Free A Lifetime to Find Love by Ava Riley Page A

held more intimacy than the act of sex itself.  Placing her hand in another’s spoke volumes of the trust she had in the person to also be the one holding her heart.  For her, it meant  giving up control and placing everything important to her in his hands, literally.
     
    The night was absolutely beautiful and perfect for a walk.  He led them to the end of the boardwalk and stopped.  Cade turned and leaned his back against the railing and pulled Tessa into the shelter of his arms.  She felt so right in his arms, so secure.  He gently pushed aside a tendril of hair that was caught by the breeze coming off the ocean and tucked it behind her ear.  He felt the goose bumps form on her skin, from just the simple act of  brushing his fingers against her skin. 
     
    Cade misunderstood her reaction to his touch as her being cold and he pulled her tighter to him.  She felt the hardness of his body and reveled in the feel of him against her.  Cade was strong in so many ways.  His body was the physical reflection of what laid inside him and she shivered at the thought of that strength.  He was disciplined, controlled and everything she wasn’t. What a pair they made.  They stood there, for what seemed like a lifetime, just enjoying the night.  The warm ocean breeze was gentle against her skin as the stars above sparkled like diamonds, dancing in the night sky, a dance meant only for lovers.  Cade’s cell phone broke the silence of that amazingly perfect moment.  He quickly answered it before it rang a second time.
     
    “Hello, Patrick.  Great, we’ll be there shortly.  Thank you.” And, with that he hung up and pulled her back into his arms.
     
    Tessa pulled away from him as much as he would allow and glared at him.  Cade was definitely up to something and she grew tired of waiting to find out.  She needed food, which became apparent to all within a five mile radius when her stomach growled. 
     
    Cade laughed. “I guess that means you are ready to eat.”
     
    Not embarrassed at all, Tessa replied, “Cade, seriously, if you don’t feed me soon I might start gnawing at my own arm.”
     
    He smiled and pulled her closer once again to nuzzle her neck.  “Let’s go, everything is ready.”
     
    “Where are we going?  I’m not really one who has a lot of patience. You should know that by now.”
     
    “It’s just a short walk.  Remember, you said you trusted me.”
     
    They walked back toward the car, but when they got to the end of the boardwalk Cade pulled her onto the sand.  Tessa looked at him puzzled.  She knew it was futile to ask him any questions. He’d proven already tonight that he wouldn’t be answering any of them anyway.  Walking in the sand with heels on was not a task that Tessa wanted to embark on, so she quickly shed them.  Just as quickly, Cade grabbed them out of her hands.
     
    “Let me carry those for you.”
     
    “Yes, because they are so heavy,” she teased. “You are my knight in shining armor. The bearer of those things that weigh me down.” She placed the back of her hand to her forehead as if she were going to faint.
     
    “Watch yourself young lady or you’ll be getting a swat on your backside.” 
     
    The thought of his hands on her backside almost made her forget she was hungry.  As they got closer to the water, Tessa could smell the most scrumptious scent she’d ever inhaled .  Her stomach steered her in the direction of the food.  Tessa’s breath caught in her throat and she stood mesmerized.  Under the boardwalk, just below where they had been standing just  a few moments ago, sat a small round table, draped with a white linen tablecloth and beautifully set with two candles lighting the night.  In the center of the candles, were two  beautiful red roses, a reminder of what he’d left  in her home earlier.  Cade made everything absolutely beautiful.  Tessa suddenly felt Cade behind her lightly brushing up against her.  He wrapped his