42. Marnie
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Marnie
The rumbling of Caleb’s truck draws my attention away from my mascara. I tap my phone screen to check the time.
Shit. He’s here early.
After getting home from the unveiling, I expected to be completely exhausted.
Instead, knowing that Caleb planned a special evening for us to celebrate has me feeling rejuvenated.
It was a race against the clock to freshen up with a shower and leave myself enough time to do my makeup and restyle my hair.
I place the final pin at the back of my head to complete the simple up-do, leaving two small strands of loose hair on either side to frame my face.
My fingers reach for the sash on my robe and tighten it around my waist. I round the corner to let him in, only to find him already inside, his large frame leaning casually against the doorway.
Caleb is dressed in a pair of dark gray dress pants with a belt that matches his black dress shoes, and a clean, crisp white button-down.
The sleeves are both rolled up, exposing the tanned skin and muscles beneath. It would be a damn shame to hide those.
He exhales a deep, vibrating hum as he takes me in. There’s a hunger—a fire—in his eyes, like he wants to devour me right here. Not that I would mind.
“You’re early,” I tell him.
“You’re beautiful,” he replies.
I glance down at myself still in my robe and slippers. “I’m not even dressed yet.”
“It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing, my answer remains the same.” His eyes pin me in place. “You will always be beautiful to me.”
My heart swells with the compliment. “I’m almost ready. I need ten more minutes.”
“Take all the time you need. It’s a privilege to wait on a woman like you.”
I watch as he takes a seat at the kitchen island, looking comically large on top of the stool, and then return to my room to finish getting ready.
My hands gently remove the dress from its hanger, and I slip into it with ease, swaying back and forth in the mirror, wondering if this was the right attire for tonight.
He wouldn’t tell me where we were going, only that he was treating me to a fancy dinner. Linny dropped off a black cocktail dress since I didn’t have anything suitable for such an occasion in my closet.
The dress she lent me falls just below my knees, the satin material producing a faint shimmer under the lights.
The neckline dips into a deep V-shape with straps that sit wide atop my shoulders, while the back dips into a similar shorter pattern to mirror the front.
The bodice is fitted, while the skirt flows out below my waist.
I pair the gown with silver dangle earrings, but I keep going back and forth on the shoes. Linny also brought a pair of heels, but I have an unworn pair from Gwen at the top of the closet that would look better with my jewelry.
Not wanting to keep him waiting any longer, I give my lips a final swipe of lipstick, grab the unworn pair of heels and a shawl, and exit my room.
He’s still sitting at the kitchen island, and we lock eyes as I round the corner. I stop walking as he rises from the stool.
“Wow,” he breathes.
I peer down at myself, awaiting his response.
“You look . . .” he trails off.
My eyes drag up to meet his.
“Exquisite,” he finishes.
A soft blush tints my cheeks. He looks at me like I’m the only person in the world. Like I’m desirable.
“Zip me up?” I ask, turning around to face the window that overlooks the stretch of beach where I first saw Caleb at the start of the summer. The memory is clear as day. I wish I knew then how that day would go on to change my life.
His hands find the zipper and bring it up painstakingly slowly and he fastens the clasp just between my shoulder blades.
I watch him in the reflection as he places a kiss on my shoulder.
“You know,” he starts, tracing the back of his hand down my arm. “We could always skip dinner and stay in.”
“No chance.” I whip around and press a hand to his chest. “I spent all this time getting ready and you promised me a night out. I expect to be wined and dined.”
“As you wish.” He gestures for my shoes. “Allow me.” Caleb takes my hand and guides me over to sit in the chair at the dining room table.
He kneels in front of me, gently lifting my leg to guide my foot through the straps, lacing them up and securing them around my ankle. His gentle, calloused fingers massage circles into my calf before repeating with the other foot.
When he’s done, he rises and pulls me to my feet in front of him. With heels, I’m several inches taller, and he seems to enjoy this new vantage point.
“I have something for you,” he says, pulling something out of his jacket pocket.
A medium-sized black velvet box. I have a small heart attack thinking he’s going to propose and begin to object, when he pops the top open to reveal what’s inside.
Resting on a felt jewelry insert is a red teardrop pendant on a silver chain. I recognize it immediately.
“Is this . . . what I think it is?”
“The rare piece of sea glass from our first date? Why yes, it is.”
“Did you make this yourself?”
He shrugs and stuffs his hands in his pockets. “I’ve learned a thing or two from Parker over the years. He helped me shape it and smooth it out, but the rest was me.”
The piece is beautiful. So unique, and incredibly me.
He steps forward and I spin around so he can place it on my neck.
The chain is cool against my skin, grazing my collarbones as he works the clasp shut. His hands dip down to my waist, twisting me to face him.
“I love it. Thank you.”
Caleb replies with a quick kiss to my forehead and then pulls back to admire the full ensemble.
“Will you tell me where we’re going now?”
Caleb secured a reservation for a water-front dinner at Catch & Vine, an upscale seafood dining venue that doubles as a winery with both locally-grown and imported wines.
Their signature dish is a dual wine and seafood flight served as four individual courses, each pairing expertly curated to complement and bring out the flavor in one another.
It was hands down the best seafood I’ve ever had. Caleb must’ve pulled some serious strings to get us a reservation on such short notice, and the knowledge makes something flutter inside me. He’s always going above and beyond to give me everything and more.
On the drive back to my cottage, a pop-up storm rolled in so quickly that it took twice as long to get home from the limited visibility.
We’ve been waiting in the truck for over ten minutes to see if it would pass, but much to our dismay, it only gets heavier, so we have no choice but to brave the rain. I don’t have an umbrella, so we count to three and make a run for it down the wooden path.
Once I reach the porch, my hand fumbles around inside my purse for the key. I rummage around for a solid minute before I find it and open the door, feeling a sudden emptiness behind me.
I whip my head around search of Caleb, surprised to find him not on the porch, but still standing on the wooden path in the pouring rain.
“What are you doing? You’re getting soaked,” I shout.
“I know,” he laughs. “Come dance with me.” He extends his hand toward me. An invitation.
“Are you crazy?”
“Maybe a little. But only when it comes to you.”
“It’s pouring.”
“So? Dance with me anyways,” he says, taking a step closer, hand still extended.
I hesitate for a beat, but the look on his face lulls me into a trance, and I hook my purse onto the doorknob and slowly make my descent down the porch stairs and into his arms, the rain pelting my skin from above.
He takes my right hand in his, and I bring my left to rest on his shoulder while he moves his other hand to my waist. I let him take the lead, swaying back and forth to the rhythm of the rainfall. Time stops and everything else fades away.
It’s slow. Sensual. And there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than right here. I’d weather a thousand rainstorms if it meant I could always end up right here, in this very moment.
The storm lightens up the longer we dance and then passes entirely, the only evidence is our rain-soaked clothes and puddles on the path.
He twirls me around one last time, stepping back to drink me in.
I must look ridiculous. My hair is plastered to the sides of my face, I can feel the pins struggling to hold the rest of my bun in place, and my makeup is probably smudged and runny.
I search for any clue to my appearance in his gaze but find none.
My hands come up to push back several strands of wet hair, laughing at the absurdity of our situation.
He laughs, too, chest rising and falling, the sweetest smile lingering on his lips.
“I love you,” he says at last.
The confession takes me by surprise, causing my heart to skip several beats. His voice is rich and earnest and impassioned.
Hearing him proclaim those three little words out loud is euphoric.
I throw my arms around his neck and crash my lips onto his. Warm, rough hands find the back of my head, molding me into him.
My lips part slightly, inviting him in, our tongues battling for dominance. It’s tender and passionate and all-consuming.
“I love you, too,” I murmur against his lips.
He scoops me up bridal-style and carries me into the cottage, rainwater dripping all over the floor as he walks us to my bedroom. He sets me down at the foot of the bed, and then his hands are at the back of my dress, undoing his earlier work.
He loops a finger under one strap and slides it down my arm before repeating the motion on the other side, revealing my bare breasts to him. My nipples harden under his stare and my heartrate spikes, anticipation pooling between my thighs.
Every inch of exposed skin is met with a soft kiss as my dress falls lower and lower, until I’m only left in my pair of black lace panties.
Caleb drags a long, lingering glance over my body and then moves his hands to his shirt buttons, unfastening them one by one. He shrugs the shirt off, discarding it onto the floor, and shifts his attention to his belt before removing his pants.
The distance between us is closed in a single step as he backs me up to the bed and lays me down, crawling on top of me and settling between my legs. His teeth scrape gently against the apex of my thighs, watching me closely as he pulls my panties down with his mouth.
We make love into the early hours of the morning, losing track of how many times we finish in each other’s arms. I rest my head on Caleb’s chest, feeling his heartbeat thrumming against my ear.
His fingers stroke my hair softly as we lie there together, completely content in each other’s company.
I smile to myself as I realize this might just be the happiest day of my life.