Page 58 of The Plus One

His hand stilled, and my heart immediately started beating harder. “Actually, don’t answer that.”

“Kema.”

“I don’t want to think about home yet.”

Ace studied me before nodding. “Then we won’t.”

He didn’t push. That made me want him even more. We returned to the bungalow before sunset and showered separately because sharing one would’ve ended with us missing dinner.

When I stepped onto the deck, another table had been prepared near the water. Small lights glowed along the railing while candles flickered beside plates of grilled seafood, vegetables, and rice. Ace stood nearby in a black shirt and matching shorts. “You planned dinner too?”

“I told you this was a date.”

“You’re showing off now.”

“Is it working?”

“Yes.”

He pulled out my chair. The sun lowered over the water while we ate, orange and pink spreading across the sky and reflecting against the ocean.

For once, I didn’t have a smart comment. “This is the nicest thing anybody has ever done for me,” I admitted.

“You deserve nice things.”

“I know I do.”

Ace smiled. “Good.”

“But this is a lot to take in.”

“It’s only a lot if I didn’t want to do it.”

“You always have an answer.”

“Only when I know what I’m talking about.”

After dinner, music played softly from the bungalow while we finished the champagne. Ace held out his hand. “Dance with me.”

“There’s no dance floor.”

“There wasn’t one on the beach either.”

I placed my hand in his. He pulled me against him, one arm wrapping around my waist. I rested my head against his chest as we moved slowly beneath the lights.

There was nobody watching. No reason to perform. Still, Ace kissed my temple and held me like I belonged there. “You know what scares me about you?” I asked.

“What?”

“How easy this feels.”

His arm tightened around me. “It’s supposed to.”

“No. Nothing is ever this easy.”

“Maybe you’ve been dealing with the wrong niggas.”

I lifted my head. “You think you’re the right one?”