She nodded, yawning.
“That’s good. Because I love you, too,” he murmured, tracing a finger up her arm, across her back.
“And you loved mefirst.” She hummed, a soft smile on her lips. “Supposedly.”
“Lizzy, I think I fell in love with you the minute you suggested that Charlie and I go to Donato Lodge.”
She finally opened both eyes and turned to lie on her side, her dark eyes dancing with amusement. “How is that possible? I was so mean to you.”
He smiled. “I deserved it.”
“Is that why you invited me to dinner after I washed up on your beach in Montauk like a stalker?”
“Stalkers have to eat, too.”
She laughed. “I can’t imagine what you thought when I actually showed up that night.”
The memory of Lizzy standing there at his front door, the rush of relief that had filled his body the moment he saw her face, came back to him in an instant. “It taught me to hope.”
Her smile faded as she studied his face. “Yeah?”
He nodded, watching her expression as the revelation settled in her mind. Then she slowly leaned forward and kissed him.
It was soft and languid, and after a moment he shifted over her, caging her in. When his knee coaxed her thighs open, she instinctively wrapped her legs around his hips, her hands lacing through his hair. She breathed in, grasping the back of his head as he kissed her again.
But then she stilled, pulling back suddenly. She put a hand on his chest for him to stop.
“Did you hear that?” she asked abruptly.
“No?” he replied, caressing her collarbone with his lips softly.
She moved to sit up and he collapsed next to her, resting on one elbow.
“It’s coming from outside,” she whispered, pulling the sheet over her.
“I would hope so, considering how much space is left in here—”
“Shhhh,” she hissed, her hand moving across his chest to quiet him.
The ladder creaked, hitting against the boat several times, like someone was about to make the climb. Then it stopped.
“Oh my God,” Lizzy whispered. Will didn’t seem to understand the urgency of the situation and just watched her with a half smile, unbothered. “Will! Hide or cover yourself, or something!”
“Lizzy?” Bob Bennet’s deep voice called from outside. “That you?”
“Ah, yeah?” she called back.
There was silence, then her father continued, “Permission to board?”
She replied hesitantly, “…Not granted?”
“You left your shoes out here, in case you were wondering,” he called back.
“Ah, thanks!” she yelled back, an octave too high. He didn’t sound mad, he didn’t sound worried, he sounded… like he might be amused.
“When you two are done up there, come in for breakfast. I’m making pancakes,” he added.
Then his footsteps retreated.
