“We’re getting off,” he confirmed to the skipper, rising to his feet. Elisa followed, and before he knew what he was doing, he lowered his head to hers and brushed a kiss over her smile.
“Yay.” The skipper intoned with sardonic joy. “We’re getting off.” The boat listed to the side a little, and Angus stumbled into her.
She steadied him, her palms on his chest beneath his suit jacket, her fingers brushing his nipples. “I got you.”
He gazed into her eyes. “You have no fucking idea.”
They disembarked from the water taxi. The skipper smirked at them both, giving Angus a chuckle as he paid for both trips. “Thanks, mate.”
Angus dipped his head. “Cheers.”
The exchange finished, the skipper tapped his forehead and climbed back into his boat.
Angus’s stare fell on Buckley’s Chance, his restaurant looming up on the other side of the busy promenade barely a few yards away. He could see the lunch-time diners inside, see his staff busy at work.
Maybe he could go in there and tell everyone to sod off, patrons and staff alike, and make love to Elisa on the—
Elisa threaded her fingers through his and she gave a tiny grin. “Just in case the TV producer is still watching.”
He gave her a gentle tug and, without releasing her hand, lowered his head to hers and kissed her. Soft. The kind of kiss that promised a hunger not allowed in public. “Just in case Nora’s still around.”
She chuckled. Bit her bottom lip. Swung her shoulders side to side. “Better do it again,” she whispered, her grin stretching wider. “Just in case.”
He did. But this time, he didn’t give a rat’s arse they were in public. Didn’t give a flying fuck they were on the busy sidewalk of Australia’s busiest quay. He hauled her to his body, his hands raking down her back to squeeze her arse. To bring her hips to his.
He plundered her mouth, his blood running hot as her tongue slid over his. He groaned, almost desperate, and forced himself to pull away.
“Dio…” she breathed, swaying a little on her feet as she gazed up at him.
“Dio?” His heart raced. “That’s good, right? I didn’t…”
She stepped back into his body, pressing her hips to his again as she slid her fingertips up the side of his neck and into the back of his hair. “Very good.”
He sucked in a shaky breath. “If I don’t get you somewhere private soon, I’m going to—” He ground his teeth.Fuck you here on the sidewalkprobably wasn’t the best thing to say. He didn’t want to scare her.
You’re scaring yourself, mate. You need to tap the fucking brakes. At least take a breath.
“We’re going to your place, right?” She frowned. “That’s the plan.”
“That’s the plan.” He gave her a sheepish grimace. “But here’s the thing. I forgot I don’t have a car. Not here. Kara picked me up from the airport.”
And I don’t want to share a single minute of being with you with an Uber driver.
Again, probably not a good thing to say aloud. Not without sounding like a jealous, possessive nut job.
“Hey, boss.”
He jumped at the sound of Kara’s voice. So did Elisa. Turning, he found his sous chef standing behind him.
“Here.” She tossed something at him, and he snatched it out of the air without thinking.
Keys. Car keys.
Kara grinned. “The Lexus is yours for the day.”
“How…” Elisa began, before stopping, drawing a little closer to his side. She ducked her head, and his heart squeezed at how shy she suddenly looked. He smoothed his arm around her back and drew her closer, wanting to let her know it was okay. Kara was bombastic and an extrovert, but she had the heart of an angel. Just a loud one without a filter.
Kara chuckled. “I saw you both get off the water taxi and as I was wondering if everything was okay, I saw you both…publicly cementing the engagement, shall we call it?”