Scarlett Vanderburg's POV

"You look amazing." Imogen gushes, her hands clasped together. I turned to examine myself in the mirror, I had put on a white sundress I had picked up from one of the stalls we had walked past yesterday, and underneath was a white bikini. That had been the only hint I had gotten from Calix for our date. That we would be going swimming.

"Thank you." I smile at her, I twist my hair up, securing it with a claw clip before adding a couple layered gold necklaces. I had decided against make-up if I was going swimming and I had only a layer of lipgloss on.

"Where are you guys going?" She asks laying back in my bed. I keep faffing over my appearance wanting to look perfect.

"I don't know."

I hadn't known, Calix had wanted to keep it a secret from me and I couldn't deny that I was really looking forward to it. I had been on a couple dates, here and there but they had never been with anyone I truly liked, this was like a whole new experience.

"Ooh, a surprise." Imogen grinned, she got a text on her phone and I zoned out for a couple seconds until she called her name. "He's waiting for you downstairs, Si wanted to make him go and knock on the door like a proper date."

My cheeks flush, I was kind of glad Calix didn't agree to it, it would have skyrocketed my already anxious nerves.

I stand up and brush myself down once more before grabbing my bag and exiting the room, slowlyd I make my way down the stairs seeing Calix there waiting for me, he was dressed similarly to me, a white cotton shirt with the top few buttons left open and a pair of cargo shorts, he had sunglasses set on the top of his head. He looked unreal. In one of his hands he held a picnic basket and in the other a bouquet of daisies wrapped in brown paper.

I walked closer to him, my cheeks warming with how incense his gaze was, this man managed to make me feel like the most beautiful thing on Earth.

"Scarlett." Calix breathed out, I looked up at him through my lashes. He passes me the bouquet of flowers and I give him a shy smile. "You are so beautiful."

My cheeks were definitely living up to my name.

Our moment was broken by movement above us, and seeing they were caught Imogen, Silas and Quinn spread. I shook my head with a laugh, I expected it from Imogen and Silas but Quinn?

"Thank you for the flowers, Cal."

"Anything for you Angel." I leave the room before this man makes me combust, I find a vase and put the flowers in water, I leave them down here but make a mental reminder to take them up to my room when we get back. "Are you ready to go?"

I nodded and followed him outside, he opened the door to the rental car for me, letting me slide into the passenger seat before he went around to the driver's seat. The two of us made idle chatter during the journey, nothing with proper substance. I was basically buzzing in my seat, I had never felt more excited for something than I did at this moment.

"Are you sure you can't tell me where we're going?"

Calix turns to face me when we stop at the traffic light, an amused smile lighting up his face.

"You're acting like Silas, Angel?" A pout forms on my face at being compared to the annoying human being I know consider one of my best friends. "We aren't far, angel."

He was right, it didn't take long until he stopped the car, we each grabbed our things, well Calix took my bag out of my hands carrying it along with everything he bought. I looked out into the view, we were at the dock, a long row of boats along the shore and others spilling out into the ocean.

"We're going on a boat?" I ask, excitement filling me.

"Ever been sailing, Angel?" I shake my head, keeping my eyes trained on all the boats we pass until Calix stops in front of one. It wasn't overly big like some of the others. It was perfect for just the two of us.

"You know how to sail?" Calix helps me onto the boat.

"Yeah, we used to go down to Greece for the summers where mom's family lives. They lived right on the water and my grandfather always took me and my sisters sailing. They would rather sit and relax though so I was the one doing most of the work. Or maybe I just never gave them the chance, I loved it." A fond smile crosses his face as he reminisces the memory, he then looks down at me and I was taken away at how handsome he was. I had always thought Calix looked most in his element at work, in a suit and tie commanding hundreds of people but here in a light cotton shirt with a pair of sunglasses sitting on top of his head he looked calm, like he never had a single worry in the world. "All my childhood I wanted to be a sailor, that changed quickly after dad got sick though. Then all I wanted was to take the weight of the business off his shoulders and prove I was more than capable to run it for him."

"You didn't consider selling the company?" We moved forward as Calix started taking us onto the water, I just sat and watched him with amazement, is there anything this man isn't good at.

"I did. The first year or two were horrible for me, I had lost my dad and had all this responsibility all at once. The company felt the shift and it was so much work I never had any time to grieve. I was drowning and seriously considering giving everything up. But slowly things started to get better and I can honestly say that at this moment I'm the happiest I've been in a while."

His dark eyes drill into me and I blush knowing what he was implying without saying it. 'He was happy because I was here.' I was happier after meeting him too, so much happier than I had ever been.

"Well I'm glad you never packed up and moved to Greece because then I doubt I would have met you."

"Yeah, I'm suddenly very thankful of all my life choices that led me to you."

Feeling shy I look out in front of us onto the water. We sit in a calm silence as Calix steeps the boat, he seems to know where he's going despite never being here. I was right because a while later Calix steered the boat into a small cove, a deserted place where there was no one but us.

"How'd you know about this place?" I ask, after securing the boat Calix comes and wraps his arms around me from the back. My back that was only covered by the thin dress was flush against his shirtless front.

"Asked around with a couple contacts." He murmured. "Now what do you think of a swim and then lunch?"

"Perfect." Unwillingly I step out of his arms. I toe off my sandals first and then lift my dress off my body. I feel Calix's heavy gaze on me as he takes in my choice of swimwear. "Ready to go swimming?"

"You're really going to kill me, Angel." Calix groans. "I don't know how I'm going to go back to a professional relationship with you, pretending I don't want you every second of the day."

"Two more weeks."

"Two more weeks." He repeats, "Now let's swim, Angel."

The next second I was lifted into strong arms and together we fell into the crystal water that surrounded us.

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect first date with the perfect man.

Well was planning on updating this book when we hit 50k but life got in the way and I wasn't able to finish this chapter on time but here you go.

Also I updated the character aesthetics because honestly I didn't like them so go check them out. 

A sweet little chapter between my not-yet-a-couple

I hope you all enjoyed it, please vote and comment and I will see you next chapter

Ara <3