“How?”
“Because when two hearts are meant to be one, they always find a way.” His words burrow deep inside my soul, mending another broken piece. “Mama always told me there’s a reason for everything. That sometimes we have to go through things, bad things, we don’t understand in order to get to where we’re supposed to go and become the people we’re meant to become. It pissed me off when she’d say that because I could never understand why God would take my father from me or keep me from the woman I love. I struggled to understand for years. But now I realize what she meant. I didn’t see the reason then, but I see it now.”
I lean in to kiss him, savoring his signature taste, a mix of earth and wind.
Life.
“What do you see?”
Looking deep into my eyes, he smiles. “All that pain and heartache led us here. To this very moment. And there’s not a damn place in the world I would rather be.”
Cupping his stubbly cheek, I scoot closer. We are practically molded together as it is but I can’t seem to get close enough to him. I’m afraid this is all just a dream, and when I wake up, he’ll be gone. “I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“Losing you.”
“Never gonna happen.”
Pressing his forehead to mine, he licks his lips. “Nothing will ever come between us again, Sylvie.”
I believe him, but part of me can’t help but wonder what a single mother, a widow, can offer a man like him. He’s famous. He has the world at his feet, and I’m still trying to figure out how to put mine back together.
Present
After dropping Caroline off at school, I come home to find Linc’s truck in my driveway, but he’s not in it. He’s on the riding lawnmower, making his way around the front of the house as I step from the car. My heart thrums wildly in my chest when he catches sight of me and detours from his path, lifting the blades of the lawnmower to head my way.
Switching off the engine, he hops off the seat. “Mornin’,” he says huskily, wrapping one arm around my waist and pulling me to his damp chest.
“I don’t recall asking you to mow my yard,” I say, my hands braced on his sweaty biceps.
“Needed it.”
“Yes, I know. I was going to get to it today or tomorrow.”
He shrugs unapologetically. “Almost done now, you can grab me a bottle of water though. Sure is hot out here today.”
“Don’t you have to work today?”
“Took the day off.” Air becomes nonexistent as he caresses my lips with his. Both hands fall to my ass, giving it a hard squeeze. “You taste so fuckin’ good,” he murmurs between kisses.
Even though my cheeks burn with embarrassment at his dirty words, the rest of my body flames with desire. I moan and he swallows it appreciatively, rewarding me with a deep swipe of his tongue, delving into the cavern of my mouth with renewed passion.
He pumps his hips, pressing the hardness between us against my belly. My entire body trembles with need, desire building like a hurricane inside of me.
“Is this real? Are you real?”
“I’m real. You’re real. This is real.”
“I need to taste you,” he pleads against my wet lips.
“Isn’t that what you’re doing?”
“No.”
One hand leaves my hip, sneaking beneath my dress. I should be embarrassed by how wet I am, but I’m not. I want him to know what he does to me.
“Fuck,” he grits, rubbing back and forth.
