LEO
“Were you and Colin close growing up?” Eliza asked before picking up a cookie and taking a bite.
I leaned against the couch, drumming my fingertips over Eliza’s legs that were in my lap.
“It’s hard to say,” I admitted. “In a way, yes. We did a lot more together when we were younger, and I enjoyed spending time with him, even if it was often because my mom had to run an errand or was dealing with things from the divorce. I think from the beginning our relationship was very practical, which didn’t leave much room for friendship, if that makes sense.
I think the divorce impacted my relationship with him more than I realized. ”
“Things like that can either bring a family together or push them farther in different directions.” She was exactly right.
“Seems like you and Cooper have stayed close through everything.”
Eliza finished her cookie and reached for a napkin to wipe her lips. “We have—even if he drives me absolutely insane ninety-nine percent of the time.” There was a fondness to her voice even with the joke.
“But I think our age difference helped that, oddly enough, because at the time, I didn’t realize what he was giving up to stay with Gran and me,” she continued.
“Maybe even he didn’t realize. I think if we were closer in age, we would’ve argued about it more.
I know it was his choice, but a part of me wonders if he hadn’t felt this pull to do the right thing—whatever that means to him—if he’d even be in Golden Falls still.
He’s always had this sense of adventure, but it’s waned over the years. ”
“Maybe he needs to realize it’s still there. That it’s not too late.”
“Maybe. But he’s stubborn as hell. Only way he’s going to realize it is if he’s the one who comes up with the idea.”
“Stubborn as hell?” I asked amused. “That’s a shocker. No one in your family seems stubborn.”
“Hey!” Eliza laughed, grabbing a pillow and throwing it, which I blocked with ease. “Cooper and Gran are way more stubborn than me. You just haven’t been around them long enough.”
I hummed skeptically. “I’ll take your word for it. For now.”
Satisfied, Eliza grinned. She then gasped, her eyes widening. “Oh my god. I almost forgot to tell you!”
“What?” I asked with a laugh, amused by her excitement.
“You were right about Louise and Ray. They’re dating. How crazy is that?”
I gave Eliza a look. “I told you. It’s not crazy at all, because it’s obvious.”
Eliza rolled her eyes, giving my arm a shove. “Not everyone has a magical love detector.”
“Magical love detector, huh?” I wiggled my brows. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
She tipped her head back with a laugh, and I took the moment to lean in and press a kiss to her soft skin, nuzzling my face into the crook of her neck to tickle her with my facial hair.
That got her laughing harder, and one of her hands wrapped around my shirt not to push me away but to pull me in closer.
“My magical love detector breaks curses, apparently,” I murmured, my grin widening as her other hand moved to my hair.
“Apparently it does,” she murmured, tugging on my hair to pull my head back. Our gazes locked, and there was a flicker of affection in her eyes—a look I hadn’t seen before.
A look I felt down to my bones, because I’d had in my eyes countless times around her.
“It’s getting late,” I murmured.
“It is.”
“I should get going.”
Eliza’s tongue darted out to brush against her bottom lip.
“Or,” she said softly, as if she was testing the waters, but then her words were sure and steady, “you could stay.”
Her words made me wonder if she didn’t want this night to end just as much as I did. Hope flared in my chest as I searched her eyes. Maybe she wanted more, too. Maybe it wasn’t just me.
“Yeah,” I said tenderly, without an ounce of hesitation. “I’ll stay.” I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather be.
She pulled me closer, and I lay down on the couch, hooking an arm around her waist to pull her on top of me. She nuzzled into me, and for someone who had told me multiple times before that she didn’t like cuddling…she sure seemed to enjoy it.
We continued talking up until Eliza had fallen asleep on my chest with a peaceful smile on her face.
I gently brushed her hair away from her eyes and did my best to maneuver us off the couch, carrying her in my arms to bed.
I gently placed her on the mattress and pulled the sheets over her waist. Then I cleaned up the kitchen and turned the lights off.
When I got back to Eliza’s room, she was in a half-asleep, half-awake state that was fucking adorable.
“You sure you want me to stay?” I asked.
Eliza reached toward the side of the bed, patting the covers. “Just get in bed,” she mumbled sleepily.
I chuckled, quickly stripping out of my jeans, button-down, and socks and getting into bed. Within seconds, Eliza’s leg was hooked over my hip and her head was on my chest.
I pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
I didn’t think this night could get any better—but then I fell asleep with Eliza in my arms.
“This must be a dream,” I murmured against Eliza’s hair the next morning. My arms were wrapped around her, my chest pressed against her back. I held her tightly, as if she could disappear at any moment.
A sleepy laugh escaped her, and I felt her fingertips trace along my forearm. “Your dream was to wake up in bed with me? You might need some bigger dreams.”
“Hey, cut me some slack,” I murmured teasingly. “It took me a long time to achieve this one.” I pressed a kiss to the spot where her neck met her shoulder.
I pulled back slightly to capture this sight to memory.
How her dark hair splayed on the pillow, exposing her neck.
The perfect slope of her neck meeting her shoulder, begging to be kissed.
How the strap of her tank top slipped off her shoulder.
And the way the sheets effortlessly wrapped around her body.
On top of all that, the sunlight was shining through the cracked blinds in a way that it looked like her tanned skin was glowing. She looked absolutely magical.
I had dozens of tattoos on my body, but the sight I never wanted to forget was right in front of me.
Unable to help myself, I leaned forward, kissing along her neck to her shoulder. She let out a quiet rumble of approval, pressing her hips against my morning erection.
I let out a groan, digging my fingers into her hip and pulling her flush against me. I inhaled her scent, murmuring, “You drive me absolutely wild. What have you done to me?”
She looked at me over her shoulder, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Rocked your world last night with the best sex of your life.”
If only she knew how real that statement was. Last night had been out of this world. Not just the sex but being with Eliza was more than I could’ve ever dreamed of.
I didn’t want our time to come to an end.
For as long as I could remember, my dream had been to be head chef of a fine dining restaurant. But that was before I realized that being with Eliza was within reach. Dreams changed. I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anything or anyone.
Our physical connection had always been there and so had a friendship, but both were deeper now. I swore she felt it, too. Or at least I hoped she did.
I hoped she’d give us a chance.
“Hop in the shower with me?” she asked, untangling her body from mine. “I gotta get moving to teach class this morning, but you’re welcome to stay in bed.”
Reluctantly, I loosened my grip on her, but my eyes didn’t leave her.
She sat up, stretching her arms over her head. “What do you say?”
“If my answer is ever no to joining you in the shower, just know something is very, very wrong.”