She bit her lip, her silence all the proof I needed.
“You referenced a previous relationship the other night.That breakup recent?”
She shot me a surprised look.“You want to talk exes?”
I shrugged.“I don’twantto.But I do want to get to know you, and your past is part of that equation.And, selfishly, I want to make sure your heart’s not caught up in someone that can’t be me.”
“Damn, but you really put it out there, don’t you?”Her lips twitched with a semblance of a smile.
“Only way to be.”I shrugged easily.I’d never hesitated going after something I wanted.And I’d never wanted anything the way I wanted her.
“No one has my heart,” she assured me.“And I’ve never spent a moment regretting my breakup with Josh, even though I admit it was recent.I guess it says a lot about our relationship that it was so easy to get over.Though, he’s not getting the message.”
Her admission made my hackles rise.
“He never treated me well.He didn’t want to be with me for the right reasons, nor did my parents care one bit about that fact.At the end of the day, I was a pawn in his political aspirations and my parents’ never-ending need for power and sitting at the top of the social pyramid.”Her expression told me how thoroughly exhausted she was by the whole thing.
“What I am struggling with is how long I let that go on for.And how, in finally choosing me, I lost my parents.I finally took my mother’s call a few days ago, and that didn’t go well.I guess the fact that I really have to cut ties with her and my dad hadn’t hit me until that moment.Then it hit me hard.Sorry, I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”
“Because I want to hear it.”Her moment of vulnerability gave me a small window into the heart of her.Now I wanted to blast it wide open.“I can’t imagine not having my parents in my life—but more so not having parents that Iwantthere.That must be really fucking hard, and it sounds like it’s been hard for a long time.But you did the most difficult thing.You walked away.I hope you’re damn proud of that.You should be.”
“I’m getting there,” she murmured.“And now, can we lighten things up bit?”She raised a playful brow.
I rose to standing, holding a hand out to her.“We definitely can.”
She took my hand as I pulled her up and to the edge of the boat.“What do you say?Count of three?”
She laughed but nodded, her hand still in mine as I counted us down and we jumped into the lake, Ranger not far behind.
For hours we just… played.There wasn’t another word for it.We splashed around in the lake.She took a lap around on the paddleboard, grinning from ear to ear the whole time.
I took a turn with Ranger in tow.Once I’d introduced him to paddleboarding years ago, I couldn’t take it out without him wanting to join.
We ate the sandwiches and drank the ciders I’d packed, chatting about everything and nothing.Despite the constant hum of electricity between us and my urge to kiss her, it was easy and the most fun I’d had with a woman in my life.
I didn’t want it to end.
But as the sun sank in the sky, I brought the boat in.Lucy helped by gathering our things while I hitched up the boat.Ranger jumped in the back of the truck, and we loaded the rest of the gear before I turned on the engine and pulled onto the road.
Riley’s name flashed on the dash just as I was searching for any excuse to extend our time together.I declined the call, not wanting to be rude, but when he called right back, I looked over to Lucy.“It’s my brother, you mind?”
“Not at all.”She shook her head.
“What’s up, Ri?”I asked by way of greeting, knowing there must be something important if he’d called twice.
“Griff had some fencing go down.His dogs got out.He’s on shift and can’t get away.Me, Mom, and Pop are over here doing some repairs but could use another set of hands.And his damn dogs won’t come to any of us worth a damn,” he grumbled in frustration.
“I’m on my way,” I replied without delay, knowing either of my brothers would do the same for me.“I have Lucy with me.She lives in town, so I’ll need to drop her off and then circle back to Griff’s.”
Lucy reached over, putting a hand on my forearm.“I could help, if you want,” she offered quietly.“I don’t want you to have to go out of your way to drop me off.I mean, if you’d rather I didn’t, that’s fine but....”Her cheeks flushed as she trailed off.
I grinned over at her.“I’d love if you came.But you have to put up with my crazy parents and brother.”
“Don’t listen to that shit.I’m charming,” Riley scoffed.
“So I’ve heard,” Lucy said with a laugh.
“What have you been telling her?”Riley demanded.
