Chapter Nineteen
Anson
Margie: Your offer was accepted. I’ll call you later to discuss the details when I have a closing date. Congratulations!
I read the message one more time before shoving my phone back into my pocket. After visiting one last property this week, I finally decided to make an offer—full asking price—on the heritage cottage. I had gone back and forth on my decision, but ultimately concluded that in the long run, I preferred a place with a dock so I could purchase a boat of my own one day.
“What has you smiling so big?” Parker asks as he comes down the hallway.
“My offer was accepted,” I say.
He stops and looks at me. “Well, damn, congratulations,” he says.
I chuckle. “That sounded sincere.”
He frowns. “I mean it. It’s just … it’s weird, thinking of you living across the island instead of across the hall.”
“Ah, are you going to miss me?” I tease.
He tosses me a look. “Yeah, because working on a boat with you ten hours a day isn’t nearly enough together time.”
I clasp his shoulder as we walk out of the door together. “Don’t worry. I’m sure Audrey will be able to distract you from the pain.”
He just shakes his head. “You want to ride over together?” he asks as we descend the steps to our driveway.
“Nah, I gotta pick Tabby up,” I say.
He cuts his eyes to me, and his lips curl. “Okay. See you there.”
I pull up to the campground and wave to Pete and Freda, who are sitting on their front porch, as I ease the truck over to Tabby’s RV. I haven’t seen her in four days.
And that’s too damn long.
Between work, helping Mom at the jewelry store, doing paperwork for Margie, and everything else that kept me running from one place to the next, the only thing that kept me sane was knowing I’d see her today. That, and the handful of late-night texts we’d been trading back and forth. Flirty, teasing messages that had me gripping my phone tighter than I’d like to admit.
But now, finally, I’m here, idling outside her place, fingers drumming against the steering wheel as I wait.
The front door opens, and there she is.
Damn.
She’s wearing this little sundress that clings in all the right places, her hair tumbling in loose waves around her shoulders. She’s got a wrapped canvas tucked under her arm—the gift for Eden and Wade—but all I can focus on is the sway of her hips.
She pulls open the truck door, sliding in beside me, and before she can even get settled, I reach for her. One hand cups her jaw, and the other rests on her thigh as I pull her in, catching her lips with mine.
She makes a small sound—surprised at first—but then she melts into it, her fingers curling around my wrist. Her lips are soft, warm, and I swear I could get lost in this, in her.
When I finally pull back, I rest my forehead against hers, exhaling slowly.
“Missed you,” I murmur, my thumb stroking her cheek.
She blinks up at me, like she’s still processing, then lets out a quiet laugh. “You did?”
I smirk. “That surprise you?”
“A little.”
I tilt my head, studying her. “Did you miss me?”
She bites her lip, and for a second, I think she’s going to dodge the question, but then …
“Yeah,” she says quietly, “I did.”
Something settles in my chest. “Good.”
I steal another quick kiss, then pull back, reaching for the gearshift. “Now, let’s go ooh and aah over a baby.”
She laughs, shaking her head, but doesn’t argue.
By the time we arrive at Wade and Eden’s house, the party is already in full swing. Cars line the driveway and fill the roadside. I park under Lennon and Amiya’s house across the street, then sprint around to open the door for Tabby. I take the package and tuck it under one arm while holding her hand with the other. I lead her up the steps to their front door. Through the windows, I can see people moving around inside, wineglasses in hand, and laughter spills out onto the porch.
Tabby shifts beside me, fingers flexing faintly in mine. I glance at her, catching the subtle tension in her shoulders.
“Nervous?” I ask.
She scoffs. “Of a baby shower? No.”
I smirk. “It’s not really a baby shower. More of a hey, come drink and look at our kid kind of thing.”
That earns me a small smile, but I can tell she’s still a little uneasy.
So, I squeeze her fingers lightly. “You’ll like them,” I say. “And they’ll like you.”
She exhales, then nods.
I open the door and step aside, urging her in ahead of me, and we’re instantly met with the sounds of easy conversation and the faint clinking of glasses. Amiya spots us first, waving us over from where she’s standing with Eden, who’s cradling a tiny bundle against her chest.
“Tabby, you made it!” she says as she rushes over to greet us. She wraps Tabby in a hug.
“What am I, chopped liver?” I ask, and she rolls her eyes before giving me a quick squeeze.
Eden walks over to us, and Amiya introduces her. “Tabby, this is our friend Eden. Eden, this is Anson’s friend we were telling you about, Tabby.”
Eden smiles warmly, adjusting Mina slightly to hold out a hand. “It’s so nice to meet you. The girls told us all about you.”
Tabby raises a brow at me. “They did?”
I just shake my head.
Tabby takes Eden’s hand, then glances down at Mina. “And this must be the guest of honor.”
Eden beams, adjusting the baby so Tabby can get a better look. Mina’s tiny. With her little hands curled into fists and her dark lashes fanning out over her chubby cheeks, she’s adorable, no question.
“Yes, this is Mina. I just nursed her, so she’s in a bit of a milk coma at the moment, but don’t worry; she’ll be ready to party like a rock star after a quick nap.”
“She’s beautiful,” Tabby says softly.
“Thank you,” Eden says, rocking lightly. “Would you like to hold her?”
Tabby blinks, like she wasn’t expecting that. “Oh, uh—”
“She doesn’t bite,” Wade calls as he walks in from the deck. “Yet.”
He comes up to stand beside Eden.
“This is my husband, Wade,” Eden says as she moves to offer Mina over.
“It’s nice to meet you,” he says.
Tabby hesitates for half a second, then nods, carefully taking Mina into her arms. She cradles her instinctively, her fingers brushing over the fabric of her onesie, her expression shifting into something unreadable.
Something about the sight of her like that makes my chest go tight.
Eden notices, too, her eyes flicking between us before landing on the wrapped canvas still tucked under my arm. “What’s that?”
Tabby blinks, like she forgot about it. “Oh. A gift.”
She hands Mina back to Eden, then takes the package and carefully unwraps the canvas. When she turns it around, a small gasp escapes Eden.
It’s a painting of the ocean at sunset, the colors deep and vibrant, the waves curling against the shore in soft, foamy strokes. It’s beautiful.
“Amiya and Avie said the baby’s nursery was beach-themed. They thought it might look good,” she says shyly.
“Tabby,” Eden breathes, “this is … this is incredible. Did you paint this?”
Tabby shifts slightly. “I did.”
Eden stares at it for another long moment, then looks back at Tabby, her eyes a little misty. “I love it. Thank you.”
Wade leans over, studying it, then nods approvingly. “Damn, that’s talent.”
Tabby blushes, but I see the pleased little smile tugging at her lips.
I sling an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in, and Wade’s eyes follow the movement.
“Come in, grab a glass of wine, and make yourself at home,” he says.
The tension leaves Tabby’s body, and she looks up at me before stepping out from under my arm and follows Eden and Amiya into the kitchen.
Wade clasps me on the shoulder as we watch them walk away. “Shit, I thought the guys were pulling my leg.”
My eyes snap to him, and he grins.
“But you got it bad.”
An hour later, the guys are out on the deck, drinks in hand, while the girls sip wine and take turns passing Mina around like a tiny football.
“She’s got Eden’s eyes,” I say, tipping my beer toward Wade.
He grunts, “Yep, her momma’s looks, but my attitude.”
Lennon laughs, clinking his bottle against Wade’s. “Better you than me, man.”
Wade chuckles. “You’d better hope your kids get Amiya’s looks and your attitude because if they get both her looks and attitude, you’re in fucking trouble.”
“Ain’t that the truth?” Sebastian agrees.
Lennon gets a look of sheer terror. “I’d never survive the teenage years.”
We all burst into laughter.
The sun is starting to set, casting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The pool glows under the lights strung along the railing, the water still and inviting.
As if on cue, Amiya calls out from inside, “All right, enough baby cuddles. Who’s getting in the pool?”
A round of agreement follows, and within minutes, the girls have all filed outside and are peeling off layers, heading for the water.
I glance over just in time to see Tabby pulling her sundress over her head, revealing the black bikini underneath.
My mouth goes dry.
She catches my look and smirks.
I shake my head, laughing as I stand and tug my shirt off.
She winks, then turns and dives straight into the pool.
Water splashes up, cool and sharp against my skin. By the time she surfaces, I’m already moving, slipping into the water and catching her around the waist before she can swim away.
She gasps, laughing, her hands bracing against my shoulders. “Anson—”
I cut her off with a kiss, slow and deep, my fingers digging into her hips under the water.
Her laughter fades, replaced with a soft moan.
Noticing the rest of the group has gone silent, I look up to see all their eyes on us.
And right then, I know …
I’m in deep.