Page 35

Chapter thirty-two

Robbie

“Good morning.” I yawn, pulling myself up to rest my back against Naomi’s headboard. My eyes feel heavy, tempting me to fall back into the comfort of sleep, but the reality of where I’m waking up this morning leaves me with a surge of excitement that springs me all the way awake.

“Morning,” she replies sleepily from where she lies next to me, stretching her arms above her head.

A beam of sunlight from her lakeside window spreads slowly across her face, and she squints, shifting her head out of its path.

Her blonde hair cascades over her pillow in a messy, wild way that causes my heart to physically ache.

She brings her arms back down to her sides and tilts her head to look up at me. Her still-puffy eyelids and sleep-wrinkled cheek are raw and imperfect, yet she’s still the most gorgeous sight I’ve ever seen. If this was my view every morning for the rest of my life I would die a happy man.

Our first night together was everything I could have imagined it would be…

and so much more. It was intimate, passionate, and awakening.

The level of comfort we’ve always had with each other further fueled our connection, making it feel powerful in the most beautiful way.

The mere memory brings a flush to my skin and a subtle desperation to do it all over again.

“How are you feeling after last night?” I ask, referencing the night as a whole—not only what transpired between us but how she stood up to her dad at the grand opening.

Her defiance caused a ripple of chatter to spread through the entire showroom and I feel nothing but pride at the courage it took for her to do that.

I can only imagine it will continue to make its way through the town gossip fodder for a while to come.

While I wait for her to answer, I glide my fingers through her hair, lightly pushing the strands away from her face, unable to ignore the urge to touch her in any way I can.

She gives me a lazy smile, her eyelids fluttering closed at my touch. “Really good,” she admits.

“I’m so proud of you.” I reach down to squeeze her forearm to emphasize the statement, although I already know there’s no way it can convey the magnitude of what I feel.

She looks up to meet my gaze, then abruptly shifts out of the covers to climb effortlessly onto my lap in one swift, excited movement.

Her bent legs fall to either side of me, her bare thighs a stark tan amidst the sea of white bed sheets and her oversized white T-shirt.

“Did you see me?” she whispers, grinning slyly as she asks the same question for the millionth time. I don’t mind, though. Seeing her filled with this much confidence makes me wildly happy.

Her hands come to either side of my face, and she slowly scooches her body up even farther until she’s flush with my hips, pinning me to the mattress.

Her body smothers mine in the best possible way, and her perfume from last night lingers around her.

I’m consumed, completely drowning in her, and reminded of exactly why I came back.

“I did.” My smirk hitches against her mouth as she squeals with delight, pressing her lips to mine. Joy practically radiates off her in an almost palpable way and I let it flow off of her to cover me too.

I run my hands lazily along her thighs, relishing the feel of her soft skin before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. My gaze stays pinned on hers as we both grow quiet, settling into a comfortable silence.

“So, can we talk about what happened? About why you left?” she asks quietly, letting her hands fall softly to my chest. “And more importantly, why you came back?”

I nod, feeling more than ready to take accountability for my actions and finish our conversation from last night. I clear my throat, feeling the weight of my words to come, knowing I have one chance to get this right.

“First, I’m very sorry for the way I left,” I tell her intently, holding her stare. “That wasn’t okay. I let my emotions get the best of me, and I just…needed to get out of here.”

She nods, dropping her gaze, but I tilt her chin up with my finger. It’s absolutely crucial that she hears what I’m about to say.

“But what I realized while I was gone is that I’m always doing that…leaving. Drifting. Avoiding.” I shake my head. “I don’t want to do that anymore.”

“You don’t?” Her hands find my face again, her thumbs ever so slightly sweeping against the skin of my cheeks as she looks at me with hopeful eyes.

“Nope. You’re it for me, Naomi. And I’ll follow you anywhere…even if you want to stay in this tiny town,” I say as firmly as I can.

She grins. “What changed your mind?”

“Dane,” I say.

“I wasn’t expecting that.” She laughs, her brows flying up in amusement.

“It’s true.” I chuckle. “He helped me realize I don’t want to live without you.”

I run my hands up her arms, relishing the way that or my words create a slew of goosebumps that cascade across the surface.

“Even with your family here?”

I nod, my face going somber. “I don’t want to lose you over some baggage from my past—I can’t. You’re my home base. No matter what happens with my family, I’m meant to be wherever you are. I’m certain of that.”

“Well…thank you, Dane,” she says against my lips as she presses them to mine.

“This is where I want to be,” I murmur again through the kiss.

“You and me, huh?” She whispers, resting her forehead against mine.

“You and me,” I confirm, feeling the weight of the promise deep in my bones.

She settles back against her thighs, pushing her lips together in a small, knowing smile. Her soft gaze tells me that she’s hearing me, that she’s accepting what I’m saying—without a trace of guilt on her part, no less.

“Come on. I’ll make breakfast,” she says as she rolls off me and pads out to the kitchen. I follow quickly behind, scrambling off the bed to block her path.

“I have another idea.” I’m able to reach her just before she gets to the kitchen. I gently avert her shoulders toward the deck door.

“You’re always in the kitchen. It’s my turn to cook this morning. Go have a seat outside and I’ll bring you an omelet and coffee. How does that sound?”

“Amazing. But who’s going to make it for me?” she asks cheekily.

“Get outta here.” I swat her out the door and get to work pulling ingredients out of the fridge.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as she walks slowly across the grass to the dock.

A soft-pink-and-orange sunrise serves as the perfect backdrop to an already beautiful sight.

It’s not until she lowers onto the bench that I can fully peel my eyes away from her and get to work.

I get lost in the satisfied bliss that runs through me while I pull the carton of eggs out of the fridge and grab a frying pan from the drawer.

After a few minutes I hear the faint text message notification on my phone from her bedroom.

Once I successfully flip one side of the omelet over, I jog to her room to retrieve it.

Steven: I saw you last night. I know you’re in town again. Can we talk? Please?

His message gives me a pang of anxiety as I re-read his words more than a few times, but it’s nothing I can’t taper down quickly.

I’ll deal with him another day. I refuse to let him hinder my happiness right now.

Today is all about Naomi and me and the start of something new.

I slide my phone into my pocket, leaving the message unanswered.

I know my issue with my family is something I’ll need to address in the future, but today is not that day.

As I plate omelets for both of us, my gaze drifts again to Naomi out on the bench, waiting for me.

A feeling of being right where I’m supposed to be—of feeling at home—settles over me, and I savor the comfort it brings.

It’s a feeling I haven’t felt in…maybe ever.

And I make a silent vow to do everything in my power not to lose it.

Grabbing both plates, I head outside, eager to get back to her. As I walk across the grass, I remember her bravery from last night and the monumental effort she made with her own family dynamic.

Maybe someday soon, I can do the same.