Just Between Us – Bonus Scene

Veda  

The rumble of Royal’s truck echoed down the quiet street as he pulled up in front of me. I stood outside King Tattoo, arms crossed, pretending not to notice the heads turning as his dark pickup came to a stop. The sun hit the hood, and when Royal climbed out, he looked as effortlessly confident as ever, that familiar cocky grin already in place.

“Late again,” I said, quirking an eyebrow as he walked toward me. I crossed my arms but was unable to hide the grin tugging at the corner of my lips

“Had to make sure everything was perfect,” he replied, shrugging casually as his eyes took their time lingering over my outfit, his grin deepening. “And by the looks of it, so are you.”

“Flattery’s not going to save you this time.” I tried to sound stern, but a smile tugged at my lips. “What’s going on? I don’t have all day.”

“Precious . . . ” His smirk was pure mischief as he pulled a small, folded paper from his jacket. “You’ll want to clear your schedule for this.”

I unfolded the paper slowly. It was an itinerary—simple but packed with details that made my heart race.

“Royal… this is—”

“A weekend getaway,” he cut in, voice low and playful. “Just you, me, and no distractions. I know you don’t do spontaneous, but trust me, this one’s worth it.”

I scanned the page. A remote lakeside cabin, private dinners, spa appointments, and something labeled “surprise activities.” My stomach fluttered, torn between excitement and caution.

“You booked a cabin? With all of this?”

He shrugged like it was no big deal, but his eyes gleamed with pride. “I figured you could use a break. Besides, I owe you after last month.”

“Last month?”

He gave me a knowing look, and it all came back. The impromptu trip to Chicago. The last-minute business meetings I had to juggle while he played tourist. “Oh, right,” I muttered.

Royal stepped closer, his hands finding their way to my waist. “This time, no work. Just us.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but the warmth of his hands and the way his eyes softened made me falter. “Royal, I—”

“Veda, you need this.” His voice was gentle, but there was that edge of firmness I couldn’t argue with. “You’re always taking care of everyone else, and it’s my job to take care of you.”

His sincerity hit me harder than I expected. I hated letting my guard down, but with him, it always seemed inevitable.

“And what exactly are these ‘surprise activities’?” I asked, raising the paper in an attempt to lighten the moment.

Royal’s lips brushed my ear as he leaned in, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “Let’s just say they involve fewer clothes and a lot more of me.”

I laughed, pushing him away playfully. “You’re incorrigible.”

“And you love it.” He grinned, pulling me toward the truck. “Come on, let’s go. The cabin’s ready.”

“Wait, right now?” I blinked at him. “I don’t have anything packed!”

“You don’t need anything,” he said, winking as he opened the passenger door for me. “I’ve got it all covered.”

The idea of not controlling the details made me hesitate, but the way he looked at me—confident and sure—made me give in.

I shot him a look, then climbed into the truck. “Fine. But if this somehow involves a prank, you’re going to regret it.”

“No pranks this time. Scout’s honor.” He slid into the driver’s seat and flashed me that boyish grin, and before I could second-guess it, we were on the road.

The wind whipped through the open windows as we left town, the roads winding through dense woods and autumn-touched hills. Royal’s presence was steady beside me, his hand occasionally brushing my knee, reminding me why I’d let myself fall for him in the first place.

After a while, we turned off onto a hidden dirt road. The trees thickened, and soon, a cozy cabin nestled by the lake came into view, with a fire already crackling outside. The late afternoon sun shimmered on the water, and it felt like we had the entire world to ourselves.

“Welcome to your weekend of no stress, no schedules, and no one else but us,” Royal said, parking the truck and hopping out to open my door.

I glanced around, my lips twitching in appreciation. “You really did plan all this?”

“Told you I’ve got this.” He grabbed my hand and led me toward the cabin. “Wait until you see inside.”

The cabin was perfect—warm wood tones, plush furniture, candles flickering along the walls, and the scent of something delicious wafting from the kitchen. It was quiet, peaceful, exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

“So, what’s the plan?” I asked, crossing my arms, feigning indifference. “Besides these mysterious ‘activities’ you mentioned?”

Royal stepped closer, his hands sliding to my waist, pulling me against him. His eyes darkened, and the tension between us crackled, familiar and irresistible. “Well, I thought we could start with a sunset on the dock. And then…”

“And then?” I teased, my breath catching as his hands tightened on my waist.

“And then,” he whispered, his lips grazing my neck, “I’ll remind you exactly why you said yes to me in the first place.”

I rolled my eyes, even as my pulse quickened. “Oh, is that so?”

“Mmhmm.” His mouth curved into a smile against my skin as he pressed a slow, teasing kiss to my throat, his hands wandering lower. “Because no one else drives you crazy like I do.”

“You’ve got that right,” I muttered, my voice shaking with the effort to sound unaffected. But the way his kisses deepened, the way his touch turned possessive, made it impossible to focus on anything but him.

“Good,” he murmured, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes, his voice low and full of promise. “Because we’ve got all weekend.”