“Morning. How’d you sleep?”
“Great. You?”
“I was out like a light. I feel really refreshed.”
“I’m glad.” I tighten my grip on the spatula to prevent myself from reaching for her. All the reasons I had that we shouldn’t get involved still stand, even after our long talk last night. Even knowing she feels the same way I do. The reasons aren’t going to magically disappear. Her life is about as far away from here and as different from mine as possible, and a roll in the hay isn’t going to change that. I lift the pancake off the pan and set it on the plate, then shut off the stove.
Paige hobbles over to the cupboard and reaches up to get the mugs down, and my eyes naturally fall to her ass in those jean shorts, the sight of it causing my body to react. “How’s your ankle this morning?”
“A lot better,” she answers, pouring us each a coffee. “I think I might be back to one-hundred percent in a couple of days.”
“Excellent,” I say, setting the plates on the table. “I’m going to finish setting up the dummies and the S.O.S. signs after breakfast. I’ll be gone most of the day again.”
“I wish I could help,” she says, sitting down.
“You’re the ideas person. I’m the muscle.”
Her eyes flick to my arms, and I can tell she’s suppressing a grin. “That’s for sure.”
I eat quickly and slam back the coffee, the entire time imagining myself swiping the dishes off the table and having my way with her right here and now. Then I stand and say, “I better get started if I’m going to get to the other side of the island and back today.”
Her eyes grow wide. “Is there a chance you won’t make it back?”
“Maybe. It’s hard to know how far it is. I packed a bag just in case.”
Disappointment fills her face, but she smiles and nods to hide it. “Okay, well, stay safe out there.”
“I will.” I stand and put my dishes in the sink. “What are you going to get up to today?”
“I thought I’d lay around. I might even do some sitting as well. I haven’t quite decided.”
I pick my backpack off the floor and pull out the Clive Cussler novel I’m reading. “Here. This might not be your thing, but then again, you might love it.” I reach out my hand to pass it to her, our fingers brushing against each other as she takes it from me.
“Thanks,” Paige answers with a grin. “This should help keep my mind occupied.”
Crossing the room, I open the door. “I’ll see you tonight, hopefully.”
“If you’re not back by sundown, I’ll call the army.”
I chuckle a little. “Sounds like a plan.”
We stare at each other for a second, then I give her a nod and walk outside to go gather all the supplies, wishing I was on my way back here instead of just leaving.
20
Gaaahhhh!!!!
Paige
As soon asthe door shuts, I let out a long exhale. I’ve been a completely wound-up mess since early this morning, when we almost did what I really,reallywant to do. I have no idea who got things started. All I know is I was sleeping, then I was kissing him and rubbing up against him and moaning and hoping like I’ve never hoped for anything in my life. I was what my grandmother would call a ‘wanton hussy.’ Desperate. Needy. Not caring a fig about the future. I didn’t fully wake up until he told me to go back to sleep, and even then, I was still in a fog of lust, still in a dream world of my own making. But as soon as the door closed, it hit me.Thatwas all actually happening. And oh, the crushing disappointment of stopping. It was like … worse than season eight ofGame of Thrones. All that build up for nothing.
I laid there, listening to him shower, the entire time willing him to come back and get into bed with me. But hedidn’t. He’s too busy trying to do the right thing, which is so irritating, when all I want to do is get busy.
I stand up and make my way to the sink to wash the dishes. As soon as I plunge my hands into the warm, soapy water, I realize how much I miss Vivian. If only I could talk to her about what’s going on between Mac and me—to tell her all about him and about how mixed up I am. But I can’t. I have to just suck it up and pretend like nothing happened, knowing that he wants me and I want him but he’s not going to let us give in to our more primal instincts because I’m a long-term relationship girl and he’s a just-for-now guy.
After I finish the dishes, I plug my phone in to charge it, in the off chance that there will be a signal here at the cottage. Then I go outside with the book Mac lent me. I spot his bedding laid out to dry and immediately know he’s planning to sleep outside again tonight. A wave of disappointment comes over me, even though I know it’s for my own good.
Laying down in the hammock, I realize it’s already hot out and I’m grateful for the breeze off the water and the shade of the palms. I open the book to distract myself from thinking about Mac, but instead of reading it, I give it a big whiff, catching his scent on the pages. Sighing, I lay back and close my eyes, dreaming about him coming back to find me here. In my fantasy, he tells me he’s falling for me and he’s rethinking his ‘one and done’ rule. He kisses me everywhere and soon, we’re both completely nude doing all the things I’m aching to do.
