“Before we do anything else, how about a tour?”
He’d told her to make herself at home, but much like at his house, it had seemed inappropriate to explore the other levels without him.
“Sure. I’ll follow you,” Matt said, gesturing toward the stairs that led to the main deck.
As with the upper deck, there was ample seating for passengers, a table, a complete entertainment system, and a small galley. While the majority of the deck was enclosed by glass, the back-most portion, which she vaguely remembered was called the stern, had a well-placed door that allowed the owner to keep the elements from ruining their day.
A third set of stairs brought them to the lower deck. She’d expected the yacht to have sleeping accommodations, as well as some kind of bathroom similar to the one in the camper her parents used these days. Although the Class C motorhome they’d upgraded to was far nicer than the camper the family used when she was growing up, it still wasn’t anything like what the yacht’s lower deck contained.
There were three bedrooms. The largest contained what looked like a king-sized bed. There was a full-sized bed in the second, while the third had two twin beds. There were also two bathrooms. The larger of the two could only be accessed from the main cabin, while the slightly smaller one was obviously intended for whatever guests were on board. Despite the slight size difference, both had decent-sized showers.
Once they’d finished the tour, they returned to the main deck. But rather than sit down near the table, Matt grabbed the basket and walked toward the front of the boat. From the one cruise she’d taken, she remembered it was actually called the bow, although she didn’t understand why boats had to have special names for the different sections. Front and back seemed sufficient to her.
The designer had completed the area with a small table featuring seating in the shape of a semicircle, ensuring that no matter where you sat, you’d have a great view.
“You could spend weeks out on the water.” Her first thought was that the yacht was nicer than her apartment. But that would only remind him of their vastly different backgrounds.
“That’s kind of what I have in mind.” Coming up behind her, Matt wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m hoping you’ll come with me.”
Before Liv could process his words, he kissed her neck. “I know your weekends are pretty booked through July, but maybe we can get away in August. It doesn’t have to be for weeks. We could go for five or six days and then plan on something longer when Ocean View isn’t as busy. What do you think?”
She thought she was dreaming, and at any minute she’d wake up, because it sounded as though Matt wasn’t thinking of their time together as a distraction until he got bored with town and left. But that couldn’t be. Someone like Matt would never be happy living in Orchard Harbor year-round. Eventually, he would get bored. Maybe he’d make it until August. Although she doubted it, he might even stick around until the winter. Fall in this area of the country was breathtaking with its vibrant colors. But year-round, never.
“Yeah, I think we have at least one event every weekend between now and the end of July.” While some events were small and didn’t require her attention, Ocean View wasn’t hurting for business right now.
“August it is. We can head down to Sanborn Island or Martha’s Vineyard.”
She’d never visited either of the places he mentioned and wouldn’t mind a short vacation. The farthest she’d traveled in the past year was to see her brother in Boston.
“Or if we don’t get there before then, we could go to Newport.”
Liv considered her words before speaking. “Do you think you’ll still be here in August?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Do you know something I don’t?”
He brushed his lips against the other side of her neck, setting fairies loose in her stomach. And before she changed her mind about the conversation she was about to start, she stepped out of his embrace and turned to face him.
“Orchard Harbor isn’t exactly home for you, Matt. You told me that Florida was.” His exact answer had been less straightforward, but it didn’t change the fact that Orchard Harbor was just one of many places where he owned a home and spent time.
“No, I said it was where I spent most of my time, so I guessed it was home. I like it there, but it’s never really felt like home. If that makes any sense?”
Liv shrugged. “A little.” Except for when she’d attended college, she’d never lived anywhere else.
“I’ve been visiting here for sixteen years. Do you know why?”
Matt brushed his fingers across her cheek and then settled on the skin below her ponytail, sending a jolt of energy across her skin.
Honestly, she had no clue why he’d been visiting town for so long. As she’d pointed out to Emma recently, Orchard Harbor wasn’t an international hotspot. “Your favorite restaurant is here?” The answer made about as much sense as any other she could come up with.
A slow smile spread across his face. “Ocean View Grill is one of my favorite restaurants.” He lifted her hand toward his lips. “But no, that isn’t why I bought a house here.”
Matt kissed her knuckles, sending her heart even further out of the friend zone than it already was. Oh, who was she kidding? Her heart had left the friend zone weeks ago.
“Orchard Harbor is, for lack of a better word, my happy place. Whenever I’m here, I feel—” He paused, and she could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he searched for the right word. “—like I’m where I belong. I love Florida and parts of California, but I’m restless when I’m there. Eager to go somewhere else. That doesn’t happen when I’m here.” Releasing her hand, Matt stepped closer. “And now, I have even more of a reason to stay.”
Liv didn’t know how to respond. Thankfully, it didn’t matter because he pressed his lips against hers, leaving her unable to do anything but close her eyes and focus on his kiss. At the same time, her heart tap-danced against her rib cage, an experience she couldn’t recall ever happening while being kissed. Then again, she knew for a fact that she had never been kissed by anyone with a mouth as talented as Matt’s either. And she sure as hell didn’t want to think about how it had gotten that way.
Gradually, he brought their kiss to an end and rested his forehead against hers. “If we’re not on the same page, tell me now.”
