Page 93 of Beach Cottage Kisses

Iris gave Scott the best of her, hoping that the experience would be a place of joy in his memories, too. That even if they were still having sex a year from then, they’d still be able to remember back and smile at how it had been. And if, as was more likely, they weren’t, then they’d both want to look back fondly from time to time because their weeks or months in bed together had given them joy.

Her friendship with Scott had taught her that she didn’t have to run from the love she’d lost. But that, after she recovered from the initial pain, she could bring memories of the past’s happy times into the future with her. She’d always be grateful to him for that. He hadn’t brought her twin sister back to life, but through him, she’d found the courage to keep Ivy’s memory actively alive inside her.

When she left before dawn, leaning down to kiss him goodbye, she heard him murmur “Tonight?” against her lips.

And gave him the affirmative he’d been seeking.

They were one night at a time for as long as it worked for both of them.

And for her, it was working better than she’d ever dreamed it could.

* * *

Life was working just as he’d designed. His career was flourishing. His successes were gaining him notoriety, which meant higher-priority cases, with tougher fights against powerful opponents.His sister was happy, Leigh was adored, and still made it clear that she wanted some Uncle Scott time, too. His best bud from high school was now his brother-in-law and living permanently on Ocean Breeze. His knee wasn’t one hundred percent, yet—he wasn’t back up on a board—but it was close. His back had fully healed.

And Scott was having the best sex he’d ever dreamed of having.

So why in the hell wasn’t he satisfied?

A month had passed since he and Iris had talked on the beach about his first marriage. The same night he’d slept in his king-size bed with her for the first time. The night she’d had another nightmare. Something they never talked about.

Neither Sage nor Gray had noticed anything different about him and Iris. To their credit, they were newlyweds with a precocious four-year-old on their hands, Gray’s new animal clinics opening, Sage’s law career booming and a baby on the way.

And when they were around Sage and Gray, Scott and Iris were who they’d always been on the beach. Close friends. He just hadn’t realized, until Sage’s wedding, how close they’d grown.

He had everything he wanted.

How could it not be enough?

Nothing was missing, and yet, as he drove home from work one Friday in April, heading to a shrimp boil and fry on the beach behind Gray’s cottage—a small affair with only Sage’s family, Scott and Iris—he approached the evening with an acceptance that wasn’t like him.

He was glad to be going.

Couldn’t think of anyone else he’d rather be spending his evening with.

He was really looking forward to the food.

And as, changed into shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, he walked down the beach with Morgan, he felt like he was settling, too.

A sense that escalated as Angel bounded toward Morgan, and he looked up to see Iris standing in the distance. She didn’t walk toward him, greet him with a kiss.

He didn’t want her to. Not on the beach.

And yet…he did.

On the beach.

In front of Sage and Gray.

He had it all.

And he wanted more.

More than the present.

He wanted a future.

With Iris.