Page 27 of Take This Heart (Windy Harbor #1)

He clears his throat. “I didn’t know how much I needed a break.

I might be working in Windy Harbor, but it doesn’t feel like it.

When I’m there…I feel different. Life is simpler and I like it.

More than I thought I would. It’s like a different world.

One I’m still taking in. I mean, Bosco could be a character study all on his own, and that’s just one person. ”

That cracks me up. “Who else entertains you in Windy Harbor?”

“Besides your family? Juju and Erin are high up there.” He laughs. “Miss Idella at The Rusty Trunk is also an interesting one. Did you know she has Earl Grey and a blueberry muffin every morning at exactly 6:10 on the dot? Fascinating.”

I snort. “You are even weirder than I thought.”

“I’m surprised you’re just now realizing that.” His eyes are still smiling when he looks over and he seems shy as he clears his throat. “I…thought maybe we could meet up with my friends Evan and Sara tomorrow. We don’t have to if you’re anxious to get back, but they’re great and want to meet you.”

“You’ve told your friends about me?”

“Yeah?” he says it like it’s a given.

“I’d really like to meet them.”

He nods and we’re quiet for a few minutes before launching into a discussion about the garden Camden wants to plant for the restaurant.

We’re about an hour from Lake Minnetonka when he glances over at me, his expression serious.

“Goldie?”

He clears his throat and my heart thumps faster. I look at him in question.

“You know I can’t shut it on and off, right?” He swallows and looks straight ahead, his fingers gripping the steering wheel. “It’s not just a sometime chemistry for me.”

I gulp and stare at his profile. “It’s not?”

He snorts and looks at me for a brief second before his eyes shift back to the road. “No.”

“What is it?”

“It’s an all-consuming, really inconvenient attraction that never lets up for a second, whether you’re around or not. And it’s more than chemistry or attraction…I like you, Goldie.”

My face heats and I blink fast. I swallow hard again, nervous but unable to look away from him.

“I hate what your shitty ex did to you. I want to run into him just so I can punch him in the face.”

My eyes widen and I bite my lip, fighting back a nervous laugh.

“And then I want to dip you back and kiss you until you’re breathless right in front of him so he sees what he’s missing, because trust me, he might be with someone else, but he misses kissing you.”

I put my hands on my hot cheeks and take a deep breath. “Wow.”

“I don’t say anything to pressure you into anything you don’t want or feel. I just thought you should know.”

He turns up the song—“DYWTYLM” by Sleep Token. As the words, Do you wish that you loved me? play through the speakers, I think, It’s too late for wishing.

I nearly say something, but I feel so overwhelmed by what he’s said and what I’m feeling that I don’t. I bask in the feelings, in having him by my side, that we have a whole weekend together, and I just enjoy the ride.

When we pull up to his parents’ house, I’m almost relaxed.

Almost.

Because when we drive down his driveway, the nerves rush back.

The house is beautiful—a sprawling home with a lake backdrop. Milo glances over at me as he parks, his smile soft and tentative. “Are you ready?”

“Ready,” I murmur, my heart hammering.

He grins and hops out, coming around to open my door, which just charms me more.

“Milo?” I say.

He pauses on his way to the trunk and looks back.

“Thank you…for what you said earlier and…for bringing me here. I...” I take a deep breath. “I like you too.”

He’s in front of me the next second. His hand comes up to cup my cheek and he leans in so very slowly and presses the softest kiss to my lips.

My heart stutters in my chest and I gasp.

He swallows it up with his kiss, and even though it’s gentle and sweet, my knees threaten to buckle.

I sway into him, and when we break apart, he smiles when I blink up at him, both of us breathless.

His arms circle my waist and his head falls back as he yells, “Woohoo! Goldie Whitman likes me!”

I crack up and shove his chest. He just laughs and pulls me back in, kissing me again.

“I like you too. So much,” he whispers against my lips.

“You already said that. You must be obsessed.”

He laughs. “I am. You don’t even know.” He kisses me again and then groans. “We should get inside before my mom comes out and hauls us in.” He tugs my hand and we walk toward the house. “I’ll come back to get our things.”

I think he’s right about his mom potentially coming out because we’ve barely stepped onto the front porch before the door opens wide.

His parents are both there and rush toward us.

I was braced for polite-but-distant, but no.

His mom, Kathleen, wraps me in a hug within seconds of seeing me, and his dad, Anthony, beams at me like I’m an old friend.

“We’re so glad you’re here!” Anthony says. “Come in, mio figliolo.” He kisses Milo on each cheek and then does the same to me.

“You’ve had a long drive. How are you feeling?” Kathleen asks. “Do you need to rest before dinner?”

I glance at Milo, who’s smiling over at me. “Milo drove the whole way, so he might want to, but I’m good.”

“I just got a burst of energy,” Milo says, his eyes gleaming, “right before we came in.”

My face heats and I try to hold back my smile but fail.

This man is going to wreck me and I can’t even care right now when this feels so good.