Chapter 35
Ican’t say I expected this to happen.
One moment we’re standing side by side, hands joined, the quiet stretching between us, and the next she’s guiding me toward her, her hand at my neck, her lips on mine.
Her mouth is soft, warm, tasting faintly like cookies, and every imagined version of this moment disappears because the reality of it is so much better. The kiss starts slow, careful, almost curious, but it deepens quickly, weeks of restraint melting away the second she pulls me closer.
My arm moves around her waist instinctively, drawing her closer, the need for more of her rushing forward all at once.
She fits against me as if she’s always been meant for this space, her arms sliding around my neck as we kiss, her fingers moving slowly over my skin, across my shoulders, down my back, sending a shiver through me.
I want to lift her, take her inside, sit her on my lap, and kiss her for hours.
Instead, I stay right where I am, holding her, letting the moment exist exactly as it is.
The world narrows to warmth and breath and the sound of the ocean somewhere behind us. We kiss like we’re both trying to memorize it. We’re slow one second, desperate the next, and only when something brushes past my leg do I come back to the moment around us.
Skye and Neptune are running circles around us, tails flying, probably trying to figure out why their owners are suddenly tangled up together.
We ease back just enough to look down at the dogs and laugh, breathless, still holding onto each other while they continue their chaos.
She leans her head against my chest, and I breathe her in — her hair has a faint smell of coconut, and it just smells like May. I hold her tighter, not ready for the moment to end yet.
When she looks up at me, I can’t stop smiling.
I lean down and kiss her again.
This time it’s slower. Gentle. My hand settles at her lower back while her fingers brush my cheek, and I bring her closer to me, wanting this moment to last forever.
That’s when my phone starts ringing.
The sound cuts through the quiet, and we both pull back slightly. I sigh, pressing my forehead briefly against hers.
“That’s probably Miss Diane,” I say, reluctantly. “I have to go pick up Uncle Mike.”
She looks up at me, bright and soft at the same time, and for a second, I look at her, desperately trying to convince myself this is real. Her lips are pink from our kiss, her cheeks flushed, and I have to remind myself this is real. That she’s actually here, standing this close to me.
“It’s okay,” she says softly. “It’s getting late anyway.”
We stay like that a moment longer before my phone dings again, this time with a text.
I kiss her briefly, unable to resist.
“I really do have to go get him,” I murmur.
She smiles and nods.
We get the dogs inside, the warmth of the house wrapping around us again. Skye curls immediately onto her bed while Neptune lingers beside her until May calls him over.
“Let’s go, little boy. You can see your friend tomorrow.”
He follows her reluctantly, glancing back at Skye, and I can’t help but smile. He is just as taken as I am.
I lock the front door while she walks toward her place, Neptune already waiting at her steps. I watch her open the door for him, the porch light catching in her hair, and before I can stop myself, I jog the few steps over.
She turns when she hears me, and suddenly we’re standing close again, the quiet between us feeling different now—full, charged, real.
I don’t know what to say.
She smiles first, reaching up to touch the side of my face, gentle and certain.
I lean down and kiss her again, softer this time, slow and careful. Her lips move against mine like a promise.
I press one last kiss to her lips, her nose, and then her forehead, reluctant to let go.
“I have to go get him,” I say quietly, smiling. “Or I’ll stay here doing this forever.”
She laughs softly.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
Her cheeks color slightly, that shy smile returning.
“Of course,” she says. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I wait until she disappears inside, the door closing behind her.
And for a long moment, I stand there, staring at it, feeling like she walked away carrying my entire heart with her.