Take a Bow (The Perfect Plans Series Book 2) (17 page)

Catching me swiftly, he wraps me in his arms, lifting and spinning me in the air, my squeals of laughter echoed in his perfect smile.

“No, Alex! Don’t!” I plead as he trudges us through the light surf, my shrills swallowed by the onslaught of the icy water, instant spikes of needles coursing through my calves as he places me on my feet. A second desperate attempt to flee is halted as he secures me in his arms. “Oh my God, it’s freezing!” I yelp, wrapping my arms around his waist for warmth in my capture.

“My poor baby,” he chuckles, bending to lift me in his arms, walking us slowly towards the beach.

I’m almost sad to reach dry sand, not wanting to give up the warmth of his cradling hold as he sets me back on my feet. Taking a seat, he pats the sand between his legs, and I drop instantly, leaning back into his warm embrace, resting my head on his shoulder.

“You’re a devil,” I smile into his arm, losing myself in the scent of his shirt, his laughter, his warmth. “It really is too bad the water’s so cold. I do love the beach.”

“I love having
you
on the beach,” his sinful tone throws me back to our time on the island, our private fun in the sand.

“Oh, don’t be coy, Tate, what you really mean is you love
sex
on the beach.

“Oh, that goes without saying, sweetheart.” I turn to catch his slow crooked grin. “But I’ll take this,” he squeezes me in his arms, “…any day.”

“Me too,” I smile, looking back out towards the water.

“We can always find another secluded beach to escape to for a mini vacation, closer to home.”

“That sounds incredibly inviting. Definitely something to look forward to when filming wraps,” I snuggle into his hold.

“Why wait until then?” he adds, his smile evident in his tone.

“What?” my interest perks dramatically and I turn in his hold to look into his sparkling baby-blues, catching the grin I heard.

“Filming is shutting down next weekend, so you’re all mine for three days straight,” he searches my shocked and excited gaze.

Given his hectic filming schedule this past month, the allure of three full days having him all to myself is intoxicating - almost too good to be true. “Why are they shutting down for the weekend?” I don’t want to get my hopes up. The one thing I’ve learned about this industry is the fickle scheduling.

“Thanksgiving weekend,” he beams, taking in my shake of confusion.

“But, it’s October…”

“The director is Canadian. He was quite adamant. Not that I’m complaining, I can’t think of a better excuse to spend time with my girl.”

“Won’t you want to celebrate Thanksgiving with your family?” I ask, slightly surprised - though secretly elated - that he’d want to spend it with me alone.

“We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in England.”

“Oh…”
But I do. My first Thanksgiving away from home…

“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” he brushes a strand of hair off my forehead.

Lost in thought, I peer out towards the gleaming ocean water, feeling slightly homesick at the hands of family memories…special occasions.
Is there really a toss up here? Time alone with Alex, or a visit with family…

“Aby? What is it?”

“Oh, nothing,” I laugh lightly. “I just realized this will be my first Thanksgiving away from home. It’s just strange that’s all. So much has changed…”

“Are you happy?”

His question makes me pause. Looking back to him, I find a glimmer of concern.
Really? How could this man have any doubt?
“Oh, my goodness, Alex…of course I’m happy!” I smile, running my fingers along his chest. “This is my new life.
You
are my new life,” I add, snuggling closer, leaning my head against his warmth. “I was just thinking about all of the wonderful family traditions that come with holidays like this. We may be a crazy bunch, but we do love the holidays,” I laugh.

“I know what you mean,” he replies, running his hands along my bare arms, his head leaning on mine at his chest. “Family tradition is something I miss terribly on the road.”

I can’t help but feel a pang in my heart for him. This may be my very first holiday away from home, but for Alex it’s a sad reality. “We can always stay home and create new memories and tradition of our own,” I nip at the corner of my mouth, waiting for his reaction.

“I do like the sound of that.”

“Me too,” I pull back to look into his eyes, cupping his face in my hand to lean in for a kiss.

“You’re sure?” he questions, securing his hand over mine. “Turkey and trimmings over mini vacation?”

“Absolutely,” I beam. “Three whole days alone in Sin City with Alexander Tate…Oh the possibilities are endless.”

“That’s Vegas, sweetheart,” he laughs.

“Oh. Really?” I scrunch my nose, in thought. “The City of Angels!” I add with sudden brilliance.

“Well, it certainly holds
one
angel,” he smiles, and I flirt my shoulder towards him playfully.

“You had me at turkey, Mr. Tate, save that charm for the bedroom,” I bite my lip, flashing a teasing grin before jumping up to bolt down the beach, giggling in anticipation for my capture.

THANKSGIVING IN L.A…From the great start to this weekend, I would have to say it’s not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Thanks to a morning full of Champagne, my thoughts of family, friends and tradition have long since ‘left the building’, so to speak. What’s been building instead - thanks to my dear friend, Mimosa - is a very strong desire to get this gorgeous specimen of a man back home.
And now that we’re here, it’s time to show him how
thankful
I am today
, I nip at my lip, quickly donning a flirtatious smile as Alex opens my door, offering his hand to assist me out of the car.

“That, Mr. Tate, was a wonderful brunch,” I purr, succumbing to the aphorismatic effects of my morning cocktails.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” he smiles, kissing my forehead. “I think you enjoyed the Champagne as well.”

“I did. Along with the breakfast. And the
company
,” I turn us around, pinning his large frame against the closed door. “Are you ready for dessert?”

“Perhaps we should have picked you up a little coffee to go with dessert,” he laughs, rubbing my back.

“Coffee doesn’t really go with what I have in mind,” I pull him down by the nape. “I’m
very
thankful this year, sexy man of mine. And I plan on showing you in very many ways,” I add, pulling his lips to mine.

“Aby,” he moans into my kiss, releasing a small gasp as I reach to caress him through his dress pants. “Sweetheart,” he breaks away, taking my elbows gently to pull my gaze.

Giggling, I jump from his hold, leaving him leaning against the car to back away along the path to the house.

“Please come back here.”

He seems a little too serious for the game I’m playing.
Humph.

“Uh-uh,” I shake my head, stopping to reach beneath my skirt. I lock my gaze on his - his sexy brow arched in curiosity as I slowly and seductively remove my panties, flinging them in the air around my finger with a flirty open-mouthed curl of my lips.

Trying not to laugh, he folds his arm across his chest, the other jutting to his jaw, rubbing it as he shakes his head. “Aby, listen to me, I need you to come back here for a min…”

“Shhh,” I whisper, my finger at my mouth. “Time for dessert,” I throw the panties towards him.

His eyes dart to the pink lace on the stone path, then back to mine before I turn to run for the door.

“Aby, wait,” he’s suddenly firm, chasing after me.

“Come and get it,” I flash him a peek of my bare ass with a quick lift of the back of my skirt.

“Stop…”

“Oh, I’m just getting started, big boy,” I open the door, laughing flirtatiously, looking back towards him.

“SURPRISE!”

What the fuck?
Frozen in place, I turn my head, taking in the sea of faces peering back at me from inside, my focus blurring between each giant smile. My mother. Dad. Beth and Kevin. Alex’s sister, Anne and her husband, Gerard.
Oh my God
.
Please tell me the other two are not Alex’s parents
. My gaze darts back to his.

Walking up behind me with a nervous grin, I note him tuck his hand into his pocket, a flash of pink in its wake.
Surprise
, he mouths, his arm wrapping around my waist to lead me inside.

I’m immediately inundated with hugs all around. My head is spinning, flashes of pink twirling around in my mind screaming
COMMANDO
-
Oh. My. God
. I try to hide the panic in my gaze as my mother releases me, smoothing down my skirt - heaven forbid I be anything but wrinkle-free above my bare ass.
Oh. My. GAWD
.

“Aby, these are my parents,” Alex pulls my attention, “…Miriam and Simon.”

“It’s so wonderful to meet you, Aby,” his mother pulls me in for a hug.

“Isn’t she everything we told you, Mum? Beautiful, charming, and just cute as a button,” Anna gushes.

“That she is. I can certainly see why my Alex is so taken,” she smiles up at her son as she releases me.

“You’re embarrassing the poor girl,” Mr. Tate chimes in. “It’s truly lovely to meet you, young lady,” he winks.

Though I know my mouth is open, words escape me. Thoughts, however, are endless - the most prominent being,
I’m. Going. To. Kill. Him
.

“I think she’s in shock,” Beth laughs.

Shocked - yes. Mixed with the humiliation of a cool breeze up my backside
- my inner actress fumbles through the script.

“Say something, Aby,” my mother urges with an awkward smile.

“I’m sorry,” I finally manage. “This is such an incredible surprise! It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Tate.”

“Miriam, sweetheart,” she smiles warmly.

“My wife doesn’t like being put in the same category as her mother-in-law,” Simon whispers playfully, his hand blocking her view of his mouth.

“Sounds like Beth,” Kevin chuckles, nudging my sister.

Alex’s mom laughs too, squeezing Beth’s hand in a sweet gesture before turning back to me. “Ignore my husband, Aby, he fancies himself a bit of a comedian.”

“Fancies?” Simon questions, playfully hurt.

“Oh come on, Mum,” Alex teases, “…he tries.”

“He’s had
me
laughing since the day Anna brought me home,” Gerard joins in. “Nice to see you again, Aby.”

“Okay, everyone, let’s take this inside, the poor girl needs to breathe,” Simon adds, ushering the crowd.

My smiling gaze scans them as they back away, landing on my father in the corner. He winks before turning to disperse with the rest, all chatting and laughing as though they’ve known each other for years.

“How did you do all this?” I question Alex, without turning.

“I flew everyone in last night,” he brushes my hair over my shoulder, bending to kiss my neck.

“Last night?” I swing around to face him. “But when did you…”

“The plans have been in motion for a little while now.” Smiling, he brushes his thumb across my lips, locking me to his beautiful blue eyes. “Everyone is staying at the hotel for the weekend, however, they will be enjoying some time to themselves as well, of course.”

“Of course,” I smile, in awe of his incredibly sweet, over the top gesture to do all of this. “You’re incredible, and I love you.” The length this man has gone for me, to prove
his
love, simply blows my mind. “This is just…wow,” I look back, watching the interaction of our families. “They’re all getting along so…well.”

“Does that surprise you?”

“Just a little,” I lie before looking back into his eyes. My slight nagging fear of an impending clash of the titans, with my usually standoffish mother at the helm, is instantly banished by his loving gaze. He never had any doubt that they would get along; his heart is too pure. “Thank you.”

“Does this mean I can still look forward to you showing me all of the very many ways you’re thankful
later
? You did offer,” his wickedly sexy smirk sends shivers down my spine.

“I’m not sure,” I teasingly purse my lips. “Are you going to hand over my panties so I can cover my hidden indecency?”

“I believe they were a gift to me, were they not?”

“That was a gift offered under your act of nondisclosure, sir. I think in such circumstances, it’s highly refutable. You set me up.”

“Correction, sweetheart. I look
forward
to setting you up,” his brow does its sexy shift, his hand reaching between us to cup my core. “Until then, you’ll just have to grin and
bare
it.”