They stayed until the light from the last fireworks had died away and then mingled with the crowd as they made their way back to their car.
‘That was amazing.’ She lifted her hand to remove the wig but he stopped her.
‘Leave it on until we’re home.’
‘I’m not ready to go home. I’m not ready for this to end, Tomas.’ Her eyes sparkled, alive and excited, and the rush of attraction almost knocked him flat.
‘I think if your father could see you now he’d have a heart attack. What exactly do you have in mind, Teresa?’
She curled her fingers into the front of his shirt and pulled him towards her. ‘I want to go to the beach.’ Her voice was low. ‘I want to go swimming.’
‘Swimming?’ Luca stared down at that full mouth and knew he was in trouble. ‘Did you bring a costume?’
‘No.’ Her smile was all woman. ‘But that doesn’t matter because what I want more than anything is to swim naked.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
SHE COULDN’T REMEMBER ever having so much fun. She felt light, happy and…free.
Here in the car, protected by the darkness and the disguise he’d given her, she was no longer the Taylor Carmichael she’d created. She was the girl she’d left behind years ago. The girl her mother had disciplined into another version of herself.
The girl she’d forgotten.
‘Tonight was the most fun I’ve had in ages. Thank you.’
She put her hand on his thigh. Felt hard, male muscle tense under her fingers.
‘Carry on like that and you won’t be a virgin for much longer, Teresa.’
‘Is that a promise?’ She slid her hand higher and heard his breathing change.
‘I chose the wrong disguise for you. You couldn’t pass for a good Catholic girl if I dressed you in a nun’s habit.’
‘How far is the beach?’
‘Too far. I need cold water.’ They were close to home and he pulled off the main road and they bumped and bounced down a rough track while she soaked up the dizziness of freedom.
‘I can’t get used to the fact that no one is following us.’
‘If they do, they’ll lose a tyre on this road and it will serve them right.’ He switched off the engine and they sat for a moment, listening to the hiss of the sea as it hit the sand and the soft, rhythmic sound of the cicadas as they sang in the night.
The full moon cast a silvery light over the water and she decided she’d never been anywhere more romantic in her life.
‘Come on.’ She was first out of the car, pulling her T-shirt over her head as she ran down the sandy path that led to the beach. She heard him behind her and they hit the sand at the same time, kicking off shoes and stripping off the rest of their clothes. ‘Cover your eyes, Tomas.’
‘Why would I do that when the view is so good? I may be a simple farmer but I’m not stupid.’ Without shifting his gaze from her he stepped out of his jeans. ‘No wonder your father has kept you locked up, Teresa. You’re a danger to mankind.’
Taylor undid her bra. ‘I have a lot to pack into one night before you send me back.’
She dropped the bra on top of the rest of her clothes.
‘I could be wrong but I get the distinct impression you really are thinking of swimming naked.’
‘If I arrive home with my clothes wet my father will be suspicious.’
‘True.’ His eyes gleamed. ‘In that case you’d better remove everything, Teresa.’
‘Way ahead of you.’ She dangled her panties from her fingers and saw his gaze darken but as he reached to haul her against him she dodged backwards and sprinted towards the sea, gasping as the cold water closed over her ankles.
How many times had she dreamt of doing this? How many times had she been tempted to run into the waves and swim naked only to stop herself because she knew someone would somehow manage to get a picture of her?
But tonight she wasn’t thinking about that.
Tonight, no one knew where she was and she was thinking of nothing but the moment as she plunged forward and felt the cool water close over her head. She came up gasping and laughing to find him standing there holding a damp mass of something unrecognisable in his hand. ‘What’s that?’
‘Let’s just say you’re no longer a redhead.’
‘Oh, no! The wig!’ She made a grab for it but he threw it onto the beach and turned back to her.
‘Now you’re finally naked.’
And so was he. She gasped as he scooped her up and ploughed into the waves and tightened her arms around his neck.
‘Drop me and you’re dead, Tomas.’ But she knew he wouldn’t drop her and she buried her face in his neck and breathed. ‘You smell good.’