Will cursed under his breath.
“She told me about the Montauk house,” Lizzy continued. “That you’re not going to sell. I think she blames me for that, like I’m the one who convinced you not to—”
“You were.”
She swallowed around the lump in her throat and tried to smile. “I’m just glad you changed your mind.”
He was staring at her from under the hard line of his brow, his eyes so intense she looked away, down at her Converse.
“She also mentioned your lawyers at Page, Lefroy, and Brandon,” she said, and let out a shaky breath. “That’s the same law firm you told me to call about what Tristan had done to your dad.”
He nodded once.
“Those are the same lawyers that witnessed Tristan’s affidavit that dropped all charges against Mary. And I bet if I looked at who paid back Hank, I’d find the names Page, Lefroy, and Brandon, too,” she said.
He took a step closer and brushed a strand of her unruly red hair behind her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. “You weren’t supposed to figure that out.”
Tears were already forming in the corners of her eyes even as she smiled again. “Then you should have done a better job covering it up.”
He smiled back, that same unpracticed grin she loved so much.
“You have no idea how much it means to my family,” she whispered. “How much it means to this entire town.”
He cocked his head to the side, as if picking his words carefully. “I didn’t do it for them, Lizzy. I did it for you.”
She shook her head. “But I just left. I barely said anything, and when I did, I was so angry and scared, I didn’t—”
“Lizzy.” His voice was deep, demanding. She looked up to meet his gaze. “It was all for you.”
She could feel the tension radiating off his body, as if it was taking all his energy to hold himself back. Like he was waiting for her to tell him it was okay.
So she reached out and rested her hands on his chest.
He let out a long sigh, then ran his hands down her arms, pulling her closer to him. His face lingered close to hers, his breath hot on her skin until he moved to kiss her cheek, softly. Then he pulled back enough to look at her.
“I love you,” he breathed.
Her heart was hammering in her chest as she studied his face, her gaze darting from his eyes to his mouth, then back up again. His hands drifted down to circle her waist, pulling her closer.
“I don’t need you to say it back,” he continued. “And I don’t need you to feel the same way. But—”
“I love you, too,” she whispered. “Of course I do.”
He stared at her for a moment. His expression was like stone, but his eyes… there was a vulnerability there that was so intense it made her breath hitch.
His hand moved to cradle her face, his thumb gently tracing over her cheekbone until he tilted her head up toward his.
“Of course,” he repeated. Then a small smile ticked up the corner of his mouth. “But I loved you first.”
Time seemed to stop. It was only them. Her heart drummed against her chest while his lips hovered above hers. Then he drew her mouth to his. His lips were soft as he kissed her, his movements unhurried as she arched into him. She hummed into his mouth, the grip of his hands lacing through her hair sending shivers down her spine.
Standing on her toes, she fell against him, desperation taking hold. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in his hair. He groaned, his kiss deepening. Their hands were everywhere, grabbing at each other, pulling at one another’s clothes, until Lizzy remembered where they were. “Where… can we… go?” she whispered between kisses.
“Lizzy. We’re at your house.”
“Can’t go inside,” she mumbled, licking at his full lips. “Whole family…”
“Right…”
