Page 18 of Always My Love

He swooped in and laid his mouth over hers before she could talk herself, and him, into not letting it happen again.

The moment their lips touched—fire, sparks, heat. He felt such a great response from her that his head spun.

“Nick,” she sighed as he pulled away. Her hands were balled up in his jacket, holding him close to her. “I… my life is complicated.”

“Whose isn’t?” he said, holding onto her. He felt his arms vibrate as he told himself to go slow.

“I… I can’t.” She rested her forehead against his chest. “There’s just too much at stake. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Then help me understand. Talk to me,” he suggested as she moved over to sit down again.

He shut off the small engine and let the boat coast, then sat next to her.

She frowned. “Are we… is this safe?”

He chuckled. “Again, there’s not a lot we can run into out here.” He took her hand in his. “Whatever is in your past, share with me or don’t. It doesn’t matter,” he said, meaning it. “I think we both know there’s something between us.” He waited a heartbeat.

“Yes,” she finally admitted with a sigh. “Damn it,” she groaned, causing him to smile. “Why couldn’t you just… I don’t know, have bad breath or kiss like a fish?”

He chuckled. “Sorry.”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, so what now?”

He arched his eyebrows as he thought. “Now, we see where this goes. Enjoy where the current takes us.” He leaned back and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Then, when you’re ready to share what’s behind you, we dive in and handle it.” He took her hand in his. “Together.”

She frowned as she looked down at their joined fingers. “You’re very trusting.”

“You forget, we’ve known each other for over a year.” He pulled her closer to his chest. “And I like the way your breath smells and the way you kiss too.”

She chuckled and then groaned as both dogs tried to jump up on their laps.

“How about something to snack on before we head back?” he asked after the dogs were once again settled on the bed.

While he pulled out the cooler he’d filled with grapes, cheese, crackers, and soft drinks, she had the dogs do tricks to earn treats. By the time he’d finished setting up the small table, Blue was sitting and lying down every time Harper asked him.

“How do you do that?” he asked, completely amazed. His dog obeyed her better than he did him.

“He knows you’re a softy. You probably give him a treat even when he doesn’t do what you ask of him.” She scooted down to the table area.

“Yeah,” he admitted. “He looks at me with those big eyes and I melt.”

She chuckled. “Softy. You have to show him who is boss.”

“He is,” he said, earning another laugh from her. “Okay, so I need to be tougher on him.”

“Not tougher, just… stronger against his cuteness.” She took a slice of cheese and a cracker.

“What about human food?” he asked as Blue begged. Lucy remained snuggled on the dog bed.

“No, you don’t want him to get in that habit.” She motioned to his dog, who had his paw on his knee. “Don’t get me wrong, some human food is good for them. But only give it to him in his bowl and after you’ve finished eating. Eggs, rice, chicken, those type of things. I’ve switched Lucy to an all-natural dog food I get up at Carrie’s place. She and Josh came in the other night and told me about it. I can tell Lucy likes it much better than the dry food O’Neil’s carries. Wyatt says he’s going to start carrying the healthier stuff in the store soon.”

He sat back and listened to her talk about Lucy’s diet and habits. He wondered if Harper knew that she talked about everyone in town as if they were her family instead of friends.

He knew that she’d had a difficult time feeling relaxed around everyone the first few months she’d lived there. Now, she talked as if she was a local. In truth, she was. He knew that everyone she mentioned thought of her and her sister as family.

Whatever was hiding in her past, every person she’d mentioned would overlook her faults and stick up for her if the chance arose.

“It’s getting late. We’d better head back towards town,” he said when he saw her shiver as a gust of wind hit the sailboat. He’d let them drift while they ate and talked and happily realized they were heading back towards town already. “Here.” He handed her one of the blankets his mother kept onboard for cold days.