“A limo?” Mina stopped on the street to look at the sleek, black vehicle. They’d left The Fix through the back door and then walked down the alley to Brazos Street. She hadn’t thought anything of the limo at first, but then the driver had stepped out and held the door open, and Cam had steered her that direction.

Now, as she slipped into the dark interior, she looked over her shoulder at Cam and smiled, a little bit awed. “Unexpected, but nice.”

He settled in beside her as the driver indicated the two freshly poured Mimosas. Cam handed Mina hers before pushing the button on the privacy screen and picking up his own glass. “To surprises,” he said, and a laugh bubbled out of her. The truth was, Cam was the biggest surprise of all. The way she felt so easy with him. So connected.

“Definitely.” She clinked his glass then took a sip before looking out the window. “Where are we going?”

“Are you fuzzy on the definition of surprise?”

She finished her mimosa and held her glass out with her brows raised, challenging him to deny her another. “Silly me. I thought the limo was the surprise.”

“It’s a multipart surprise,” he told her as he made her a fresh drink. “Part of the surprise is traveling in style.”

“You got that right. This is a sweet ride. My dad hardly ever hires limos, and when he does, it’s for work. The only ones I’ve ever been in were during school. And those reeked of beer. And usually had a half-naked frat guy with his head through the sunroof screaming drunken insults at pedestrians.”

This, she thought was much better. A nice ride and an even nicer guy. And the two of them all alone with all sorts of possibilities.

“Damn,” he said. “I forgot to arrange for the drunken frat guy.” He pointed to the sunroof. “Shall I start to strip down?”

“Later,” she said. “I think you can count on it.” She looked him slowly up and down, and then licked her lips for effect. “But I think I’ll keep you in the limo and all to myself.”

She asked where they were going, but he told her that was part of the surprise.

“I grew up here, too, you know,” she said. “Surprise destinations aren’t going to be that easy unless you’re taking me to the airport.”

“Damn. I forgot to reserve the jet to Paris.”

She had a sudden vision of the two of them in Paris, eating croissants from a street cafe, holding hands as the rode up the Eiffel Tower, exploring the Louvre and all the winding streets in the city.

With his sense of fun and his love of history, it would be an amazing trip, and it scared her a little how much she wanted to start seriously planning just such a journey.

He pulled her close then and kissed her, distracting her from her Parisian fantasies and ensuring that she lost all interest in trying to figure out where they were going. Instead, they wiled away the time enjoying a time-honored limo tradition—making out in privacy in the very back seat.

Once the car stopped, she was distracted by the need to straighten her clothes, and so she didn’t realize where they were until the driver opened the door and she recognized the well-known Austin restaurant.

“The Oasis!” she said, thrilled with his choice. “And just in time for sunset. This couldn’t be more perfect.”

“I’m friends with one of the bartenders, and he promised he’d make sure the hostess seats us at a perfect table.”

She knew what he meant by perfect, of course. The Oasis was built in multiple levels on a hill overlooking Lake Travis. It faced the west, and the sunsets over the water were both stunning and well-known. Getting a primo table, especially in the summer, was quite a feat.

“You’re amazing. A limo and perfect seats. What will you think of next?”

“Actually, margaritas and nachos if that sounds good to you.”

“Are you kidding? It’s perfect.” She squeezed his hand across the table. “This is perfect.”

They still had thirty minutes until sunset, and they talked about everything and nothing—including her fantasy Paris trip—as the sun slipped lower and lower in the sky, finally disappearing in a cacophony of color.

“That was amazing,” she said. “This date has been amazing.”

“I’m glad you approve,” he said, flashing a crooked grin. “But it’s not over yet.”

In fact, she thought an hour later, the Oasis had barely been an appetizer. After they returned to downtown, he took her to one of the high-rise condo buildings, and they rode up, up, up until finally entering a small studio with a view of the river. “It’ll be gorgeous tomorrow,” he said, “but even at night it’s pretty with the lights.”

She nodded agreement as she explored the place, noticing the soft classical music and the wine glasses already out on the bar by the kitchen area.

The bedroom was an area set off by bookcases, and she saw the bedspread was pulled back and rose petals decorated the sheets.

“I’ll bite,” she said. “What’s going on. Is this your place?”

“Ours,” he said. “Just for the weekend.”

“Don’t you work this weekend? And how is it ours?”

“It’s my sister’s. Well, hers and Noah’s. This was his place before they got married, and he kept it. They have a house in LA, too. And so long as we clear out before they get here on Wednesday, we have the run of the place.”

“But—”

“And you’re right. I have to work. But I thought it would be nice to share a place—to just share everyday life—for a couple of days. But if you think it’s a stupid idea or if it makes you uncomfortable—”

“I like it,” she interrupted, rushing to reassure him. And she really did. “Yes,” she said, holding out her hands to him. “I want to play house with you, Cameron Reed.”

The relief on his face was so obvious that she was overcome with the urge to kiss him. And since there was no reason not to, that’s exactly what she did. Then she put her arms around him and held him close, feeling happy and spoiled and loved.

“I have a bottle of wine chilling,” he said. “Do you want some?”

She nodded, then took a seat in front of the window while he brought over the glasses and the white wine. They watched the lights of the neighborhoods beyond the river, and talked about their plans for the weekend. He told her how to get into the condo and asked what she’d do while he was at work.

She almost said she was going to pick up stray men and bring them to the condo, but even though it was so obviously a joke, she couldn’t conjure the words. She didn’t want even a joking thought about another man coming between them.

He was, she realized, all she wanted. And the thought was less scary than it should have been. After all, she’d never expected to feel so serious about a guy. Not yet anyway. Not until she was older and more established in her career.

But what they had felt right. Good. She just wasn’t sure if she could trust the way it felt. Or even if she should let him into her heart since she’d be off to Los Angeles as soon as she had enough experience under her belt.

Then again, it was too late for that. He was in her heart. Her heart and her head and her thoughts. And no matter what came next, she didn’t want that to change. She didn’t know if she was in love with him, and she wasn’t quite ready to think about that. But she did know that she wanted him. That being with him felt right.

And that, she supposed, was plenty to be going on with.

“Hey, you got quiet,” he said. “Penny for your thoughts?”

“They’re worth at least a quarter,” she countered.

“Deal.”

“I was thinking about you,” she admitted, then stood up and held out her hand to him. “And I was thinking about the bed and the rose petals. And,” she added, as she tugged him that direction, “I was thinking that I really want you to make love to me now.”

And of course, since Cam was a gentleman, he did exactly what she asked.

---

By late Sunday—technically Monday—Cam knew that he owed his sister big time. He’d never felt more at ease than he had sharing the studio with Mina. They walked on the trail by the river in the mornings, then came back to the condo for breakfast and made love in the shower. She spent a few hours each day at The Fix helping Brooke and Spencer, but they still had plenty of time for a quick dinner before he went in for his shift.

And since they were both used to crazy bar hours, they made love again in the wee hours after he came home from work. Then they lazed together in bed and caught each other up on their days, him telling her all about his new managerial position—which was harder work than bartending, but worth it—and her telling him about articles she’d read, places she’d visited, and all the little things she was doing as she enjoyed her free time between school and her new job that was starting soon.

That intimacy was what he was most looking forward to now as he rode the elevator up after his shift. And he called out her name as he stepped inside.

Usually, she greeted him with a sparkling water, but today she only waved from where she sat at the kitchen table with her phone to her ear and a cup of coffee in front of her.

“Thanks,” she was saying. “I really am excited. It couldn’t be a better opportunity.” She nodded. “Yeah, really soon. I don’t know—oh, that’s terrific. I can’t believe you forgot to tell me that right off the bat. An actual producing credit?”

She stood as she listened, then came over to kiss him, signaling that she’d only be another minute. “Well, tell him I said congratulations and that we’ll talk soon. I know, right? Definitely happy hour worthy. Okay, love you, too. Bye!”

She ended the call, then moved into the kitchen to fill her mug.

“One of your LA friends?” he asked.

“Lydia,” she said, her back to him. “She moved to LA after undergrad and is doing really well. And she told me that another friend of ours just got his first producing credit.”

“And you told them about your job, I hope.”

“Yeah,” she said, her voice a little hollow. “That’s actually why I called her. I know it’s late there, but with the time difference, I knew she’d still be up.”

He frowned, not certain why, but feeling like there was something off in her voice. “She must know the studio,” he said. “I mean, with projects from both Griffin and Beverly Martin on their dance card, you’re going to work for a real competitor.”

“I know.” She finally turn around, then rubbed her face, looking tired. “It’s just been a long, weird day, and I miss her. There was a group of us that did drinks every Friday night. Call it late night melancholy. Actually,” she said, “don’t call it anything at all. Because I’m going to shake off this mood.”

A ball of worry had settled in his gut, but he was determined to shake that off, too. So he didn’t ask her for more details. All he said was, “you’re in luck. I know just how to do that. Get dressed,” he added, his eyes skimming over the tiny tank top and sleep shorts that he loved seeing her in. “I want to show you something.”

“What? Outside?”

Since she was already tugging her jeans back on, he didn’t bother answering. He just waited for her to finish, then led the way to the door.

“It’s almost three in the morning,” she pointed out as they descended in the elevator. “Where are we going?”

“Not far,” he promised. He’d called the car service again, and the limo was right on time, the driver standing by the door ready to hold it open for Mina.

“Good evening,” he said as they both slipped inside, and Cam was pleased to see the driver hadn’t forgotten a thing.

As the driver shut the door, Cam took one of the freshly poured Mimosas and handed it to Mina. “To long nights and wonderful company,” he said.

She still looked baffled, but she smiled broadly, then clinked her glass against his. “I’ll drink to that.” She took a sip, then nodded at the two small canvas bags on the floor. They were both zipped shut with no logo. “Are those for us?”

“Yup.”

“Can I open one?”

“Nope.”

“Cam!”

He laughed, amused by her confusion. Soon enough she’d have her answer, and in fact, they’d barely been in the car for five minutes when the driver pulled over at the designated spot on Baylor Street at the edge of downtown, just below the old castle. “Come on,” Cam said, grabbing his bag and urging Mina to pick up hers.

“Graffiti Park!” She looked around, delighted. “Do you know I’ve never been here?”

“Me neither,” Cam admitted, but he knew about it. Most Austinites did. Officially called the Hope Outdoor Gallery, Graffiti Park consisted of the concrete remnants of old buildings at the bottom of a hill. An urban contrast to the medieval-style castle that graced the hilltop, one of the earliest buildings in Austin, and which Cam had been in once as a kid when the then-owners had turned it into a haunted house for Halloween.

For years, the slabs had stood stark white, like bones rotting in the sun. Then after a South-by-Southwest event in 2011, it was opened to muralists. After that, it evolved as a venue for taggers, with the graffiti being periodically whitewashed so that folks could start over.

Now, it was completely covered by layer upon layer of art on top of art. And Cam intended to add one more layer.

“They’re about to demolish it,” he said. “I’m not sure exactly when, but I read that the city council voted on it, and it’s going to be torn down, and maybe part of it relocated out by the airport.” He shrugged. “I guess the folks in the neighborhood don’t like the crowds it draws.”

“Too bad,” she said. “It’s pretty cool.”

They started climbing until they found a slab with mostly solid colors. Mina opened her bag, found a can of white paint, and sprayed, Mina & Cam Were Here, then proceeded to spray smiley faces and little stick figures.

They both sprayed goofy images for a while, demonstrating their complete lack of artistic skill, until finally Cam took her hand and pulled her to one side. “This,” he said, then very carefully sprayed Mina + Cam 4ever inside a large, red heart.

When he was done, he turned to look at her, his heart pounding because he knew he’d laid it on the line.

But her hand was pressed to her chest and her expression was wistful, and when she turned and smiled at him, his shoulders sagged with relief. At least until she stepped over to him, took his hand, and sighed.

“Forever,” she whispered. “At least until they knock the place down.”