I pause while his arms are still around me, and all I can do is melt further into his embrace. There’s nothing else I want in my life but to be held by this man, to be his entire world.
He chuckles and brushes his fingers over his jaw. “I only want you in my life. It’s what I’ve imagined since the first day we met. You are my match, my other half, the one I don’t want to let get away.” When he leans over to press his lips to mine, I press further into him, and a cheeky grin appears on my face.
“You held me for weeks from afar when I was gone. I’m not sure you realize that.”
He nods his head. “Sweetheart, you do realize that you held me in your warmth all that time and in ways you can’t fathom. All those times you thought I was holding you from afar, you were that for me, too.”
All this time, we’ve been slowly becoming each other’s person. The one that makes everything make sense, like they’re the missing puzzle piece, making us utterly and completely whole—with each other.
The only sound we hear is the roar of the boat motor. Breaking the silence, I mumble into his shirt, “I’m excited about what’s next for us, for you and your firm, and for me, the coffeehouse and bookstore build-out. We have these amazing milestones we’re accomplishing, and I’m happy I’m doing it with you by my side.”
“We’re a pair, aren’t we?”
She nods against my chest. “Nothing like being extremely busy and starting a new relationship.”
“Oh…Ava Sinclair, you underestimate us.”
That pulls a laugh from me. We were having a serious conversation, but it’s nice that he lightened the mood. “I do, huh? I think we can do anything, together, with you by my side.”
“Let me know if you want me to talk with Blake about the bookshelves.”
“Thank you, but I can once it’s all finalized, which should be in the next couple of weeks. The local bank is holding the loan in-house—the same bank Logan uses. I think that’s where the firm banks, too, so it made it easy for the paperwork to be streamlined.”
“Next time you are at the coffeehouse, I can get Blake to take some measurements. It sounds like things are moving along in the right direction.” He moves his warm hand back to my thighs, rubbing them aimlessly.
“I appreciate that. It would help with the timeline. My idea for the space is to mirror the van, so I only have to move books from the van shelf to the bookcase. Then, as I grow, more can be added.”
“If you need help moving books…” he says while flexing his biceps.
I can’t help but entertain him with a squeeze, and a nice one at that. “Any help you want to offer, I will absolutely take. I underestimate time.”
His hand on my thigh stops and holds my knee with a small chuckle. “I’m the opposite, so if I’m done early, it’s a win.”
My hand slides to his chest, right over his heart, as my head snuggles into him. “We’re a perfect match.”
The boat slightly turns, and our time together is coming to an end. I take both my arms under his and hug him tightly while he says, “We are.”
Moving myself off of him so I can help him get the boat on the lift, I miss his warm touch. The boat is parked, and he hops out onto the dock. I stand there as he glances at me. “Why do I see your sad eyes from here?”
“The time went by too fast, and I’d rather stay here with you. But I promised my sister we’d finish the nursery.”
He stalks over to me and, with his strong arms pulling me closer, he says, “We’ll have plenty of time soon. Be with your sister, and know I’ll be working at the office all weekend. You won’t be missing much. Come on, I'll walk you to your car.”
He opens my car door, and I walk over. Before sitting in the driver's seat, I lean back against the car frame. When I glance up at him, he’s leaning against the door with his arm slung over it. Looking handsome as hell as the sun shines down on his blond hair, with those blue eyes seeing into me, and a devilish grin.
I point to his face and circle my finger with a half-smile as I try to decipher the look. “What’s all that for?”
“I know you need to go, so we’ll need to figure out another time we can spend together…and some hot tub time relaxing.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Is relaxing a code word for something else?” I air quote relaxing.
He rubs his finger and thumb over his jaw, with an eyebrow raised. Then, his free hand lands on the top of the car, leaning closer to me, caging me in. With my breath hitching, he dips down and claims my lips. A kiss like no other. One that sends tingles from my head to my toes…and my core.
Why do I have to leave?
When he finally pulls away, he slides his hand down my cheek. “You enjoy your time with your sister, and I’m going to head to the office.”
With one last look, I slide into the seat. He closes the door, and I drive away.
