From This Moment On: Heartwarming Contemporary Romance (Windswept Bay Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

head and placing them on his eyes. The scent of Jillian’s tropical flower gardens filled the air. But he was focused on the long, fluid movements of Cali as she headed toward a white, roofless Jeep. She tugged off the casual jacket she’d worn with her sundress and tossed it in the back before she pulled out a pair of shades from her purse and then dropped it beside the jacket. She jammed the shades over her green eyes and then climbed into the driver’s seat. Clearly she was miffed, as his mom would say. There was fire beneath that calm exterior and he liked it.
    He set the basket in the backseat, taking his time before he hopped into the passenger seat beside her. “Nice ride. Is it yours?”
    “It is. You seem surprised.”
    “I am.” He chuckled, something he’d been doing a lot since meeting her. “I’ll admit I didn’t picture you in an off-road ride.”
    “I didn’t picture you in cargo pants.”
    He laughed again and couldn’t help himself. “And how exactly did you picture me?”
    To his surprise, she laughed finally. “In jeans and boots, wearing a Stetson, like you are on your website. Which, I will admit, seemed at odds with the sea life that you’re famous for.”
    “Sorry to disappoint you. These cargoes work better for island life. And as Jillian pointed out, cowboys do not always fit the stereotype.”
    “Point taken.” She looked at him across her shoulder; even through the pale amber shades, her eyes sparkled in the sunlight with a hint of mischief. “Buckle up, Cowboy. You wanted me to show you the island. So now, we’re going for a ride.”
    He did as he was told. This had the makings of a great day.
     
    The man aggravated her—and also drove her to want to let her hair down.
    That was something she hadn’t done in such a long time.
    Cali had been uptight and somewhat withdrawn from parts of herself ever since the divorce. A divorce, she’d learned, despite her usually strong self-confidence, had a way of stripping everything away and leaving a person feeling bared and lacking. Even her.
    She’d once been more adventurous—thus her Jeep—but now it was only when she was alone that she felt the zing of herself wanting to bust out of the cage. But then she’d question her bad choices and know that adventurous side of herself had helped get her into the mess she’d made of her life.
    So many wrong choices. Funny how life had a way of whittling a person down.
    Today, something felt different. She actually squealed the tires as she cut the corner out of the parking lot and headed for the tallest spot on the small island. It was one of Windswept Bay’s hidden gems.
    The rush of the salty air and the heat of the sun calmed her.
    “You like this?” Grant called over the wind that swirled around them as she drove down the street.
    A stop sign had her pressing the brake. When she came to a halt behind another car, she looked at him. “I do. But I’m in the office most of the time.”
    “This suits you. Do you rock climb?”
    “No. I used to hike. I’ve never gotten a thrill from hanging off the side of a mountain by a thin rope and a hook that I nailed into a crack in the rock.” She laughed and shifted gears as she moved through the intersection. A few people on the sidewalks waved as they passed and she waved back. “How about you? You’re a beach-painting cowboy from Texas. What else contradictory do you do? Climbing mountains would go against stereotype.”
    He laughed. “Nope. I’m the same way. I get out of the saddle long enough to paint, but other than flying in a plane…” He paused briefly and she glanced at him, saw his jaw tighten. “Other than flying, my feet are planted firmly to the ground. Hiking is great, though. We’re on the same page.”
    The crash. It was obvious the mention of flying had caused his hesitation. She found herself wanting to ask him about the crash, about how he was doing but she held back. She wasn’t ready to get so personal.