‘Imagine how good I’d look in a white suit as I give you away,’ Stuart muses, stroking a thoughtful finger over the neatly trimmed beard dusting his jaw. His eyes are glowing with devilment.
‘I’m so sorry about this.’ I turn to Ronan. I’d be so grateful if a natural disaster could strike right now. A tornado that could sweep me away, an earthquake that could split the ground open and drag me into the cracks below.
‘Dad, if you wouldn’t mind going into the house and sticking the kettle on, Ronan was just about to leave, anyway.’
‘Oh, don’t go on my behalf,’ Stuart says gleefully, clearly now recovered from his initial shock. ‘You won’t even know I’m here.’
‘You will,’ I tell Ronan. ‘And what’s more, he’ll ring Steve and tell him to come over, then the two of them will be here gawking at you.’
‘Fine, fine.’ Stuart struts towards the house, chuckling. ‘Great to meet you, Ro.’ He emphasises the Ro like they’re best buds.
‘I’m due at the pool in an hour anyway,’ Ronan says, as he pulls on his shorts. ‘Can I see you tonight?’
‘Absolutely.’ I almost took it as a given that he’ll come back later.
‘It’s a date.’ He drops a lingering kiss on my lips.
‘I distinctly remember you saying you didn’t want to date me, that you only wanted to fuck me.’ I roll back on the bed, readjusting my bikini top.
‘I changed my mind. I want to both.’ Ronan’s gaze follows my fingers and his Adam’s apple bobs. ‘Even if it means being your dirty little secret.’
I throw a pillow at him. ‘You’re not my dirty little secret.’ Even as the words escape my mouth, I have to question them.
He’s dirty, and this thing between us is a secret, but it doesn’t have the sordid connotations that the line implies.
Plus, we’ve already established there’s nothing little about him.
‘It’s okay. I’m okay with it.’ He backs away from the day bed reluctantly. ‘For now. But if I get my way, your parents will get a wedding out of you yet.’ He fires a wink over his shoulder as he strides across the grass.
Chapter Thirty-Two
RONAN
Starting my day at five a.m. is worth it when I get to wake up with Savannah. These past few weeks I’ve taken to leaving her house and going for a run along the beach before heading home for a shower.
I’ve never slept as well, and I’ve never felt as good.
That’s what falling in love does for you, and I am falling hard and fast.
I stride through the lobby of my apartment block, humming a low catchy tune that’s all over the radio at the moment.
‘Someone got laid last night.’ My brother’s eyes glint, waiting for the lift and any dirt I might dish. His shirt is creased and his dark hair is dishevelled. He’s still drunk, if his slurred drawl is anything to go by.
‘Did they?’ I flip it back on him. ‘Who’s the lucky lady?’ I send up a silent thanks I’ve taken to running after working out with Savannah.
‘Oh, come on. Don’t be like that. We all know you’re shagging Single Sav. Or is it No Longer Single Sav, now?’ He leans against the magnolia wall and eyeballs me with glee.
Even the mere mention of her name sets a smile stretching over my face. I’d love to tell him, to tell the entire world. I’d shout it from the roof tops if I could, but I can’t. Not until Savannah’s ready.
Being the man who gets to hold her, to kiss her, to lie with her every night is worth the sneaking around, but I can’t help wishing she’d go public with our relationship.
Time. I just need to give her time, but it’s hard.
I know she feels the same way about me. I feel it every time I’m with her. Each time I’m inside of her. I see it in the way her eyes lock onto mine.
‘I’ve been for a run.’ I smooth a hand over my vest and hold up the bottle of water in my right hand.
‘And is running working off all your sexual energy too?’ The lift pings and the doors open.
