He slaps me on the back and says, “You two have fun. Be home before curfew.” He chuckles.
Ava smiles and yells over her shoulder, “Yes, Dad.”
I laugh at the whole interaction. “So, what do you like to eat? There’s a great local place on the water.” I say to her, opening the car door, and she slides in.
I walk around the car and hop in. “Well, what do you think? Will that work for you?”
She nods her head yes. “I’m not picky with food. Actually, I love food.”
“Good! I love eating out, especially at excellent restaurants. Not just food, but the ambiance seals it for me. Anything that overlooks the water, I’m game.” I start the engine, and it roars to life. We drive off, and I lose myself in the thoughts of the two of us on my boat. “Did you have fun today?”
“I had a ton of fun. We’ll definitely have to do that again,” she says as she rubs her hands together. “You know, a rematch.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me when I glance over.
“You like to have fun, don’t you?” More of a rhetorical question. “So, how do you feel about rollercoasters?”
Her head swings my way, eyes bright. “Um…yes, please.”
“Would you be interested in hanging out with me at Six Flags?” I glance over and back to the road. She’s still staring at me.
She maneuvers her body to face me as much as she can with her seatbelt on. “That just might sound like a lot of fun.”
“Well, we are booked for Dane and Kendall’s wedding. Hello Date.” I say to her, grabbing her thigh and squeezing it. “We could shoot for the weekend after, if that works?”
“I can pencil it in, but with the coffeehouse plans, I’m not sure if I’ll be up and running. And frankly, I have no idea if I’ll need to be there. There’s so much up in the air, but we can circle back that week.” Her leg crosses over the other. Those fucking legs…all my mind thinks about is having them around my waist, my shoulders, anywhere close to me.
“We can pencil it in. I mean, we’ll be neighbors soon, so you can’t dodge me.” I chuckle, give her a quick glance, smile, and pull into a parking spot atOn the Waterfront.
Her tongue darts out and swipes my hand. I want to pull it away. Instead, I let her draw on the back of my hand with the tip of her tongue. All I can imagine is that tongue on my cock. “Okay, I have something else you can lick.” My eyebrows jump up and down on my forehead.
“I’m sure you do…” she says and licks her lips.Holy shit.
“We’d better get out of this car before I ravage you right here in broad daylight, where people can see us.” I open my door, tucking myself under my waistband to hold it in place, and open her door.
I’m looking forward to spending time with her. Sliding my hand onto her back, we walk to the front door. I hold it open so she can enter first. But my hand lands back onto her within seconds. Longing for her warm skin, it fills my heart that she doesn’t mind PDA.
We are escorted out to the dining area overlooking the lake. As the sun shines down and the water reflects the sun's rays, hence the name Mirror Lake.
I slide out the chair. She sits and pulls herself closer to the table. Choosing to plant myself next to her, we can both enjoy the water views and be close. Not great for people-watching, but today I don’t want my eyes on anyone but her.
I lean in closer. “Tell me more about your vision for the coffeehouse.”
She puts her elbow on the table and rests her cheek in her palm. “In a perfect world, I’d build out a bookstore. There’s space on the other side of the coffeehouse that may become available in the next month or two. It’s exactly the kind of space I imagine for the bookstore.”
“I did hear about the space next to you. I’d say that might be a sign. Timing is everything.”
“You’re right, it is. There’s a lot to line up for such a big purchase. I’ve done it before, and I know I can do it again.” She moves her eyes to the lake and says, “Logan and my sister are my angel investors, so I didn’t have to sell the van just yet. I’m nervous about settling back into a stationary location. On the flip side, I’m excited to be close to my family, hanging out with new friends, and…being with you.”
“I’m happy you’re here to stay.”
I don’t know what I would do without my dad and brother. Family means so much to me.
“Deep down, it feels right, but it doesn’t mean I’m not nervous about it.” She plays with the hem of her shirt, still glancing out at the water.
“I can understand that. Will you need any help with the build-out?” I ask her, wracking my brain about how I can help and make it easier. “I’m sure there’s plenty I can help with.”
“I think the only immediate needs will be bookcases. Actually, I don’t even know how many I need at the moment. It’s very preliminary, but probably eight, with a few smaller ones.” Her hands are flying all around as she talks about it. The excitement is beaming. I’m happy she’s so excited. My own firm, and she’s about to pull the trigger on a huge investment to stay in Saxville and run the coffeehouse.
My chest feels warm, and like a vice is tightening around my heart. I rub it to relieve some pressure. “I wish I could help you with that. My brother, Blake, can build bookcases quickly and to top-notch quality standards. Between him and me, we could install them for you.” Offering my brother's services is a voluntold situation that I’m sure he won’t mind doing as a favor to me.
