Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Tucker
When consciousness returns, and I open my eyes, I cannot help but smile as Kate’s profile fills my vision. She’s on her back next to me, sound asleep with her lush lips slightly parted. I’m on my stomach, one arm draped over her, my hand curved around her breast.
Fighting the urge to squeeze it, I carefully release my grip and ease my arm off so as not to wake her. I slowly roll onto my side so I can see her better, and my heart thumps in my chest at the beautiful sight. She’s so fucking perfect. In every way.
I wonder how she’ll act toward me when she wakes up. Last night was…intense, to say the least, and she seemed to get a bit pensive as I held her in my arms after we made love. We didn’t speak about it. I let her soak in her own thoughts until she drifted off to sleep, an d I stayed awake for a long time after, stewing in my own.
During that little impromptu chat in the bathroom at Logan’s yesterday, we agreed to enjoy what little time we have left. I tried to convince myself that’s what I was doing last night, getting her out of my system before we have to end things, but I’ve never been very good at lying to myself.
I will never get Kate Reid out of my system.
A near-silent sigh slips out of me, and I roll out of the bed carefully so I won’t wake her up. Grabbing my clothes from the floor, I slip out of the room and get dressed in the hallway. Then I head to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.
Leaning back against the island, I watch the machine as it starts to brew. I don’t really see it, though. I don’t see anything but Kate, images of our week together flashing through my mind on repeat like a high-speed carousel.
Today is the wedding. Tomorrow, I leave for home.
I rub at my chest absentmindedly to ease the ache that’s bloomed there. Stiffening, I turn toward the fridge and grab the pad of paper that’s attached to the door with a magnet. Finding a pen in a drawer, I scrawl out a quick note to Kate that I’m going for a run and will see her later.
I step outside and pause to take a few deep breaths of the cool morning air, its salty scent leaving me feeling a little more invigorated. After swinging by the B&B to change into my running gear––and thankfully, not running into Miss Ginny––I move out to the road and let my feet pound the pavement .
I decided to forgo the earbuds, opting instead to listen to the sounds of the island. Birds chirping. Waves crashing in the distance. The whir of a golf cart as its owner zips by, waving in greeting as he passes. I wave back, and something clicks into place in my chest.
It isn’t just Kate I’ll miss when I go.
It’s this place. Bush Monkey Isle is magical with its myriad of characters, its beautiful landscape, and charming town square. Logan is here, and I can’t deny I’ve realized how much I’ve missed him after spending the last week seeing him every day. Penny, too.
It’s such a stark difference from life in the city. When I was younger, I thrived on the hustle and bustle, but now? Now, I can appreciate the comfort small-town life can bring.
And then, there’s Kate.
I’ve never felt this way about another woman. This temporary deal we’ve entered into is the closest thing I’ve ever had to a real relationship. It’s always been easier that way. A night or two of fun, then we go our separate ways. And that’s what I thought I was doing when I caved to my desire for Kate.
A few days of fun. Then it would be over.
But every minute I spend with her makes me want to spend the next minute with her, too. And the next. And so on.
I don’t know if I’m the luckiest bastard on the planet, or the most cursed. The first time I develop strong feelings for a woman, and it’s God damn impossible.
Isn’t it?
I pause for a short break, my heart hammering in my chest and my lungs seizing, only to find myself standing before the large field of Bush Monkey flowers Kate brought me to on that first day. The large swath of brilliant color brings a smile to my face as I remember her devious prank, convincing me we were looking for actual monkeys. Her laughter when she let the cat out of the bag about our true objective.
The way her dark eyes sparkled with honey highlights.
The way the sun kissed her tanned skin and the wind blew her curly hair across her forehead.
She’s beautiful on the outside with a sparkling diamond for a heart. I’ve never met anyone like her, and I likely never will again. Kate Reid is one of a kind.
How will I let her go?
Arching my back to stretch out my spine, I turn and head back the way I came, jogging at a slower pace to keep my heartrate steady and even. As I reach the edge of town, I see more activity than the first time I ran through. Shopkeepers are opening their doors and waving to each other. Owners are walking their dogs on the green grass of the midtown square. Golf carts glide to and fro, drivers pausing to chat with each other on this fine Sunday morning.
I wave at Miss Ginny as I pass the Errant Heart, and she waves back with the newspaper she stepped outside to grab off the porch. Townsfolk call me by name, shouting out greetings as I pass. I don’t even know who half of them are.
But that’s the beauty of this island. This town.
As I turn the corner and head in the direction of Kate’s house, I set my jaw and pump my legs faster .
I know what I want. What I have to do.
It’s not going to be easy, but the best things in life––the things that are really worth it––rarely are.