Page 45 of Balancing Act (Soulmate #1)

She instinctively made her way to the upper deck as she boarded the ferry.

The cold air was sharper here, the wind biting her cheeks, but it cleared her head.

She leaned against the railing, watching the Seattle skyline twinkle as it disappeared.

A year ago, the idea of letting herself be vulnerable with someone—especially someone like Beth—would have been laughable.

But now? Now, she stood on a ferry, grinning like an idiot, thinking about how excited she was to see Beth’s smile tomorrow.

Her phone buzzed with a new text.

Amanda 10:04 PM

Here is Shannon’s contact info. I already texted her to let her know we talked. She said absolutely no pressure, but if you want to hear more about what she’s trying to do, give her a call.

Jamie tucked her phone away without replying.

She wanted to talk to Beth—to tell her about this opportunity, share her excitement with her.

Beth had become the person she wanted to turn to for everything, whether she was happy, frustrated, or just needed to get something off her chest. She’d always had that with Amanda, but it felt different with Beth—intense in a different way—because she was someone Jamie was in love with.

And that made every shared moment feel more profound, more meaningful.

In love. Those two words kept sneaking up on her, still catching her off guard every time they surfaced.

It was a truth she hadn’t been able to shake since realizing it, but she hadn’t said a word to Beth.

Not yet. It felt too soon, too big for where they were, too risky to put out there when everything was still so new.

Could two people fall in love this fast?

It seemed impossible. She’d decided to keep it to herself for now, to wait until she was absolutely sure before daring to tell Beth.

Because once those words were out, there’d be no taking them back.

Jamie wrapped her fingers around the cold metal railing, leaning back slightly, closing her eyes. She inhaled deeply, the chilled air filling her lungs, before turning on her heel to head back inside the cabin.

And that’s when she saw her.

Beth stood at the far end of the deck, her back to Jamie, gazing at the dark waters.

The soft glow of the ferry lights illuminated her silhouette, and Jamie’s heart stumbled in her chest. Beth’s long coat swayed in the breeze, but the glimmering fabric beneath caught Jamie’s eye—a dark, sparkly jumpsuit that hugged her body.

The wind picked up the ends of Beth’s moonlit waves, making them dance.

Jamie’s eyes lingered on the pale strands as they caught the silvery glow, shimmering like fine threads of spun starlight.

For a moment, she just watched, taking in the way Beth glowed in the moonlight. God, she was incredible. Her heart hammered in her chest as she closed the distance between them, each step quiet and deliberate. The cold air was forgotten, replaced by the warmth Beth exuded—the calm in Jamie’s storm.

Jamie’s voice was low, teasing, when she finally spoke. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s dangerous to leave a woman this gorgeous unattended on a ferry?”

Beth turned, startled at first, but her face lit up as soon as she saw Jamie. Her lips stretched into a warm smile, making Jamie’s heart flip. “Jamie...” Beth breathed her name like it was a secret she’d been waiting to share. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“I wasn’t expecting to see you either,” she replied, unable to tear her eyes away from Beth, her gaze dropping again to take in the shimmer of the jumpsuit. “But I’m not complaining. You look...” She let her voice trail off momentarily, savoring how Beth blushed. “ Wow. ”

Beth laughed softly, a quiet sound that seemed to cut through the cold air. “This old thing?” she teased, running a hand down the glittering fabric.

“I thought you had that gala with Sean tonight?” Jamie said, stepping closer, the playful smirk tugging at her lips again.

Now she was close enough to catch the faint scent of Beth’s perfume, that warm and floral scent that sent her senses spiraling.

She reached for Beth’s waist, her hand settling on the soft fabric of the coat.

Her thumb brushed lightly against the fabric, her touch gentle but purposeful.

Beth’s lips curved into a teasing smile, her eyes sparkling with that same playful energy Jamie had first fallen for. “I did, but I snuck out early. I wasn’t in the mood tonight and, to be honest, I find those events so stuffy.”

“Hmmm,” Jamie responded, her eyes exploring Beth as she spoke. “And what exactly are you in the mood for tonight?” Her question was soft, unhurried, and full of hope that Beth wanted the same thing she did.

Beth’s breath hitched slightly at Jamie’s implication, eyes flicking to Jamie’s lips for a second before meeting her gaze again. “You,” she said, without an ounce of hesitation.

Unable to resist, Jamie reached out and gently tucked a soft, luminous tendril of hair behind Beth’s ear.

Jamie’s hand lingered on Beth’s cheek, the cool night air making the warmth of her skin even more intoxicating.

Beth leaned into Jamie’s touch instinctively, her cheek resting heavily in Jamie’s palm.

“So, are you going to just stand there, or are you going to kiss me?” she asked, and Jamie couldn’t ignore the longing in her eyes.

She didn’t need another invitation. In one smooth motion, Jamie closed the space between them, lips capturing Beth’s in a soft but warm kiss.

The warmth of Beth’s mouth against hers sent a wave of electricity surging through Jamie’s body, and she felt herself sinking deeper into the kiss, letting everything else melt away.

The ferry, the wind, the cold—it all disappeared. There was only Beth, only the way her lips tasted faintly of wine and the way her hands grasped at Jamie’s shoulders, pulling her closer.

When they finally pulled apart, Jamie’s head was spinning. Beth’s lips were still parted slightly, her eyes half-lidded, and Jamie could tell she was equally speechless.

“Wow,” Beth whispered, her voice barely audible. She leaned her forehead against Jamie’s, and Jamie shivered at the feeling of her breath warm against her skin. “I think you might have me wrapped around your finger.”

Jamie’s grin widened as she let her hands rest on Beth’s waist, pulling her closer. “Good,” she whispered, “because I’m not letting you go.”

Beth’s fingers brushed lightly against the back of Jamie’s neck, sending a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

They stood there for a moment, wrapped up in each other, letting the quiet of the ferry surround them.

The gentle hum of the engine and the sound of the water lapping against the hull seemed distant, almost irrelevant compared to the warmth between their bodies.

Beth pulled back slightly, her eyes searching Jamie’s face. “Come home with me tonight,” she whispered, her voice full of quiet invitation.

Jamie’s heart raced, her pulse thrumming in her ears. There was no hesitation in her answer. “I’d love to.”

Beth’s smile was soft, almost shy, as she threaded her fingers through Jamie’s. They stood there for a moment longer, the ferry gliding across the water, carrying them both toward the island.

Back on land, Jamie followed Beth’s car closely, headlights cutting through dense winter fog rolling in the impending winter storm.

Her heart had been racing ever since Beth had caught her off guard with that kiss on the ferry—soft, electric, and filled with a promise that had her stomach twisting with desire.

She wanted Beth so badly. She could still feel the ghost of Beth’s lips against hers, and the warmth of her hand as she’d pulled her in.

At Jamie’s own request, they had been taking things slow the last few weeks, and that meant a lot of restraint on her end.

That restraint felt fragile, like it could snap at any moment.

It wasn’t only about the physical attraction—because, God, that was certainly there.

It was about making sure that the physical attraction wasn’t clouding her emotions.

It was about making sure it was truly safe to let her walls down.

And, bit by bit, she had begun to trust that it was.

It was in the way Beth made her feel secure and seen.

Jamie had always been so good at building walls, at keeping people at arm’s length.

But Beth—Beth had a way of slipping through the cracks.

Minutes later, she pulled into Beth’s driveway and killed the van’s engine. She watched as Beth stepped out of her car, the sparkling jumpsuit catching the faintest glimmers of the porch light, drawing Jamie’s eyes to her body.

She could feel the heat radiating between her thighs.

Her own desire. It had been there for months now, bubbling just below the surface.

But recently it had been harder and harder to resist, and it felt like each moment with Beth was now charged with a hunger they had been carefully stoking for weeks.

Jamie had never felt this sure, this balanced before in her life.

Taking things slow had allowed her to find her footing, to settle into the rhythm of being with Beth, and now, it felt like all of that restraint had been building toward this moment.

The anticipation hummed in her veins, her body already responding to the thought of what might happen next.

Jamie climbed out of the van and walked the short distance to where Beth stood on her front porch.

“You okay?” Beth’s words slipped into the quiet space like a caress.

Jamie turned her head and met Beth’s eyes. The soft, amber glow of the porch light highlighted the curve of Beth’s cheekbones, the slight flush on her skin, and the way her lips quirked into that teasing, sultry smile.

Jamie swallowed dryly. “Yeah,” she managed, her voice a little rough. “I’m more than okay.”