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His mouth twitched. “How could I forget?”
“We were thirty minutes late to Riley’s dance recital. Dakota was furious.”
“So, so worth it.”
She took a step backward, pointing a finger in his direction. “Fifteen minutes. Don’t distract me.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
Jess rolled her eyes, then bounded up the stairs. The soft morning sun streamed in from the skylight windows along the hall as she made her way to the master bedroom. Sure enough, Honey was still asleep on the California King in her usual form—paws in the air, head lolled to the side, tongue out. Even after growing three sizes since they’d adopted her, her fur longer and darker, she still looked like that little pup when she slept. Like a reminder of their beautiful past, and their even better present.
As promised, her shower was speedy. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt that said Honey Sweet Bakery, twisted her hair into a clip, and strapped on her favorite new pair of sandals. By the time she was coming down the stairs, purse and sunglasses in tow, Kevin was standing by the door holding the leash of a very enthusiastic and well-rested Honey, her tail wagging the second she saw Jess. She barked as well, the sound coming out loud and crisp.
Jess signed to her dog, motioning her to be quiet. Honey licked her hand and obeyed, then the three of them left the house and began their five-minute walk down to Main Street from their eggshell-blue house. Or as Kevin called it, their forever home.
He slipped a hand into the pocket of her jeans and squeezed. “I think these might be my favorite.”
“You literally say that every time I buy a new pair.”
Kevin grinned. “Yes, but this time I’m serious. I’m not sure how I can possibly go all day without a little squeeze,” he said, his action supporting his words.
“Well then you better get your fill in now.”
He looked down at her with that devious grin she’d come to recognize, the one he gave her when he had only one thing on his mind.
Kevin glanced around, making sure no one was looking as he snatched her hand and pulled her behind a tree. He dropped the leash; they never had to worry about Honey running away anymore. She was content to wait for them, always on the hunt for a flower bed to sniff or lie down in.
Jess leaned against the bark as Kevin slipped both hands in her back pockets, tilting her up as he pressed his body against hers and kissed her on the mouth. Even four years later, the sizzle was still there between them. She waited and waited during that first year with him in their tiny apartment, wondering when that moment would come and everything would finally shift; when the sizzle would slow, when the heated moments of passion became practiced ones of comfort. She waited for things to feel different after committing to therapy together, talking through her past wounds, developing tools that would ease her moments of panic, moments that were now few and far between. She waited for those changes, waited for things to fade.
But nothing ever changed; with Kevin, it was always good. She let go of her expectation and realized that she really had been wrong about relationships. A nine-year relationship with one person didn’t make her an expert, especially when being with someone else could look so different. When being with someone like her golden boy set her world ablaze, where their love burned brightly and never snuffed out.
Kevin ran a hand up her thigh and traced his thumb across her jeans, right at the spot he knew well, the spot where she’d inked a climbing strand of ivy around her leg to match his own. It was a physical reminder that she, too, found her home.
He pulled back and nibbled on her bottom lip, then pressed his forehead to hers. “As much as I would love to lose track of time being utterly consumed by you, we need to get going.”
She pouted. “Haverfest can wait. Zach texted me and said they already finished setting up.”
“Yes, but there are things we have to do.”
Jess cocked a brow. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but are you actually saying no to kissing me right now?”
Kevin groaned and squeezed his hands tight, then dropped her to the ground. “I can’t believe I’m doing it, but yes. Trust me, denying myself my favorite thing is killing me on the inside.”
She smirked. “Your favorite thing?”
He chuckled, patting her butt before twining his hand with hers. “Okay, my second favorite thing.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”’
They walked hand in hand down Main Street, following the double yellow line as they passed booth after booth preparing for the town’s big annual celebration. She smiled, leaning her head against Kevin’s shoulder as she gazed upon vendor tents, some faces she recognized, some she didn’t. The town of Haverport had grown more popular over the years, people discovering how magical this little beach escape truly was. Jess knew part of it was likely Charlie’s father and his successful restaurant that landed on the Michelin guide, the expansion of Cap’s, and a few high-brow boutiques on properties he managed. Some townies complained about the changes, but Jess didn’t mind; Honey Sweet Bakery was booming, and not because of Grampy’s blueberry coffee cake that still had lines snaking out the door. It was because her kanelbullar was featured on multiple travel and food influencer accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers, originally in town to see the new developments, but finding her bakery to be the most exciting place to stop in at. She was selling bags of her signature cinnamon rolls at the same rate as the cakes these days—and handing covert bags outside the back door for townies. Three knocks for cake, four for kanelbullar. She hired a high schooler for the summer solely for that job.
Kevin slowed his walk, yards away from their booth next to the town green. Despite the commotion around them as artists and cooks set up for the crowds, the green was quieter. The white gazebo with views overlooking the ocean was completely empty, which usually wasn’t the case during the summer months. Everyone loved to sit on the bench for a picture.
To her surprise, he guided her to the gazebo.
“Kev, what are you doing? You were in such a rush before to get to the booth.”
“Wasn’t exactly the booth I was going for,” he mumbled. He stepped up onto the wooden planks, then dropped Honey’s leash and signed for her to sit. She did, her tongue hanging open as she panted.
