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They glanced at one another and fell into a fit of laughter.

They’d finished, all right, but it had nothing to do with their pottery.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Iwish we could stay longer.”

Sitting in front of a bonfire on Bathsheba Beach, Carla snuggled under Jacob’s resting arm, relaxed over her shoulder.

Nightfall seemed to arrive quicker than it did the day before, but that could’ve had something to do with leaving Earthworks Pottery to go back to their villa and freshen up, only to get lost in each other again.

“We could, but you have class in forty-eight hours, yes?”

She sighed. “I do.”

Jacob smirked and tightened his embrace. “Don’t sound so down. You act like you’re going to miss me or something.”

Carla cocked her head to the side and looked up at him. “I will, Jacob.”

They eyed each other intensely. Tenderness looped through their gazes, and adoration controlled the beat of their hearts.

He leaned to kiss the bridge of her nose. “I won’t be far.” He pressed his forehead against hers and held her attention.

Fire from the burning wood rose, carrying a wave of heat to comfort them.

“I don’t know. You might go back to being MIA on a sista.”

His deep throttling laugh tickled her.

“Can I confess something to you?”

“Always.”

His gaze went to the fire, past the flames to the ocean beyond. “My past relationships aren’t the only thing that kept me away.”

Her brows dipped.

“I’ve had a habit of…” he cleared his throat. “When I love someone, it happens quickly. I don’t give the relationship what society thinks is enough time to mature before I think I love them.” He turned to look back at Carla. “After sitting with this, I’ve decided it’s linked to my mother’s death. Seeing my dad alone for so long after loving her for decades…” He paused. “I got this notion that if I found love, I should make it my business not to waste time admitting it and holding on so I could share every waking moment with that person if they were my forever.”

Carla’s heart warmed.

“Life and death are unexpected; so all of the fluff that men and women do in between to play games never settled right with me.” He looked back out to the sea, then back to Carla. “But, after my failed relationships, I thought maybe society was right. I shouldn’t act on how I feel until after knowing a person for some time. The problem was the instant attraction to you felt different.

In the sense that you were the missing half of me.” He paused. “It scared the shit out of me. I begin to question myself. Was this me opening up to chance, only to be disappointed again? Do I know what I’m doing? I needed time to work that out, and I realized it was only until I let you in that healing could begin to take place.”

Jacob pulled his arms from around Carla’s shoulder and slipped his hand into hers, locking their fingers. “Understand that I’m not saying I’m not sure if I love you.” He smirked. “I know my truth.” He sighed. “I needed you to know all the reasons why I was hesitant, initially.”

She wanted to love him so hard that he would never have to second-guess her motives. She wanted to make sure no one would be able to take her place either.

“You’re such an amazing person, Jacob. I’ve seen movies, I’ve read books, and I’ve daydreamed for love like this, for, for…” she shrugged, “Ever. To know that you are real. I feel your flesh, smell your scent, look into your eyes, and have witnessed the beautiful soul that you are amazes me, honestly. But it also tells me that men like you still exist. Even when society doesn’t believe it.”

He teased her. “I don’t know if men like me specifically exist, but, um…”

She smiled, laughed, and slapped her forehead with a hand. He snuggled her closer.

“I’m just kidding.” He kissed her temple. “Thank you for saying those beautiful things.”

“It’s the truth, Jacob.”