CHAPTER TWENTY FALLON #3
“Because there is nothing to talk about,” he answers.
“There’s no use bringing it up when all we’d do is rehash what happened over and over again, and that doesn’t help anything.
But moving on, being able to be with you”—his hands slide up my side—“now, that is something I’m interested in. That’s something I care about.”
“Then why won’t you be intimate with me?” I say, my eyes disconnecting from his. “Because I want you, Sawyer, and I really like you, and if you don’t feel the same way, I’d rather—”
He grips my chin and forces me to look him in the eyes.
“Listen closely, Fallon.” His demanding tone sends a shiver of lust straight to my toes.
“I want you, I’ve wanted you for a while, but I’m taking this slow because I don’t want to mess it up.
I royally screwed up my first chance at being with you, and I’ll be damned if I make any mistakes again.
Just trust me when I say it will happen.
Until then, enjoy the small things like holding my hand, stealing glances, and, of course, late-night make-out sessions.
” He winks, and it makes me smile. “And for the love of God, don’t call yourself an ogress again. ”
I chuckle and loop my arms around his neck, then pull him in even closer.
“Just wanted to make sure that’s not how you felt.”
“Trust me, I don’t think you’re an ogress. Quite the opposite.” He presses a kiss to my nose. “Easily the most beautiful girl I’ve ever had the privilege to hold in my arms.”
His hands move up to my back, and I know what he’s saying isn’t just a line to appease me.
Sawyer is not that kind of guy. When he says something, he means it, and when it comes to romance.
.. well, he wasn’t kidding when he told me to expect the best. Every day, I feel like it’s something new with him, even if it’s the smallest of things, like he saw a flower on his walk that reminded him of me, so he took a picture.
Or the time when he offered to hang with Sully for the night so Jaz and I could have some time together.
Or how he built a display for the lobby where I can show off my tumbled rocks.
He cares. He really does.
So maybe I need to listen to him when he says he wants me. I just need to be patient, go at the pace that makes him comfortable. He’s worth any wait.
I heave a sigh and look him in his cornflower blues. “I like you a lot, Sawyer.”
“I like you too. A lot.”
“You make me happy.”
He smiles. “Same, babe.” He leans in and is pressing a kiss to my mouth just as Sully’s door flies open and he comes charging into the open space.
“Stop sucking face. I’m hungry.”
Sawyer leans his forehead against mine and chuckles. “That’s one way to kill the mood.”
“What mood?” I whisper. “Remember, you’re making us wait.”
He glances up at me and whispers “Wiseass” before stepping away and grabbing bowls from the cabinets. “Your dinner’s coming right up, you grumpy old coot.”
“I’m grumpy, Phil, because instead of serving, you’re over there trying to replace your lips with my granddaughter’s.”
“Sully,” I say, embarrassed. “It was barely a kiss.”
“Didn’t seem like it from where I was standing. Are you even old enough to be kissing?”
“Plenty,” I say. I walk over to him and place my arms on his shoulders. “And that’s Sawyer, not Phil.”
“I know,” Sully grumbles.
I’ve made it a point to try—even though it might seem pointless—to instill in Sully who Sawyer really is.
“He was the one who fixed your bench. He also helped you with the picnic tables and repainting them. He did most of the renovations around the Cove. And he’s my boyfriend.”
Sawyer turns at the exact moment, carrying three bowls full of mac ’n’ cheese with peas—one of Sully’s favorites, recipe courtesy of Grandma Joan—and when his eyes connect with mine, all I can see is absolute adoration.
I hate to compare the two, because they are so different, but I can tell you, from the depths of my being, that Peter never looked at me the way Sawyer does.
It’s as if every time Sawyer and I make eye contact, he can see to my very soul.
He sees me for who I am, rather than who he hopes I’ll be one day.
“Boyfriend?” Sully scoffs. “You’re telling me you’re dating Mr.Blond Hair, Blue Eyes?”
“I am.” I smirk.
Sawyer sets Sully’s bowl down in front of him. “I’m more of a dirty blond.”
I chuckle as Sully points his spoon at Sawyer. “You’re pushing your luck.”
“Then I’m doing my job.” He sets the other bowls down and lends his hand out to me. I take it, and he pulls my chair out for me before helping me down to my seat.
Sully watches every move, his eyes roaming in appreciation. When Sawyer goes to get drinks, Sully leans in. “He seems like a keeper.”
I smile as soft fifties music plays over the Bluetooth speaker, Louis Armstrong’s voice breaking through the silence. Sully’s shoulders visibly relax as he sinks his spoon into the mac ’n’ cheese.
Sawyer drops off glasses of water and then takes a seat across from me. When our eyes connect, I smile at him, and he winks in return before dipping his spoon into his bowl.
And this is why I’m falling for him, right here. Because as I’m taking care of Sully and attempting to prepare for the grand opening this Monday, the stress of it all is not resting solely on my shoulders. Sawyer is here, taking care of me. Giving me a respite when I need it the most.
He is a partner. Someone to walk at my side, and with every passing day, I realize that he very much could be the man I spend the rest of my life with.
I smile at him across the table and dig into my dinner.
No doubt about it, Sawyer drunkenly stumbled back into my life and quickly stole my heart.
“Good morning,” Sawyer says as he walks through the front doors of the lobby carrying three pastry boxes. “How are you feeling?”
I’m standing at the check-in counter, my hands sweating and my pulse beating—but not because of the man who’s standing in front of me, freshly showered and looking like absolute perfection in a pair of khaki shorts and a black polo shirt.
“Like I’m going to throw up,” I answer as Jaz pops into the lobby from the back office.
“She told me about how she dry-heaved into the toilet this morning.” Jaz shivers. “Brutal.”
Sawyer’s brow creases. “You dry-heaved?”
“You didn’t know?” Jaz asks. “What the hell were you doing? Still sleeping?”
“He was in his cabin,” I answer, and the minute the words slip past me, I realize my mistake.
“Excuse me?” Jaz says, her palm landing flat on the counter as she glances between the two of us. “You’re telling me that you’re still sleeping in your cabin?”
Ignoring Jaz, Sawyer sets the pastry boxes down on the counter and takes my hand in his. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I answer.
“Uh... I’m not fine,” Jaz cuts in. “I’m not fine at all. I can barely get your brother to talk to me in more than meme form, but you’re over here, in a relationship with my friend, and you aren’t sleeping in the same bed?”
Sawyer reaches out and cups my cheeks, his thumb running over my skin. “Do you want me to get you any ginger ale? I’m assuming it’s nerves for the grand opening today.”
I nod. “Yeah, just want to make sure everything goes okay.”
“Do you know what’s not okay?” Jaz cuts in again and motions her finger between us. “You two not sleeping in the same bed. What’s that about, Sawyer?”
“Everything will be great. But if it will make you feel better, I’ll run another test in every cabin to make sure all is well.”
I roll my teeth over my bottom lip. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all,” he says with such sincerity that all I want to do is crawl over this counter and right into his arms. “Let me grab you some ginger ale first to settle your stomach.”
“Not necessary.” I shake my head. “I really think I’ll be okay.”
“You sure?”
I nod.
“Uhhhh... hello,” Jaz says, her voice growing angrier. “You’d think you two would know by now not to ignore me if you don’t want the rage to boil over.”
Finally I turn to Jaz. “We’re taking it slow.”
“What for?” She gestures to Sawyer’s body. “Why would you want to take it slow with that?”
“Are you complimenting me?” Sawyer asks playfully.
“No,” Jaz says, jabbing her finger in his face before turning back to me. “Seriously, what’s the issue?”
I awkwardly look toward Sawyer.
He clears his throat. “It’s on me.”
Jaz’s eyes narrow in on him. “God, just like your brother. Annoyingly slow, with zero intentions.”
“My intentions with Fallon are crystal clear, and she knows that.”
“I do,” I say, backing him up. “I’m good with waiting.”
He brings me closer and places the sweetest kiss on my lips before pulling away.
“I’ll go check on the cabins. Pastries are for guests when they arrive.
I stocked up the coffee and hot chocolate bar last night, so that’s all ready to go.
And I also added those opening day mugs to each cabin, along with the Cocoa Bombs and thank-you cards that tell people to tag you in their posts. ”
“Why are you so good to me?”
“Because I love you,” he says offhandedly, then releases me and smiles at me before he heads out the back door, leaving me stunned.
I stare off at his retreating body through the glass back door, my mind stunned.
Shocked.
Absolutely infatuated.
“Uh...,” Jaz ventures, “did he just say he loves you?”
My mouth goes dry. “I think he did.”
“Has he said that before?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“Well...” Jaz picks up one of the pastry boxes and flips it open. “It seems as though you have a conundrum on your hands. Because once again, a man loves you, and the only question is, are you going to be able to tell him you love him back?”
As I take a seat on the stool next to the computer, still in shock, I consider Jaz’s question. Would I say “I love you” back to Sawyer?
The answer almost feels too heavy, like it’s sitting on the tip of my tongue.
Yes. I would.