Chapter 41
BLISSFUL BEGINNINGS
NATALIE
The salty breeze whipped gently across my face as I sat across from Will at a table outside the Beachcomber Café. The sound of waves crashing nearby mingled with the hum of happy chatter from other diners, creating the perfect backdrop for our lunch.
Will leaned back in his chair, a relaxed smile playing on his lips. “I could get used to this,” he said, taking a sip of his drink.
“You mean the view or the company?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Both,” he replied smoothly, his eyes meeting mine with that mischievous glint that always made my stomach flutter.
The waitress arrived with our food, placing a grilled mahi sandwich in front of him and a vibrant salad in front of me. For a moment, we both focused on our meals, the silence between us comfortable.
“This feels unreal,” I admitted after a few bites, setting my fork down.
“What does?”
“This,” I said, gesturing between us. “Having time together in broad daylight. Just us. No kids, no interruptions. No hiding.”
Will nodded thoughtfully. “It’s nice, isn’t it? Feels like we’re finally getting to breathe a little.”
I smiled, watching him as he ate, his movements unhurried, like he wanted to savor the moment.
After lunch, we wandered down the beach, shoes in hand. The sand was cool beneath my feet, the tide gently lapping at the shore. We walked side by side, close enough that our arms brushed every now and then.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about how we can make this work,” Will said, breaking the comfortable silence.
“With our kids?” I asked.
“Yeah. I want this to feel…natural, you know? For everyone. But I also know we can’t force it.”
I nodded, appreciating his thoughtfulness. “I think we need to take it slow. The kids are still adjusting to everything. If we rush into this, it could backfire.”
“Agreed,” he said. “So, here’s what I’ve been thinking: we line up our schedules. When I have my kids, you’ll have yours, and when they’re with their other parents, we’ll have time to ourselves.”
“That makes sense,” I said. “Natalie and Will weekends. I like the sound of that.”
He grinned. “We’ll make the most of them. Lazy mornings, long walks, and plenty of time for…” He trailed off, raising an eyebrow suggestively.
“Time for what?” I asked, feigning innocence.
“Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re impossible.”
“But you like me this way.”
I bumped his shoulder lightly. “I do. And I like the idea of us not pushing the children too fast. Maybe we see each other a couple of times during the weeks when we have them, but we don’t force the families together right away.”
“That sounds right to me,” he said. “And when it’s just us…”
“When it’s just us?” I prompted.
“Well, let’s just say I plan to spend most of that time naked in bed with you.”
I burst out laughing, the sound carried away by the breeze. “You’re shameless.”
“Just honest,” he said, his tone teasing but his eyes serious.
We walked further along the shore, our conversation fading into a comfortable silence. The waves lapped at our feet, and the sun hung high in the sky, casting light across the water.
Out of nowhere, Will turned to me with a mischievous glint in his eye.
“What?” I asked, already smiling.
Without warning, he scooped me up into his arms, spinning us in a circle as I shrieked with laughter.
“Will!” I cried, clinging to his shoulders.
“You’re too serious sometimes, Bradford,” he teased, his grin widening.
He finally set me down, but before I could catch my breath, his hands slid to my waist, pulling me closer. His lips found mine in a kiss so soft and deliberate, it made my knees weak.
When he pulled back, his gaze locked on mine, and his voice dropped to a low murmur. “I’ve had a crush on you since the moment I saw you at the gate.”
His words stole the air from my lungs. “Me too,” I admitted softly, my cheeks warming. “I just didn’t know what to do about it.”
He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “I’m glad we figured it out.”
“So am I,” I whispered, leaning in to kiss him again, the waves crashing gently behind us.
We stopped by the market on the way back to my house, picking out fresh ingredients for dinner. Will carried the basket, tossing in items he thought would go well with the chicken I’d suggested.
“You’re taking this very seriously,” I said, watching as he inspected a bundle of herbs.
“I’m a perfectionist when it comes to cooking,” he said. “You’ll see.”
Back at my house, we worked side by side in the kitchen. The air filled with the scent of garlic and rosemary as the chicken roasted in the oven. Will poured two glasses of wine, handing one to me before leaning against the counter.
“This feels good,” he said, his voice soft.
“Cooking?”
“Being here. With you. Like this.”
I met his gaze, my chest tightening at the sincerity in his expression. “It does,” I said, my voice barely audible.
Dinner was simple but delicious, and by the time we’d finished eating, I felt relaxed and at ease.
“Let’s take a bath,” Will said as we carried the dishes to the sink.
I raised an eyebrow. “A bath?”
“Trust me,” he said, his tone low and suggestive. Then came his signature wink. On any other guy it would have made me cringe.
The tub in my bathroom was big enough for two, the warm water swirling around us as we leaned back against the cool porcelain.
Will reached for me, his hands tracing slow, deliberate paths down my arms and along my sides. I leaned into his touch, my breath hitching as he kissed the curve of my shoulder.
Things heated quickly from there. The water sloshed against the sides of the tub as we moved together, our laughter mingling with gasps of pleasure. When we couldn’t contain ourselves any longer, we shifted out of the tub, the cool tile of the floor a sharp contrast to the warmth between us.
A towel became our makeshift bed as Will hovered over me, his lips finding mine in a kiss that felt endless. His hands explored every inch of my skin, his touch both urgent and tender.
When he finally entered me, it was slow, deliberate, as if he wanted to savor every moment. We moved together, our rhythm building until we were both lost in the intensity of it.
Afterward, as we lay on the floor of my bathroom, the towel beneath us forgotten, I traced my fingers along his jawline. His breathing was still uneven, his body relaxed in a way that mirrored my own.
“You’re dangerous,” I teased, my voice soft.
“Why’s that?” he asked, a lazy smile playing on his lips.
“Because you make me feel things I’m not sure I’m ready to feel,” I admitted.
Will turned onto his side, propping his head on his hand. His dark eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I thought he might tease me. Instead, his tone softened.
“I love you, Natalie,” he said quietly. The words hung in the air. I think I’ve been intrigued by you since the moment I saw you.”
A lump rose in my throat, and my chest tightened. “I love you, too,” I whispered, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. They felt right, like they’d been waiting for this moment to be spoken aloud.
He leaned down, brushing his lips against mine in a kiss that was more tender than anything we’d shared before. It wasn’t urgent or passionate, it was filled with a quiet kind of certainty that settled something deep inside me.
We moved to the bedroom, falling into bed with the kind of ease that felt natural, like we’d been doing this for years. Will flipped on Seinfeld as we curled up together, my head resting on his chest, his arm draped around me.
“This was a good day,” I murmured, my voice heavy with exhaustion.
“A great day,” he replied, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
The soft glow of the TV bathed the room in light, but my eyes were already closing. I fell asleep feeling completely at peace.