“You okay?” Ben shouted into the commotion of wind and rain.
“I’m good, but let’s hurry.”
In a flurry, they raced over the slick walkway. Water sprayed up at their feet, poured over their faces, obscuring their vision and muting their voices.
Fitting the key into the lock, she burst into her entryway, Ben on her heels. He shut the door tightly behind them.
“I’ve never seen so much rain.” The cold, wet fabric of her shirt clung to her chest as Tabitha rallied her breath. “Not in Seascape Shores, at least.”
“They’re predicting six inches of rainfall overnight.”
“Seriously?” She tried to peel out of her lightweight jacket, but the sodden material was stubborn and clung to her skin.
“Let me.” Ben moved to help her out of the cumbersome layer of clothing.
Something about his warm hand lighting on hers made her knees turn to mush. What was this effect he’d had on her recently? And why was she so surprised that she continued to feel it each time they touched?
He placed the jacket on a coatrack near the door to dry before removing his own.
They shouldn’t have even bothered with the outerwear; it did little to keep them dry.
Tabitha just stood there looking at Ben while he removed his wet shoes to place them beneath the coats. His hair was drenched, a mop of short, graying waves that touched the tops of his ears. When they were married, he had kept his hair cut close, never letting it get too long. Always above his ears. But now, it was as if Ben was letting loose, even in the seemingly insignificant way in which he wore his hair. And why did Tabitha’s fingers suddenly itch to rake through it? Why did she almost ache just looking at him?
He turned, catching her gaze. “Tabitha?”
“Sorry.” She bit her thumb, embarrassed for getting caught in the act of ogling her ex. She honestly wasn’t sure what was allowed anymore.
“And what would you be apologizing for?” He moved closer.
“I was staring at you.”
“I know.” He moved his hand back and forth over his head, flicking the water from the strands. “I do look a bit like a drowned rat.”
“You actually look really great,” she said before she could stop herself.
“Really?” His dark brows drew together. “You think so?”
He didn’t say anything else, but the way they held each other’s gaze made something warm spread through Tabitha’s chest.
He took another slow step toward her. The backs of his knuckles brushed across her forehead, sliding her damp hair curtaining her face. “You’re beautiful.”
“I’m soaked.”
“You’re still beautiful.”
She could feel the clammy fabric of his shirt against her own, their chests pressing together as she moved into his arms. She shivered, but it wasn’t from the cold. “Ben.”
“I’m going to kiss you,” he said, hand cupping her jaw. “Is that okay?”
“Mm hmm,” was all she could mutter.
“What was that?”
“Yes.” She tugged him the remaining way to her, eagerly pressing her mouth to his.
Ben made a sound from the back of his throat, and that set something off.
They were a flurry of mouths and hands, pushing each other across the room until Tabitha was pressed up against the kitchen island, her backside meeting the counter’s ledge.
