I was at a loss for words. I couldn’t speak for nearly twenty minutes as he trailed me, walking along the banks of the stream. Across from it were the most adorable stone houses. This place wasn’t like anywhere I’d ever been.
“That’s Arlington Row,” Jim finally spoke. “That honey-colored stone is remarkable, isn’t it?”
“It’s all so beautiful. The mallard ducks.” I chuckled. “Everything.”
“We can continue, or perhaps you’re hungry?”
I covered my stomach with my hand. “Wow, I think I forgot about food for once in my life.”
“A small village steals her interest from food, and here I thought I could somehow do that.”
“Flirting again?”
A mob of tourists—like myself—flocked over the short bridge Jim and I wound up on while I cruised through the area, taking in nature. Jim seemed to grab my hand instinctively, and the romantic feel of this place had me falling into this gesture without reservation.
His steady hand sent some crazy vibes into my energy field through the contact alone. I smiled up at him and intertwined our fingers. “I thought you’d never bring romance into our special anniversary,” I said after he gently closed his long fingers around my hand and looked at me in confusion.
“Forgive me, darling,” he said after a man who was occupied with his camera shoved me into Jim. “Fucking tourists.”
“You know I’m a tourist myself.” I eyed this new expression I hadn’t seen him wear. It was like the badass who hid behind the kind man surfaced, and anyone who met that gaze would end up in trouble. “Jesus.”
“What’s that?” he said in a low voice.
I tugged on his hand and pulled him off to the side. I couldn’t resist but to step on my toes and run my hands on his face. “You look like you’re about to go scorched earth on someone out here.”
His hardened expression softened, and I could swear I heard him softly sigh as if I’d exorcised a demon that hid inside, and I just hadn’t met that side yet.
“Sorry,” he said, his eyes turning back in the direction where it seemed a circus of people had shown up. “It pisses me off when people can’t be considerate of others.”
“I’m cool with it. Or are you the over-protective husband in this little game we’re playing?”
His face contorted into a softer look. “Let’s go eat.” He seemed to force a smile on his face. “The lack of manners from those individuals is enough to drive me mad.”
“Drive you mad?” I teased with a dramatic expression. We started walking toward another path, no longer holding hands, which sort of sucked. It felt nice to have that moment, but if the guy had anger issues, I’d rather push him a little to see what he’d do. It might not be the smartest move, but I preferred to know what I was dealing with sooner than later.
Jim surprisingly grinned. “Mad. You know, insane,” he said.
“Yes, I do know insane. Maybe you’re just detoxing from the phone. I haven’t seen you on it since before we left the house, um, I mean castle?”
Jim shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. “Maybe that’s the problem. I’m a bit of a control freak, and I’m sort of wondering if my business is falling apart by now.”
“Is it a small, big, or massive-ass company that’s worrying you?”
“It doesn’t matter the size,” he said as I tried to keep up with his long strides. “Things can go south with just a text, call, fax, or email.”
“In three goddamn hours?”
He tightened his lips, and I saw the corners of his eyes crinkle in humor. “It could happen in three goddamn seconds.” He arched an eyebrow at me.
“So, it’s sort of like the bullshit that swings my way at any time with my druggie ex?”
“Possibly,” he said. “Shit can go sideways, and it could be happening at this very moment while we walk up to this restaurant.”
“Why don’t you tell your driver to come to get you before the world collapses? I was only trying to give you a hard time, but it seems like you’re not having a good day.” I eyed him curiously. “Seriously, I’m not about to ruin this trip because of a guy who can’t let work go for a few hours.”
“Really?” He leveled me with a stare that made me take a step back.
I met him with a look of my own. “Really.” I raised both eyebrows. “You don’t have to stop everything you’re doing to keep me entertained.