12. Hadley
The walk back to the cottage is filled with sweet smelling air and a star filled sky.
I’m sure those stars will disappear soon enough. Talk of the tropical depression was a hot topic at dinner and no one seems to be hopeful like Aunt Maude about it not turning into a hurricane and heading this way.
“You still in this with me?”
Quade’s quiet question has me glancing up at him. “Yes. I like your family.”
“Don’t worry, that won’t last long once you get to know them better.” His grin tells me he’s not serious but there is an underlying thread of concern his prediction might become true.
“I doubt it. They’re all great, but I especially like Gram.”
“I see she finally convinced you to call her that instead of Mrs. Sanderson.”
“She told me I’d better or else.”
“Or else what?”
“You know, I’m not sure.” I laugh. “She just said it with such force I gave in.”
“Most people do. She has a way.”
“She’s a powerhouse.”
“You have no idea. She raised a family, helped run the Sanderson hotels and restaurants, as well as being on the council of Love Beach for years before her and Grampa handed over the reins of the family business to my father and mother. After that they moved here permanently, and she took on the mayor role about a year after that. For over a decade they dedicated themselves to this town.”
“Has your family always been here?”
“Yes. The first Sanderson restaurant, Salt Breeze, opened on the pier by my great great grandparents. It’s long gone.”
“Oh. You don’t have anything in Love Beach now?”
“No. After my great grandparents became successful, they decided Love Beach would be about family and not work so they sold off all the restaurants here—they had a few by then—to locals and helped them stay successful by turning Love Beach into a town worth visiting.”
“Will you live here? In the future?” I don’t want to say when Gram is gone because while I’m sure he knows that’s what I’m talking about, I don’t want to bring up a loss like that when his grandpa has been gone less than a year.
“I don’t know. One of my sisters might want to. Or my parents.”
“But it will be yours…” I don’t finish because this is information he hasn’t told me.
“Ah, I see MM have given you the rundown of the family legacy.”
“MM?”
“It’s what Gampa called his sisters. Said they were nuttier than a bag of Peanut MMs.”
“Do you miss him? Were you close?”
“We were and yes, but he was sick for a few years and we all made peace with the end before it came. It still cut of course but we had time to make the most of what time he had left.”
“I wish I’d had that.”
“I wish you did too.”
I glance up and smile. “Thank you. And while it’s inadequate, I’m sorry you lost your grandfather.”
Quade slips his hand in mine and tugs. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”
We’re quiet as he leads me through the trees on a path that’s there but overgrown. I don’t know where he’s taking me but it’s not toward the cottage.
I should be worried. I’m basically letting a stranger take me into the woods where he could do anything and no one would hear. The sounds of his family faded a while ago and I have no idea what else might be in the area.
“I can hear your brain spinning.” He glances back, smiles. “Don’t panic. I just want to show you the lookout Gampa and I would visit before the walk became too much for him.”
I don’t know why, but I’m shocked. He’s sharing a private spot with a woman he only met this morning. A spot that was special to him and his grandfather.
I’m surprised. Pleased. Honored.
Busy inside my head, it takes me a second to realize we’ve cleared the trees and walked up to a cliff edge. The cliff isn’t high, barely twenty feet above the sand and water. It’s the twinkling lights in the distance that have me mesmerized.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, day or night, it’s a great view.”
“What is that?”
“Love Beach.”
“All of it?”
“No. What we can see from here is part of the downtown area and the pier.”
“When we drove in, I didn’t think we were that close to town.”
“We are and we aren’t.” Quade points to the water in front of us. “That way, we’re close, maybe a five-minute boat ride in calm weather. By road we’re at least triple that. It’s the curve of the land that makes a car trip longer.”
“The road can’t go straight there.”
“Exactly. Do you want to go back or sit here for a bit?”
The tiredness I felt at dinner has been swept away by the scent and sound of the ocean. “I’m happy to sit for a while.”
Quade holds my hand as I lower to the rock under us. Once I’m settled, my knees pulled up, arms wrapped around them and my chin resting on top, he lowers himself beside me. He sits cross-legged and together we stare out at the sea. It seems a shame to mar the beauty of this place with words but I’m curious about the question he hasn’t really answered.
“So will you live here? Later?”
“Probably.” He sighs. “I want to say no. I love my house in Charleston and I prefer the bigger city over this small town but…”
“You love it here too.”
“I do. And therein lies the rub. I want to live in both places.”
“So do that. Isn’t that what your grandparents did? And you spent half your childhood here too.”
“They did. I did. And there are so many advantages to living in both places, especially with a family.”
“Which you don’t want yet.”
He glances over at me, his gaze serious. “I’m starting to think I do.”
“Oh.” The word is barely a sound, the breeze snatching it away as soon as I’ve voiced it.
“I want to kiss you again.” He leans closer.
“Okay. Yes. Kiss me.” I move a fraction toward him.
“If I kiss you, I’m not sure I can stop. I already proved I have no control with you.”
“Control is overrated.”
“Is it? I’ve always been proud of my restraint.”
“Maybe that control was an illusion.” I lick my lips, move closer. “Maybe you just haven’t found anything worth losing control over.”
“Are you that, Hadley? Are you something to lose control over?”
“I don’t know. I just know I’ve never been someone who holds back when I want something.”
“And what is it you want, Hadley?”
“You.” I give neither of us a chance to talk any more by slanting my mouth over his.
This kiss is as hot and desperate as the last one. In seconds our hands are pushing under tops and palming flesh, and I’m laid out on top of Quade.
I don’t know if I pushed him or he pulled me. I don’t care, all I want is to press closer, kiss him deeper, touch him more.
“Fuck!” The curse bursts from his mouth into mine. “Fuck, Hads.”
It’s the first time he’s shortened my name and I can’t stop the moan of pleasure at hearing that intimate nickname from his lips. “Quade. I want, need?—”
“I know. But not here.” His hands grip my upper arms and push me up. “Not out here. If we’re doing this, it’s in a bed.”
I barely have time to breathe, let alone argue, before I’m on my feet, my hand in his as he rushes us back through the trees toward the cottage.