Page 79 of Baby One Last Time

“And you can’t see it from here, but there’s a small, natural rock wall a few feet away from the cove, the perfect place to strip off our clothes.”

“So by swimming, you mean skinny-dipping.” I looked him up and down, from his sandaled feet, up the long length of his legs, one bandaged from ankle to knee, to his tight, dark-washed jeans shorts, to his black tee shirt. At his neck hung his shark necklace, converted to everyday jewelry because he remembered how much I liked seeing it against his naked chest.

“Yes, skinny-dipping, but you have to stop drooling over me like that. At least in front of the ‘rents.” Belying his own words, he gave me the copulatory once-over, from my own sandaled feet adorned with red-painted toenails, up my legs, which were encased in light-colored jeans, and over my white peasant blouse. He lingered there for an extra second and sighed. “Is it too much to hope that you’re braless under that shirt?”

“Yes, but I’m not wearing panties, if you need to fantasize about something over your mother’s chicken salad.”

His eyes widened his eyes and I laughed. He’d obviously forgotten—just for a second—that we weren’t alone. The panty-less thing wasn’t true, which I had no doubt he’d discover later that afternoon, but the lacy black panties I was wearing, part of his lingerie gift set to me, would be a pleasant surprise.

He stood behind me, leaned his crutches against the hedges, and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pulling me against his chest. “Speaking of fantasies.” He whispered in my ear, his breath tickling the nape of my neck, and I instantly followed his wicked mind into visions of him lying naked and ready for me on that thin, white strip of beach. But he pointed in the other direction. “That’s the guest house over there.”

I squinted through the trees at a thatch-roofed cabin that looked as charming as the big house. “Looks pretty far away to be worried about noise.”

He nipped my earlobe and I moaned. “That’s because you have no idea how loud you are.” His erection was rock-hard against my back. “And I love it, in case I haven’t been clear about that.”

I took calming breaths, willed myself not to reach behind me and slip my hand inside his waistband, and mentally listed the reasons I had to behave. At least for an hour or two.Mother. Father. Brother. Harry. Chicken salad.

“I also love the way your breath hitches when you’re thinking about us naked.” He nipped my neck, then turned me around to face him. “And I know you didn’t ask, but just for the record, I’ve never brought anyone else here.”

I laid my hands on each side of his face as he bent toward me for a sweet, gentle kiss. “And since I’ve only visited my mom in Seattle once, you’ll be the only guy I’ve ever takentherewhen go to see her next week.”

He smiled. “You can never let me have the win, can you?”

“Never,” I promised.

“Maybe this will change your mind.” He pulled folded-up papers out of his back pocket, opened them, and handed them to me.

“What’s this?”

“Our future house. At least, one of them will be, unless you don’t like any of them, in which case, I’ll send the realtor on another search until you’re happy.”

There were three sheets, each with a couple of full-color pictures of cozy-looking cottages with neat yards covered in holiday snow. All three were in a small town called Shelburne, Vermont. Emotion clogged my throat. “It’s perfect. They’re all perfect.”

“Then I guess we’ll have to fly there after visiting your mother and see them all in person before we make a decision.” He pulled me close and kissed the top of my head. “And bonus—it’s snowing there as we speak. I can’t wait to show you my favorite way to make a snow angel.”

Snow. Actual snow in the dead of winter. It had been years since I’d seen that. I wrapped my arms around him and breathed in the fresh, clean scent of his skin mixed with ocean air. “Our own place, where we can put down roots.” I pulled back and looked into his eyes. “But how much time will you be able to spend there with the business in Atlanta?”

“A lot more time than you when you’re jet-setting around the globe, saving the world. I’ll tag along on your trips when X lets me. Other times, I’ll go to Atlanta and bug Chase.” He kissed me long and slow. “And when you’re ready to come home, I’ll be there waiting for you, wearing my happy homemaker apron.” He dropped his voice and whispered in my ear. “And nothing else.”

“Do you think your family would come to Shelburne next year for Christmas? My mom would love it, although she’ll insist on arriving early to celebrate the solstice.”

“Just try to keep my mother away. And where she goes, the Wilder men follow. Except this one. From here on out, I only follow you,mi capitana.”

“Hmm, I’m already drunk with the power.” And with lust and the chance to test his theory about sound traveling on the island breeze.

His parents and Harry stepped onto the patio carrying platters of food, and Chase followed behind them on his crutches. Joining them at the table, Derek and I shelved our conversation and my chance to give him orders until later. But it would be worth the wait.

Turns out, there was a better way to celebrate the holidays than a one-night stand in Vegas, and with the sexy, amazing, exasperating love of my life, I’d finally found it.