He jokes, but if people knew him the way I do, that would be more accurate than he thinks. There are so many sides to this man. So many reasons to fall more and more in love with him. He makes the prospect of facing my past less frightening and more…exciting.
“So,” I say, fiddling with the hem of my shorts. “What’s the plan here?”
“In a second. I’m admiring the view.”
I can’t tell for sure that he’s looking at me behind his sunglasses, but I can practically feel the heat of his gaze. The green bikini top I’m wearing has more coverage than some of the suits I’ve seen on the beach since we got here, but I rarely wear anything like this without a t-shirt or tank over the top. I simultaneously feel exposed and more attractive than what I’m used to, torn between tucking my arms around my bare stomach and flaunting the strong, lean body I’ve earned from a summer of hard work on the river.
I feel like I’m straddling two sides of myself: the river guide who doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her and the actress who was always more insecure than she let people believe.
Derek must sense the war going on inside me because he slowly crosses the space between us and presses warm hands to my waist, pulling me close. “You are stunning, Donovan Tate,” he murmurs, touching his lips to my forehead. “I’ve thought so from the moment I met you, and you’ve only grown more beautiful as I’ve come to know who you are on the inside.”
His thumb brushes along the skin of my stomach, making my core muscles involuntarily contract, and his fingers tighten in response. My breath catches, Derek leans closer, and I reach up to remove the sunglasses preventing me from seeing the look in his eyes. He’s going to take them off anyway so we can take a picture together, so that might as well happen now.
I’m not disappointed. His gaze is locked on my body, taking in every inch of me with the look of a starving man. Not a look he should be wearing on a public beach, no matter how much I like it.
After pulling his hat from his head, I tilt his chin up to bring his eyes back to mine. “Let’s take the picture before Hunter decides we’ve been out in the open for too long.”
It takes Derek a second to register what I said, but he swallows and nods, pulling his phone out of his pocket and handing it to me. He tugshis shirt off next, and a little whimper escapes me when I get an eyeful of his torso. Apparently I forgot how well he takes care of himself, and his work on the ranch has made everything more defined and chiseled.
I didn’t think that was possible, but here he is.
“Eyes up here,” Derek says with an airy chuckle.
Reluctantly, I tear my gaze from his body, understanding why he struggled so much a second ago. “It’s a good thing Nova never met Derek. Those teenage hormones would have killed us.”
Derek’s eyes are dark as they do another sweep over me. “Teenage. Right.”
He takes his phone back, and I swear our hands spark where they touch. Which is ridiculous because I’ve lost count of the times I’ve kissed this man so there’s no reason for my body to be reacting to him like I’ve never seen a man before. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m here in his world, where he is considered one of the hottest men alive. Or knowing that there’s no end date to our time together like there was on the river. Or it’s because the man talked to me whenever he could and removed every piece of armor he wore so I could see the tender heart beneath his perfect exterior.
Hot Scoopisn’t going to be able to drive a wedge between us even if they try, which means moments like these don’t have to be fleeting. I can have this—have him—forever if I want to.
“Can I tell you something?” I ask, my voice coming out almost timid.
Derek’s smile instantly shifts from one of heated desire to one that makes me feel seen. Cherished.Loved. “Always.”
“I’m very much in love with you, Derek Riley. I want to keep you.”
It’s not the first time I’ve told him I love him, but I think Derek senses the shift. He softens, pressing his hand to my cheek. “I’m keeping you too,” he murmurs. “I am madly…” he kisses the corner of my mouth “…deeply…” kisses the other corner “…in love with you.”
He kisses my lips for the briefest of moments, then lifts his phone and brushes a kiss against my cheek as my eyes fall shut.
I can’t imagine a more perfect picture than the one he takes in that moment, and the caption he adds to his post when we get back to the car brings a warmth to my soul that feels like it’ll never go away.
Glad she convinced me to come home.
On the surface, he’s talking about Los Angeles, but as Hunter drives us to Bonnie’s house for the final leg of today’s journey, Derek laces his fingers through mine and lifts our hands to his lips. His vivid blue eyes speak volumes. For him, home is wherever I am.
I know exactly how he feels.
Chapter Forty-Two
Donovan
Wemakeitallthe way past the gate of Bonnie and Hank’s neighborhood before Derek’s phone lights up with a call. He winces when he looks at the name, and I lean closer so I can see the picture on the screen.
“You were right,” I say with a snicker. “Cole’s the one who found it.” Of all of Derek’s friends, I would not have pegged the gruff rugby player with a new baby to be the one to find Derek’s post from the beach, but clearly Derek knows his friends well.
Hunter pulls up outside a gorgeous house, and when Derek makes no move to grab the phone from his lap, Hunter clears his throat, looking back at us in the rear view. “You can’t avoid him forever.”
