Chapter 33
THIRTY-THREE
Ava
In his arms, my body is calm and comforted, exactly how I want to be as I share my truth with him, full of complexities.
“Or I was ready to see the signs.” I nod.
“Seeing you last Saturday at the baby shower, the need to be in your strong arms, to be held by you, was overwhelming. It was like my body and my heart couldn’t ignore the pull. ”
I pause while his arms are still around me, and all I can do is melt further into his embrace. There’s nothing else I want in my life but to be held by this man, to be his entire world.
He chuckles and brushes his fingers over his jaw.
“I only want you in my life. It’s what I’ve imagined since the first day we met.
You are my match, my other half, the one I don’t want to let get away.
” When he leans over to press his lips to mine, I press further into him, and a cheeky grin appears on my face.
“You held me for weeks from afar when I was gone. I’m not sure you realize that.”
He nods his head. “Sweetheart, you do realize that you held me in your warmth all that time and in ways you can’t fathom. All those times you thought I was holding you from afar, you were that for me, too.”
All this time, we’ve been slowly becoming each other’s person. The one that makes everything make sense, like they’re the missing puzzle piece, making us utterly and completely whole—with each other.
The only sound we hear is the roar of the boat motor.
Breaking the silence, I mumble into his shirt, “I’m excited about what’s next for us, for you and your firm, and for me, the coffeehouse and bookstore build-out.
We have these amazing milestones we’re accomplishing, and I’m happy I’m doing it with you by my side. ”
“We’re a pair, aren’t we?”
She nods against my chest. “Nothing like being extremely busy and starting a new relationship.”
“Oh…Ava Sinclair, you underestimate us.”
That pulls a laugh from me. We were having a serious conversation, but it’s nice that he lightened the mood. “I do, huh? I think we can do anything, together, with you by my side.”
“Let me know if you want me to talk with Blake about the bookshelves.”
“Thank you, but I can once it’s all finalized, which should be in the next couple of weeks. The local bank is holding the loan in-house—the same bank Logan uses. I think that’s where the firm banks, too, so it made it easy for the paperwork to be streamlined.”
“Next time you are at the coffeehouse, I can get Blake to take some measurements. It sounds like things are moving along in the right direction.” He moves his warm hand back to my thighs, rubbing them aimlessly.
“I appreciate that. It would help with the timeline. My idea for the space is to mirror the van, so I only have to move books from the van shelf to the bookcase. Then, as I grow, more can be added.”
“If you need help moving books…” he says while flexing his biceps.
I can’t help but entertain him with a squeeze, and a nice one at that. “Any help you want to offer, I will absolutely take. I underestimate time.”
His hand on my thigh stops and holds my knee with a small chuckle. “I’m the opposite, so if I’m done early, it’s a win.”
My hand slides to his chest, right over his heart, as my head snuggles into him. “We’re a perfect match.”
The boat slightly turns, and our time together is coming to an end. I take both my arms under his and hug him tightly while he says, “We are.”
Moving myself off of him so I can help him get the boat on the lift, I miss his warm touch. The boat is parked, and he hops out onto the dock. I stand there as he glances at me. “Why do I see your sad eyes from here?”
“The time went by too fast, and I’d rather stay here with you. But I promised my sister we’d finish the nursery.”
He stalks over to me and, with his strong arms pulling me closer, he says, “We’ll have plenty of time soon. Be with your sister, and know I’ll be working at the office all weekend. You won’t be missing much. Come on, I'll walk you to your car.”
He opens my car door, and I walk over. Before sitting in the driver's seat, I lean back against the car frame. When I glance up at him, he’s leaning against the door with his arm slung over it.
Looking handsome as hell as the sun shines down on his blond hair, with those blue eyes seeing into me, and a devilish grin.
I point to his face and circle my finger with a half-smile as I try to decipher the look. “What’s all that for?”
“I know you need to go, so we’ll need to figure out another time we can spend together…and some hot tub time relaxing.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Is relaxing a code word for something else?” I air quote relaxing.
He rubs his finger and thumb over his jaw, with an eyebrow raised. Then, his free hand lands on the top of the car, leaning closer to me, caging me in. With my breath hitching, he dips down and claims my lips. A kiss like no other. One that sends tingles from my head to my toes…and my core.
Why do I have to leave?
When he finally pulls away, he slides his hand down my cheek. “You enjoy your time with your sister, and I’m going to head to the office.”
With one last look, I slide into the seat. He closes the door, and I drive away.
During the ride back to my sisters, I call Lia to fill her in. She’s going to die.
Lia picks up on the first ring. “Hi.”
“How’s everything going with you?” I ask in a high-pitched tone.
“If you don’t spit out what you want to say right now…”
“Okay, okay. So Kai…” I let that sit, but not for long. “We’ve had a few moments since we’ve been back. You might have been right.”
I shared all the details right until this car ride home. She knows me well.
She scoffs. “Yeah, I’m always right about these things. How about I am right? You just need to decide what you want in life, and it became really clear Kai was part of it, huh?”
“Yeah, fine! You’re right.”
“That’s nice, but it’s even nicer to hear that smile you have on your face. Yup, I see it through the phone. Your ecstatic voice gives it all away.”
“You’re a girl's best friend.”
My sister is waiting for me with the paint all ready.
She’s not painting—more like a supervisor at the door, with all the windows open so she’s not breathing in the fumes.
I’m on a mission to finish and spend some time with the family.
Knowing Kai would be at the office made it easier for me to walk away.
But after what we’ve shared, I wanted to stay in his arms for the rest of the weekend.
I remind myself that I’m here to support my sister, play with my niece, and spend time with Kai.
But it’s hard when my mind is completely consumed with replays of our night together and today’s boat ride.
I’ve never felt so completely loved by another person, the way Kai plays my body like he’s mastered all of me.
“What is all the smiling about?”
I can never leave my sister in the dark, so as I paint, I tell her everything. Well, except the part where he came in his pants. Yeah, that’s a moment for only us. It doesn’t stop me from giggling just a little bit about it to myself.
She’s speechless. And she hesitates when she says, “Did you tell him about Sam? Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s such a wonderful moment when you feel so deeply for someone. I think you should share all of you.”
I know exactly what she means, and I thought about telling him earlier when we were sharing. This one is locked tight inside of me, and one day, maybe I will. I veer my eyes to the wall and say, “No.”
“You are bearing it all with him. He deserves to know.” She lays it on thick with her sister-voice of reason.
The paint continues to cover the wall, one stroke at a time, as my hand holds the handle tightly. “I know,” barely a whisper.
“I didn’t mean to dampen your mood.” She switches topics. “This color is exactly how I imagined it. Thank you for doing this. Logan is doing his best with managing the crazy pregnant lady while taking care of Giana and the firm.”
“If you need me to watch Giana while the two of you have a date night, I’ll put it on my calendar right now.
It might be a nice thing to do tonight since I’m already here.
Hoping this coat will dry and I can get the second one on quickly.
” I glance over at her; a smile spreads over her face.
“Just do it. I’ve got you, that's why I’m here…
to help you. Not just for the day-to-day stuff, but also the extra stuff.
Like a date with your husband.” I smile back at her.
“Okay, yes.” She’s so excited, her phone almost lands on the floor.
With the tapping on the screen, she must be texting Logan.
It makes my heart happy that I can do this.
I’ll have a blast watching my niece. We’ll be able to eat pizza for dinner, have ice cream, and watch a silly cartoon movie.
It will be a night we’ll make a tradition when mom and dad go out.
The first coat of paint is done. If it dries in time, then I’ll paint tonight.
If not, it will be finished tomorrow morning.
Tonight, after Giana goes to bed, I can start putting things into the closet.
One less thing for my sister to do. Then the furniture can be moved in, the crib assembled, and all the other baby shower goodies can have a home in the new nursery.
“Bye Mommy, bye Daddy, see you tomorrow,” Giana says to her parents as they leave for date night. They are such a happy couple, holding hands as they walk out the door. It’s endearing.
We had the best night watching Stitch. I read Giana a book, and she didn’t even make it past page three before she was sound asleep. It was a busy night. By the time I curl up in bed with my phone, I text Kai.
Ava:
I had the best day with you today. I’m hoping we can do it again soon. For now, I’m crashing. Talk tomorrow.
Kai:
Me too…Good night, sweetheart.