Apocalipstick (Hell in a Handbag Book 1) by Lisa Acerbo (the best e book reader txt) 📗

“I was curious. I came here after the hunt a while back and explored. This way we’ll have some privacy. There is a great view of the lake from the back. I set it up so we can hang here tonight.”

“Could be fun.”

“Fun will be the understatement of the evening.”

The two climbed the front stairs and headed inside. Most homes showed abandonment and neglect, furniture, and remnants of past lives in disarray and covered in dust, mold, and cobwebs. Broken and overturned lives and furnishing the norm. The entrance of this house, on the other hand, looked like someone could move in. The room was spotless.

“You cleaned for me.”

“One time only. You’re the woman. You should be doing this,” Caleb teased.

“You did not say that.” The smack of her hand against his well-muscled arm filled the air. “You’ll get nothing if you act like a cave man.”

“Look at this.” He opened a door to a patio suspended above the water. A bouquet of wildflowers sat on a table with two chairs perched near the railing.

She stepped out into the night air and peered over. “The world is at peace here. I wish I never had to go back to reality.”

“It would be nice if it was like this all the time.”

“This is too perfect. Nothing this good is permanent. Something’s bound to come along and destroy it,” she said. “And not only our date. We found an amazing place to live at the inn. I found you. I can’t believe it will last. Not in the world we live in now.”

He held a bottle of red wine and two glasses in his hand. “You’re always a pessimist, aren’t you? Maybe this is exactly where we’re supposed to be, and this is how it’s supposed to work out. We found each other. That’s fate, destiny, serendipity. Let’s enjoy every minute of it.” He poured wine into chipped, mismatched glasses.

“How did you get the bottle? Doesn’t Jackie guard the wine cellar like every bottle was akin to gold and jewels?” She tasted the jewel-red drink, enjoying the little luxury. “Tasty.”

“You better enjoy the treat.” A grin worked his lips before he sipped. “I’m responsible for pretty much everyone’s cleaning duties around the inn this month, but it was worth it. You’re worth it.”

She took a large drink.

“You did it all for me.” The warmth of the wine hit quickly. “Are my cleaning duties included in the deal you made?”

“You’re enjoying the benefits of the bottle.” He raised an eyebrow. “You want to be excused from cleaning too? Gold digger.”

“A woman’s got to do what a woman’s got to do.” She sipped the wine, enjoying the view of the lake.

Caleb moved close, breath on the nape of her neck, proximity both comforting and disconcerted her. Bolstered by the drink, she leaned back against his broad chest and rested. His hands massaged her shoulders, teasing her senses.

His voice broke through the reverie. “Hungry?”

“Always.”

“Let’s eat.”

They moved to the table and Caleb offered her chair with a flourish. For having survived the apocalypse, the chair was in surprisingly good working order. She slipped off her jacket and slung it behind her.

Caleb stared, his look appreciative. He drew matches from his pocket and lit the two candles he’d wrangled from the unknown. Candlelight danced, creating magical images, and added to the fairytale atmosphere.

As they ate, Caleb related tales of growing up in rural New York. His family had been close knit and the stories wove the tapestry of his life.

“We lived on a farm, but my dad wasn’t really a farmer. He made a lot of money working in the stock market and decided it would be better to raise his family in the country. He retired early, bought some land, a few cows, sheep, and horses, and called himself a farmer. He was the biggest disaster, but my sisters and I loved him more than anything. Mom, too. She put up with all his crazy ideas. He was really smart, but a bit insane. I say that in the kindest of ways because he was my dad.”

“Like father, like son,” Jenna joked.

“Exactly. He taught me to play guitar and piano and encouraged my love of music even when I wanted to do it for a career. What did you want to do when you grew up?” Caleb poured her more wine.

Her eyebrow shot up. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”

“Maybe. Answer the question.”

“I wanted to be a journalist.” A chuckle escaped. “I wanted to save the world by writing stories exposing the corruption in the government and big business. I was into causes. Save the polar bears. Save the whales. Stop rainforest destruction. Before everything happened, I was on my high school newspaper. I thought I could change the world for the better. Now, I’m happy to get through the day without running into a Streaker. My new cause is to save the humans.”

“The world isn’t so changed, Jenna. You make a difference every day by helping people.”

“I’m not the person I was before, and I can’t fathom a pre-pandemic life anymore. Too much has changed. I don’t know if I can help anyone. Some days I can’t help myself. For so long it was survival mode. It’s hard to get out of the mindset with Streakers right outside the fences. Our safety here is an illusion. One that I’m happy to buy into at the present but still an illusion.”

“You have gorgeous eyes.” He changed the subject abruptly. “They reveal whatever you’re passionate about.”

“You don’t want to discuss Streaker invasions? The inn’s safety? Set up a plan for the perimeters?”

“Don’t even joke. We are not going there tonight. Instead, I’m going to tell you how beautiful you are, and how much I want you. Those lips are killing me. They look so luscious, like a ripe raspberry I want to nibble on.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m the person you enchanted with those red lips.”

“It’s my apocalipstick. I found it with the dress. The lipstick was my