“I was wrong. Jules’s agent saw my work and thinks I have real potential. And he said one of the best parts was the natural setting, all the outdoor scenes and the gorgeous landscape. I can travel to the city when I need to, but this is where I’m supposed to be.” I bounce, overflowing with excitement. “But that’s not even the best part. He offered me a signing bonus!”
“Wow.” Chase offers a hesitant smile, probably still processing. “That’s amazing, Cubby. Congratulations.”
I grin, thrilled to tell him the rest. “I want to buy the lake house.”
“My family’s lake house?”
“I know I don’t have a mortgage, and I get that it’s a risk. But I can use the signing bonus to give your family a down payment, and I promise I’ll be able to keep up. Meg will stay too and help pay for it. She’s getting ready to start making a new documentary, and Sully told her about some ecological changes in the mountains that she’s interested in.” I hold his eye, so fucking excited, I can’t stand it. “I can stay, Chase! I can stay here with you!”
“Oh.” His voice is raspy. “You want to stay here and work from the lake house.”
I groan. “No!” I splash water at him playfully. “I want to stay here because I want to be with you. I want to be yours, Chase. Really yours.”
“You do?” There are tears in his eyes, wet in the corners. “But you don’t want to move in with me?”
“Of course I want to move in with you!” I laugh and splash him again. “Eventually. But I’m not in any rush. And if your family agrees and Meg and I split the lake house, that means I’ll have my best friend here too, and you won’t have to see total strangers in your family house.”
I hesitate on saying the next part, that maybe I’ll be part of his family too. It’s what I want—my trip to LA made that clear—but I’m already hurtling toward the future so fast, my head is spinning.
“Well!” I yelp, staring up at his shocked expression. “Say something!”
Chase looks down to meet my eyes. “Cubby. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you want me to stay!”
“Of course I do,” he says quickly. “Fuck. I want that more than anything. But I should be taking care of you. I shouldn’t need you to bail my family out.”
This time, I use both my arms to splash him. “Chase! That is some macho bullshit.”
He frowns, then splashes me back. “Hey,” he scolds.
I splash him again, laughing. “Hey! You’re the one who says you’re always working your ass off to take care of your family. Well, maybe I can help.” I swallow. “Maybe we can take care of each other from now on.”
Full comprehension slowly dawns on his face. I see Chase putting all the pieces together, the plan I spent an entire red-eye flight freaking out about.
“Taking care of each other,” he says. “I’d like that.” He leans down and closes his mouth over mine, kissing me.
I kiss him back, swirling our tongues together. I rub my hands up and down his strong arms, and he grabs my hips and hitches me closer.
We kiss harder, faster. This is where I’m meant to be, right here in his arms, held in his strength. I get so excited, I jump and throw my legs around his hips, which brings us both crashing down into the lake.
I throw my head above the water, laughing and coughing. Chase pulls me back to my feet, dripping wet as he laughs with me.
His hand cups my cheek. He strokes my beard, holding my eye. “I love you.”
My pulse jumps. “I love you, Chase,” I whisper back.
The moment stretches out between us, the peaceful morning lake quiet as the town wakes up. I hear all the familiar sounds, the birdcalls and lapping waves, and my eyes stay locked on Chase’s gaze.
Before I can form a thought, Chase bends down and lifts me. He takes me by the shoulder and under my knees, then heaves me up as he trudges through the water toward his canoe.
“Hey!” I laugh, waves bouncing at my butt. “What’s going on?”
“I love you,” he tells me, matter-of-fact. “And now I’m going to put you in my boat, row you home, and fuck the hell out of you so that you never forget it.”
* * *
CHASE
