Page 48 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

Robyn glanced at me and raised our linked hands over our heads as she broke into her best Cyndi Lauper impersonation.

I laughed and joined her as we skipped through the group, weaving in and out of the others.

Seeing Robyn so carefree filled my heart.

Her concerns over our dating arrangement seemed to be forgotten, so I relaxed and enjoyed the moment.

As soon as they arrived at the end of Girls Just Want to Have Fun, someone called out, I Am Woman , and we were off on our next song. Our voices raised as one as we belted out the lyrics.

Once it ended, one of the younger attendees called out, “Sheesh, can we sing something newer?”

“You call it,” someone yelled out.

The young woman shook her hips and broke into Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off.

“Go, girl,” Annie called out and joined her.

I looked at Robyn and shrugged. “The only words I know are shake it off.”

Robyn laughed. “Just hum the rest.”

Which I did as we shook and sang our way toward the villa.

When we arrived at the path between the villas, we paired off to walk down the pathway. It gave me the opportunity to lean over toward Robyn. “I didn’t get the chance to tell you, but you look beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you.” Robyn’s voice was low, almost shy. I think she blushed, but in the moonlight, it was only a guess.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“I am, too.” She squeezed my hand. “And for the record, I noticed your outfit.”

I laughed. “You did, huh? I thought maybe you’d missed it.”

“I call foul. It wasn’t fair I had to mingle while you strutted around looking like that.”

“Strutting? I wasn’t strutting.” I had been. Any time anyone at my table needed a drink, I volunteered to get it. I was certain they’d figured out my game, but they’d played along.

“Really? Then I’m thinking you’ve got a whale-sized bladder.”

“Do whales have bladders?” I asked.

“They must, but that’s not the point, so stop changing the subject.”

“Me?” I feigned innocence. “Fine, I might have been keeping the table in drinks.”

“I knew it.” Robyn laughed. “Do you know how distracting it was?”

“I’m just happy you noticed.”

“Oh, I noticed.”

I smirked. “Good.”

Only a handful of us remained around the fire. Those with early flights had said their goodbyes. I’d cried when Dana hugged me before she retired and been surprised to see tears streaming down her face. She’d brushed them away and made me promise not to tell anyone.

The fire flickered and flames lapped at the blackened wood, trying to find something to burn. Earlier, the blaze had kept me warm, but the dying embers no longer radiated the same heat.

Robyn leaned against me. “Getting cold?”

“A little,” I answered.

“I should head home. Millie will need to go out.”

“Can I walk you to your van?”

“I’d like that.” Robyn pointed toward the path. “I’m parked out back.”

I stood and then helped her to her feet.

“Are you leaving?” Helena asked.

“I am,” Robyn answered.

“I’m gonna walk her out,” I said.

After a round of hugs, Robyn and I walked the pathway, hand in hand.

“It’s such a beautiful night.” I gazed up through the trees at the stars.

“It is.” Robyn inhaled. “I love the smell of the woods.”

“Earthy. It’s taken me a bit to get used to, but now I’m hooked.” I almost said I’d miss it when I returned to New York, but I stopped myself. I preferred not to think about it. “But I’m still trying to get used to how loud it is.”

Robyn chuckled. “Says the woman living in the city that never sleeps.”

“Well, these damned crickets don’t seem to sleep, either.”

“Or the frogs.”

“Frogs? Are you screwing with me again?”

Robyn stopped. “Just stand here and listen.” She moved in front of me, so I wrapped my arms around her waist and held her against me. “It’s not just crickets.”

“How can you tell the difference?”

“Just listen. The crickets are higher pitched and more rhythmic.”

After listening for a short time, my ears adjusted to the variation in sound. “I think I hear it. Was that one?”

Robyn squeezed my arms against her. “Yep. Once you spend enough time out here, you can’t not hear it.”

“That’s so cool.” Just as I spoke, another sound grabbed my attention. “Holy shit, was that an owl?”

“It was.”

“Oh, my god. I can’t believe I just heard an owl.”

Robyn turned in my arms and put her palm against my cheek. “You are so adorable.” The warmth of her hand felt good against my cool cheek.

“May I kiss you? I mean, is it okay here?”

Robyn nodded.

Just like yesterday, her lips were soft and yielding. Our kiss lingered as we teased each other’s lips with our tongues. I didn’t know how long we’d been kissing before Robyn pulled away.

When I looked into her eyes, my breath caught. They were hungry—full of desire.

“Come home with me.” Robyn’s voice was husky.

“Yes.” My voice matched hers.

“You have to let Emma know, or she’ll be worried.”

“Okay.” I stepped toward her. I couldn’t wait until we got to her place before I touched her again.

Our lips met with the same softness as before as I held back my urgency.

When we broke the kiss, I kissed along her jawline, stopping at her ear to suckle her lobe before I moved to the throbbing vein in her neck.

She gasped and then moaned. “Oh, shit, Blake. You have to stop, or I won’t be able to think straight.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I teased.

“Our first time shouldn’t be against a tree in the middle of the woods.”

I kissed her neck again. “Yeah, we don’t need the frogs watching.” Even though I wanted to continue my exploration, I stepped back.

“Hurry and go tell Emma.”