Page 87 of Arranged To Be Mine

“Eloquent as always, counselor.”

“Oh, come on, I’m off the clock.”

She laughed again and settled back against my shoulder. We watched the last sliver of sun disappear. The sky transitioning from gold to purple to deep blue. Stars started to appear. The temperature dropped and it was quickly becoming chillier.

Eventually, she stirred, stretching like a cat waking from a nap. “I should probably head home. I’ve spent more time on the beach today than I have in the last ten years. I need four walls. AC. Real panties. Cotton.”

I laughed at that.

“You could stay.” The words came out before I could stop them. “If you wanted. I don’t have panties, but I’ve got the rest.”

She turned to look at me. I saw the temptation in her eyes. The same pull I felt. We had an amazing afternoon. I would be thrilled to extend that through the night.

“If I spend the night,” she said slowly, “I won’t be able to walk tomorrow.”

I grinned. “You got that right.”

She swatted my chest, but she was smiling. “I have meetings in the morning. Important ones. I need to be able to sit in a chair without wincing.”

“But just imagine how fun it’ll be getting sore.”

“Easy for you to say,” she said. “You’re not the one that’ll be walking like she’s been riding horses all week.”

“You know you’re stroking my ego now, right?”

“Just stating facts. I really do have to go.”

I stood and offered her my hand, pulling her to her feet. “Let me walk you to your car.”

We gathered up the beach stuff together, folding chairs and shaking sand out of towels. The cooler was lighter now, most of the drinks consumed or melted into lukewarm puddles. I carried everything up to the house while she grabbed her bag and cover-up.

At the front door, she paused, turning to face me. I wanted to drag her up to my room.

“Thank you,” she said. “For today. For pushing me out of my comfort zone.”

“Anytime.”

She rose up on her toes and kissed me, soft and sweet and full of promise. When she pulled back, I noticed she looked different. I wondered if she felt it. When she got home and looked in the mirror, would she see it?

“I’ll see you at the dinner.”

“I’ll text you the details.”

She nodded, then turned and walked to her car. I watched her go with a stupid grin plastered across my face. She waved before she got in and I waved back.

The taillights disappeared down the driveway. I went inside and took a minute, standing in the foyer and thinking about what I wanted to do.

Sand was everywhere, trailing from the back door through the kitchen and up the stairs. I’d need to vacuum at some point. Later. Tomorrow. Whenever I could bring myself to care about something as mundane as cleaning.

I tidied up the kitchen. Put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. I put the leftover snacks away. Wiped down the counters. Threw the sandy towels in the wash. The whole time, my mind kept drifting back to her. The way she’d laughed in the water. The sounds she’d made in my bed.

But the best part of the day was the last hour. Her and me just sitting and watching the sunset. Her body relaxed and leaning against mine. Sex was good, but that cozy situation on the beach was perfect.

I was in deep. Deeper than I’d ever been with anyone.

My phone buzzed on the counter. I grabbed it, expecting a text from Darcy. Maybe something cute about getting home safe, or a thank you for the day. I’d settle for a simple goodnight.

Instead, I found seventeen missed calls.