His mouth dropped. “How did you know that’s one of my favorite movies? I had to buy a new copy because I watched it so much, I wore the disc out. Apparently, we have a lot in common.”

Too much—food, music, and now movies. And how could she forget the fact that for their first two dates, the things he’d planned were things she enjoyed most in a relationship. But they didn’t have a relationship, she reminded herself. Serenity shifted her focus to the water and finished eating.

“Do you want anything else?”

“No, thank you. I’m so full, you might have to roll me back to the car.”

Gabriel started repacking the basket. “That’s a good thing.”

She let out a little snort. “How is that a good thing?”

Holding her gaze, he said softly, “Because it means you enjoyed it, and that was my goal.” He placed a lingering kiss on her lips.

I. Can. Not. Fall. For. This. Man. To distract herself from her thoughts, she helped him clean up.

“How about we walk off some of this food?”

“That’s a good idea.” Serenity pointed to the basket. “What should we do with the basket?”

“I think it’ll be fine to leave it. We can have the dessert I brought when we get back.”

“Sounds good.” They started a slow stroll down the curved path parallel to the water in companionable silence, stopping every so often to watch the waves. They retraced their steps, and when they’d made it almost back to the blanket, she noticed how the golden color of the sand seemed brighter. “Look at the color of the sand.” A thought came to her. “You know what it reminds me of?”

“No, what?”

Serenity hooked her arm in his and started belting out the chorus of “Ease on Down the Road” from The Wiz, complete with the dance.

Gabriel doubled over in laughter. When he finally calmed down, he swept Serenity into his arms. “You are something else. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”

Time seemed to slow as their laughter faded. Something flickered in his intense gaze that sent a tremor down her spine. Suddenly, the air around them thickened with sexual tension. “Gabriel,” she whispered as his head descended. The kiss started off sweet and tender but changed to demanding and all-consuming in a split second. Without breaking the seal of their mouths, he somehow lowered them both to the blanket.