She stopped to take off her sandals and then followed him down the short, windy trail to the beach. They walked in silence, breathing in the fresh, ocean air, both lost in their own thoughts.
After a few minutes, Mitch stopped and offered her a seat in the sand. He wasn’t surprised that she didn’t care about getting dirty or that the wind was messing up her hair. Add it to the reasons why he loved this woman. She was facing the ocean, her knees pulled up to her chin, and her dress pinned between her legs. He knelt in front of her.
“I’m not sure how to say this.” He paused. “Everyone says I’m in love with you.”
One eyebrow crooked up, and her incredulous look let him know he wasn’t off to a great start.
“I mean, everyone says it, but I think it’s true. These last few weeks have been torture for me. I’m so sorry I didn’t call. I’ve never had feelings for anyone like I do for you, Maggie. You’re funny and smart, easygoing and kind. You’re clumsy, naïve, and sexy as hell. I didn’t know what the feelings meant or how to keep a relationship going, so I panicked and just avoided the situation.
“I know I don’t know everything about you, but I want to. I want to see you in my kitchen making fun of me and in my living room sipping wine while reading a book. I want you in my bed. I want to talk to you for hours and find out what makes you tick. I want to make love to you for hours and find out what makes you tick there, too.
“I have baggage. I can be a real jerk sometimes, but I’m working on it. You make mewantto work on it, to be a better person. I want to deserve you.
“We were only together for a short time, but in that time, I realized that something, someone, was missing in my life, and that person is you. I need you, Maggie. I feel,” he searched for the right word, “incomplete without you in my life. Like I’m an unfinished puzzle, and you are the missingpiece. You complete me.” He hung his head, spent after spilling so much emotion.
He waited for her to tell him she’d moved on or that he was an idiot to think that after only one week, she would know enough about him to want to be with him. What if the sex reallywasall she wanted, and he was making a damn fool of himself?
There was also the fact that she was way too good for him. What could she possibly see in him? This was all a big mistake. Well, at least he’d said his piece. The ball was in her court now.
“Hey, Jerry Maguire.” Mitch looked up, brows furrowed in confusion. “You had me at hello.” Tears filled her eyes, but a giant smile lit up her whole face. “Well, you had me at ‘hey.’” She mimicked the way he’d greeted her minutes earlier.
Understanding came slowly, but when it did, a grin spread across his face. “You mean?”
“Yes, I mean. I love you, dumbass.” She jumped into his arms, sending them both tumbling.
Landing on top of him, she looked down, eyes shining with love and want.
“I love you, Maggie. I do.”
“Oh yeah, well prove it!” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. They made out like teenagers, not caring about the few beachgoers, until one of them yelled, “Get a room!”
“Great idea,” he whispered in the ear he’d been nibbling on. “You staying at the beach house tonight?”
“Yeah, I have dibs on a room upstairs. You?”
“I didn’t know that’s how rooms were reserved.”
“Hm, rookie mistake. It’s first come, first served. You claim a room by putting your stuff in it. I don’t think there’s anything left, though. You could sleep with the kids in a sleeping bag in the living room,” she said with a grin.
“How about I squeeze in with you instead?” He wiggledhis eyebrows and then remembered she’d come with someone. He immediately stiffened and started to roll off of her. “Oh, I forgot, you brought a friend. Is that serious?” He tried to feign a casualness he didn’t feel. She said she loved him, but what exactly did that mean?
“Huh? You mean Doc?” She laughed out loud. “Doc’s my friend from North Carolina, you ninny. I told you about him.”
Mitch remembered she’d said he was like a second father and over sixty years old. He heaved a sigh of relief. “Oh, good, so I don’t have to kick anyone’s ass to sleep in your bed then?”
“Well, not so fast. He may still put up a fight. My dad, too. Also, my grandpa and possibly a few uncles, maybe some nephews. You’ll definitely have to sneak in after everyone’s asleep. We’re an old-fashioned family.”
“I’ll find a couch to sleep on. I don’t want to piss off your whole family straightaway.”
“I’m not sure I can wait,” she said as she rocked her pelvis into his. Her voice was heavy with lust.
“Geez, Mags. Keep that up, and I’m gonna do you right here on this beach. Come on.” He reluctantly stood and offered a hand to help her up.
They strolled back to the beach house, hand in hand, talking and laughing about nothing in particular.
Huh,Mitch thought.Mr. B. was right. The wooing actually worked—hot damn!
EPILOGUE
