Will
drags his mouth away from mine, his hand cradling my face. “God,
I missed you,” he groans, leaning to dip a trail of blazing
kisses along my neck.
“I
missed you too,” I reply, breathless. I’m aching for him,
already so turned on I can barely stand.
But
then I remember where we are.
Their
apartment. Right in the middle of his old life.
I
pull back. “Will . . .” I manage to tear
myself away from his sinful mouth. “We should talk.”
“Talk,”
he repeats, eyes dark with lust. His hands slide over my hips,
possessive. He yanks me closer. “Uh huh. Sure.”
“Really.”
I can’t help smiling, seeing him so undone like this. So
gorgeously, utterly mine. I touch my finger to his lips, and give him
a meaningful look. “Somewhere that maybe isn’t full of
photos of your ex-fiancée?”
That
seems to snap him out of it. Will steps back, and runs a hand through
the hair I just thoroughly mussed. He looks around. “You’re
right, I wasn’t thinking. Sorry.”
“It’s
OK.” Already, I miss touching him. I run my fingers over his
arm, find his hand, and hold it tight between mine. “Believe
me, I want to be kissing you too right now. And so much more. But we
can’t just pick up like nothing’s happened.”
Will
nods. “I know. So, what do you want to do?”
He
looks at me with those smiling eyes, and right now, the only thing I
want is to drag him to the nearest solid surface and strip him naked,
but I need to keep it together. For once in my life, there’s so
much more than pleasure on the line.
“Let’s
get out of here,” I say, the creepiness of this perfect
apartment finally getting to be too much. It’s full of the
ghosts of an old, dead relationship. I don’t want it to have
anything more to do with the start of something new. “Let’s
just go somewhere and talk.”
Will
and I exit his building out to the hot and bustling city streets. We
walk, hand in hand, but neither of us say a word. Now that I’m
over the first shock—and lust—at seeing him again, all my
old doubts and fears are whirling in my mind.
I
want to be calm, to say the right thing now, but all the questions
that drove me crazy back in Oak Harbor are still looming, just as
real.
“Tell me what you’re
scared of.” Will finally speaks. He looks over at me, and the
tenderness in his expression makes me ache. “I’ve told
you what happened with Helena, and how much you mean to me. But I can
tell it’s not enough. What can I do to make you believe in me?”
“I
do believe in you,” I say, emotion knotting in my throat. “But
it still makes me terrified.”
“What
does?”
“Thinking
you might do the same thing to me one day.” I admit it out
loud, the worst of all my fears. “That you’ll just change
your mind again.”
“Dee—”
Will tries to interrupt me, but I shake my head. Tears are coming
now, but I can’t hold back. This is too important not to get it
all out, rip my heart straight from my chest and show him everything,
every last fear and doubt and crazy, reckless insecurity.
“You
shed this life like it was . . . like it was an
old skin,” I insist. “You just woke up one morning and
left it all behind. Your job, your home, your fiancée. How do
I know you wont wake up one morning and decide to move on from me?”
My
last word ends on a sob. Will pulls me into his arms. “Baby,”
he says, holding me safely against his chest. I can feel his
heartbeat, so steady and true. He tilts my face up to look at him.
“This, all of this here, it wasn’t real. This was the
act, something was missing for me: doing work that matters, feeling
like myself when I get up every morning. And you.” He strokes
my cheek gently. “I didn’t know how much I needed you
until you just showed up on that street, looking so damn determined
your car lock didn’t stand a chance.”
I
manage a sniffling smile.
“You’re
not a rebound,” he tells me, his eyes intent on mine. “You’re
not temporary, or a distraction. You’re everything to me. I
love you so much, and it’s been killing me that I might have
lost you forever.”
I
stare back into his eyes, at the only man who ever mattered. Who made
me feel like the best, most brilliant version of myself. Happy. Free.
Loved.
“You
haven’t lost me,” I tell him, and I can feel the relief
flood through his body. But I still need to tell him something, the
most important thing of all.
“I
forgive you.”
Will
doesn’t say a word, but I can see in his eyes, he understands
just what that word means to me. And how offering it to him is the
biggest gesture of love I could possibly give.
He
kisses me, and I melt into the moment: the future unfolding, breath
by dizzying, glorious breath. A new beginning. A love I never thought
I could be lucky enough to find.
The
man who finally had the strength and heart to prove me wrong.
I
whisper in his ear, “I’m taking you home.”
ALMOST THE END…
One month later…
“We’re
going to be late to your own party.”
“But
I can’t figure out what to wear!” I dash, barefoot, out
of the brand-new closet Will only finished building last week. Moving
into a falling-down shack has had its challenges, but there are
plenty of perks too—like custom shelves made to fit my shoe
collection. I hold up two dresses, still in my underwear. “Which
one says ‘future real estate billionaire’?”
“I
kind of like what you’re wearing now. Or, not wearing . . .”
Will pulls me closer, sliding his hands over my bare stomach. I
laugh, dancing out of reach.
“Later,”
I promise, dropping a quick kiss on his cheek. “Everyone’s
waiting on us, and I need to look perfect.”
“You
already do.”
He
pulls me back into his arms for another kiss, and this one is so hot
and bone-meltingly deep, I can’t help but fall, breathless
against him. It still hits me, every time, that he’s mine. I
get to kiss this man, and hold him, and know that he’s here to
stay. After we got back from New York, we set about making up for
lost time with a passionate whirlwind that barely let up to pause for
breath, but tonight, Will takes his time, exploring my mouth with
slow, deep strokes as his hands caress over my bare skin and slide
all the way under—
“Hey!”
I laugh, and push him playfully away. “I can’t show up
for my big night with sex hair.”
“So
I won’t touch your hair.” Will gives me a wicked grin.
“I’ll keep my hands everywhere else . . .”
He
trails one hand over the lace of my bra to illustrate, and my pulse
kicks. Damn, he’s too good to resist.
“Five
minutes.” I make him promise, already melting back into his
arms. Will chuckles, his mouth already hot against my bare skin.
“I’ll
do my best.”
He
does—twice. By the time we arrive at the party, there’s
already a crowd spilling out of the small office space into the town
square.
“Finally!”
Lottie grins, coming to meet me through the crowd. “I was
wondering when you’d show your face. I told everyone you had
car trouble,” she adds with a wink.
“My
truck would never break down,” Will protests, and I shush him,
laughing.
“Your
manly pride can take the hit. Thanks,” I tell Lottie, looking
around. There are balloons and streamers drifting in the summer
breeze, music playing, and everyone has a drink in their hand and a
smile on their face. “It looks amazing. Did you do all this?”
“Me
and Sawyer,” she says, smiling. “And Franny and Joe
helped with the food . . . Annie and Liv Sullivan
brought the flowers . . . Eva and Finn got the
music covered. The whole town pitched in.”
“I
can’t believe it,” I say, touched.
“We’re
all so proud of you,” Lottie says. “Everyone wanted to
help celebrate.”
Will
squeezes my shoulders. He can tell I’m already tearing up. But
this is a big deal to me, and it means the world to share it with my
friends and family like this. It’s just a small office,
squeezed in between Joe’s pizza place and the local florist,
but to me, it’s a kingdom.
Delilah
Morgan – Real Estate.
The
sign above the door is neat and elegant, my name picked out in gold
lettering. I signed the lease and filed for my business license, but
it still hasn’t sunk in yet that I’m really doing this:
going out on my own for the first time.
“Ready
to go meet your adoring public?” Will asks, hugging me from
behind.
“Let’s
do it.”
Inside,
we can barely move for people, crowded in the small front office,
snacking on delicious-looking food. Everyone stops to wish me well
and offer referrals for future clients.
“My
cousin is just out of college, looking for a condo with roommates—”
“Don’t
tell Hank, but I’m thinking we need more space.”
“What’s
this about a luxury beach-house up the coast?” This one is from
Finn, his arm draped around Eva’s shoulders. “We need
something permanent for when we’re in town.”
I
laugh. “Call me next week. Tonight, I’m off the clock.”
“Liar,”
Will murmurs, a sexy whisper in my ear. “You’re already
planning the open houses.”
I
grin. “You know me too well.” Then I pause. Ron Parsons
is nosing around, eying the free champagne. He sees me and comes
over.
“Just
thought I’d drop by, wish you well,” he says, a fake
smile on his face. “Nothing like a little friendly competition
in the neighborhood. Although, of course, it’s hardly
competition comparing my massive firm with your cute little shop.”
He laughs, obnoxious, but I just give him a friendly smile.
“That’s
so sweet of you. Me and my cute little shop will keep you in mind,
you know, if I have more business than I know what to do with.”
Ron
snorts with laughter. “Sure, honey.” Then he catches
sight of someone. “Bill?” he asks. The guy biting into
one of Franny’s trademark cupcakes freezes with a guilty look.
“Bill, man, I thought I was getting an exclusive on your
listing.”
Bill
gives an apologetic shrug. “Sorry, I think I’ll go with
Delilah this time. She’s a local, after all.”
Ron’s
smile looks frozen. “Uh, sure. Great.”
“Have
fun tonight,” I say, feeling triumphant. Will manages to hold
back his laughter long enough to steer me away.
“I
wish I had a picture of his face,” Will grins. “He
doesn’t know what hit him.”
“He
should get used to it,” I beam. “I’m going to run
him out of town.”
Will
smiles at me. “You’re so hot when you’re being
ruthless.” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and pauses.
“Don’t look now, your parents are here. I think those
balloons are bigger than my house!”
I
turn.
“Sweetheart!”
My mom descends on us, a massive heart-shaped “Congratulations”
balloon trailing behind her. It gets stuck in the doorway, and my Dad
and Will have to wrestle to get it out.
“Look
at all of this.” Mom gazes around. “We’re so proud
of you, sweetie. We can’t wait to see what you’ll do
next.”
Dad
comes over. “Congratulations,” he says gruffly, kissing
me on the cheek. “And is that your handiwork I see, William?”
He points to the gorgeous, polished oak desk we’ve pushed to
one side, and the illegally comfortable vintage leather chair.
“Aren’t they
beautiful?” I ask, squeezing Will’s hand. “I’m
lucky he could find the time. His pieces are flying out of the store.
Declan’s calling 24/7, begging him to work faster. There’s
already a waiting list for his next work.”
Will
looks uncomfortable. Even after a write-up in
Southern
Living
about his
“rustic, Southern gentleman style,” he’s still way
too deprecating about his work. “I thought tonight was about
singing
your
praises,” he says, changing the subject, and I grin.
“Tonight,
and every other night.”
My
parents laugh. “You’re learning fast,” my mom tells
him wryly. “We’ll see you for dinner on Friday?”
“Can’t
wait,” Will replies.
“And
I’ll see you on the creek,” my dad adds to me. I nod, and
give him a small smile. I know our relationship isn’t going to
be fixed overnight, but it won’t mend on its own, either. If I
can see a way to bring some forgiveness into my life, then I’m
hoping, in time, I might be able to move on with my father, too.
“We’ll
let you get back to the party,” Mom says, kissing my cheek.
“You enjoy tonight. You’ve earned it.”
I
spend the rest of the night enjoying the music and friendship and
everyone’s best wishes. Half the town shows up, and it turns
into a real party, taking up half the block, echoing laughter out
across the dark harbor and into the moonlit night. It’s
midnight by the time Finn cracks open another crate of champagne, and
the call goes up for a toast.
I
climb up on the front steps and gesture giddily for quiet, but the
music keeps playing until Sawyer puts two fingers in his mouth and
whistles. Everyone falls silent.
“Don’t
worry, I’m not going to stop the party for long,” I say
loudly. “I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone. All
the people who helped put this together . . . all
my friends . . . and you, for showing up to eat
all this amazing food!”
There’s
laughter.
“But
seriously, this means the world to me, to be able to share this new
chapter with you all.” I can feel myself tearing up with
emotion, looking out at the community I love so much. “I tell
everyone I meet that this town is the best place in the world, and
it’s all because of the way we show up for each other and lend
a hand. So, this is a thank you, for supporting me in this next big
adventure.”