Elemental: Earth Read Online Free PDF Page B

anyway, whoever has the map picks a general area at random, and we plan to go. If it’s a tourist destination, we live like tourists. If it’s not, we live like locals. . . well, as most as possible anyway.”
    “That sounds cool,” Gavin responded. “It could be dangerous, though. No?”
    “Yeah. We have a few places that are crossed out and not options because of safety, of course. It’s been a really great way to experience a variety of cultures, though. Do you travel a lot?”
    “I used to. . . earlier in my life. My parents would take us all over the place. We had years that we lived in a camper.”
    “Well, that’s one way to see the world.” Tessa smiled, knowing the story was a lie. “So, what do you do, Mr. Gavin of the Hippie/Irish parents?”
    “Well, I do a lot. I do cooking. I do laundry. I do home repairs. I do computer programming. I’m a pretty man to have around the house.” Gavin grinned and winked at Tessa. That’s right, woman, he thought, just keep those questions coming. If you’re who I think you’re, you already know everything anyway.
    Tessa laughed and playfully slapped at his hand across the table. “No. You know what I mean, silly. What sort of career do you have? Or do you just bum around looking for women to become your ‘sugar mama’ for a while?”
    “Are you volunteering?” Gavin grinned.
    “You wouldn’t get much sugar here,” Tessa said.
    “I don’t know,” Gavin countered. “You seem pretty sweet to me.”
    Tessa hated these games. She hated having to be the demure little flirt. This was not at all how she operated. She preferred a direct and, if necessary, short courtship. Her life was already too full. She didn’t have time for more people. But that didn’t mean that she didn’t need a male companion from time to time. After all, woman cannot live by vibrator alone. However, she knew within one date if the guy was going to be worth her time or not. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a relationship or had anything against actually investing the time to develop one. When she visualized her future self, she saw a partner for certain, but all of the silliness that society used to play the dating game she could definitely live without.
    “You know,” Tessa said, “let’s just cut to the chase. I think you’re interesting, not to mention very nice looking. You’ve shown us a good time, so I think it is safe to say there’s some interest there on your part, too. So here’s my plan—you’ll walk me back to our hotel down the beach, hopefully holding my hand, maybe an arm around my waist. At my cottage, you’ll kiss me goodnight. I’ll leave you and go to bed, and you’ll walk home, but you’ll come find me on the beach tomorrow.”
    Gavin felt his heart pounding. If he’d his choice, he’d take her in his arms and kiss her right now. Forget the walk on the beach. He wanted to take her home—his—to his bed. He wouldn’t do it this soon, of course, but he’d never felt desire for a female like he felt for the one sitting across from him now. All he could see when he looked at her was the two of them, naked in the candlelight, as he slowly traced every line and curve of her body, committing it to memory, reading it like Braille.
    “Hello? Too strong?” Tessa interrupted his thoughts.
    “No.” Gavin smiled, rose, took her hand, and helped her to her feet. “I like it. . . very much,” he said. “I like a woman who knows what she likes and what she wants. I like it even more when she communicates it to me and takes all of the guesswork out of navigating the waters, so to speak.”
    They began walking towards the beach cottage. “Oh, crap!” Tessa stopped and looked back towards Lupe’s house. “I totally forgot about Dara.”
    Gavin laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure that Giles gets her home. He comes on pretty strong, I know, but he’s a true romantic at heart. Really very harmless and loves the act of wooing. He really is a