again.”
I stroke the side of his face with my hand, and he clasps it and bring it to his lips, kissing it.
“I’m so glad you decided to stay in London until you leave for Montreal. Thank you for doing that.”
“There was no other choice,” Caleb says.
“No other choice?”
“You were here. I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
My heart somersaults in happiness. “So how are we doing a tour of London and dinner?” I ask.
Caleb inclines his head toward the picnic basket on the floor of the car. “Dinner is in here. We’ll eat whilst we take in London from the car. So kind of a picnic and evening tour.”
“This is amazing!” I cry in delight.
“I’m glad you think so,” he says, opening the lid on the basket. “There’s champagne to celebrate your new job. Lobster-and-crab cups. Mini beef Wellingtons. Crackers and cheese. We can eat whilst Peter drives us around. I gave him an itinerary of all the places you need to see. And I tried to do a fine-dining-type experience for you.”
I’m touched by the thought he put into this. “This is a perfect first date in London,” I say softly. “Thank you for this.”
Caleb pulls out the champagne and looks at me. “So you’re okay with this? I know it’s not dinner somewhere posh or dancing at a club. It’s not even a touristy ride on the London Eye. I can’t give you those things.”
“Those things,” I say firmly, “can wait while we get to know each other. Just spending time with you is all that matters to me. It’s all I want, Caleb.”
I can tell he’s touched by my words. “That’s all I want, too,” he says. Then he nods. “Okay, would you like some champagne?”
“I would, thank you.”
Caleb retrieves the bottle and begins to uncork it, and I peek inside the lavishly packed basket. He grins. “I’m probably going to spill this all over the back seat.”
“There’s no need to spray me for landing the show on The Downforce Network,” I quip.
He chuckles.
“We can have water instead,” I say. “I see some in the basket.”
“Nah, leather can be cleaned,” Caleb says, uncorking the champagne.
POP!
The cork comes out, and some of the fancy champagne bubbles up and spills onto the floorboard. I hold up a glass for him, and he pours the bubbly inside of it, then pours another one. He sets the champagne bottle aside and then raises the glass to me. “To your new home. Welcome to London.”