Page 28 of Take This Heart (Windy Harbor #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

A LONG WAY

MILO

I can’t stop smiling.

Goldie’s laughing with my mom over dessert, the two of them leaning close like they’ve known each other forever. My dad keeps cutting me amused looks across the table, obviously as charmed by Goldie as my mother is. As I am.

I wasn’t sure how tonight would go. I knew everyone would like each other if they gave one another a chance, but I was concerned the Granger elephant in the room might derail things.

But watching them fall for her, hearing her make them laugh, seeing my mom’s face light up when Goldie complimented her garden and decorating, my dad asking about Goldie’s art and how touched she is by that—it’s all more than I could have imagined.

I catch her eye for a second and her lips tug into a smile—one meant just for me. My chest tightens. Yeah, I’m gone. Completely gone over this woman. Suddenly, I can’t wait to take her home. I want her to myself even if it’s just to stare at her for as long as I want.

When the fuck did I get so hopeless?

Despite my inner clinginess, we stay for another hour and a half, thoroughly enjoying our visit. When my mom hugs me goodbye, she whispers in my ear, “She is spectacular, Milo. Don’t let her go. The two of you are perfect together.”

I kiss her cheek, grateful that she’s willing to put aside any residual family prejudice against a Whitman for my sake. Something tells me it’d take a lot more to get Bruce on board with our relationship, but he’s not someone I base any life decisions on.

We make our way to my SUV and I thread my fingers through hers. She looks up at me and smiles.

“You’re quiet,” she says as we drive away.

My hand finds hers again. This need to keep finding ways to touch her is new for me.

“I’m just…happy. They loved you. I knew they would.”

“I loved them too. They made me feel right at home.” She takes a deep breath. “You don’t think they have any reservations about me being a Whitman?”

“They did at first. I told them about you a long time ago and they were concerned. But when I called my mom earlier this week…the morning after we…kissed...” I smile when she bites her lip. I know that if it wasn’t dark out, I’d see pink cheeks. “She could tell that I was serious about you.”

“You’re serious about me?” Her voice is quiet.

I lift her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “I am. Are you okay with that?”

“I…I think so.” She laughs softly.

“Does it scare you?”

“Yes,” she answers with no hesitation.

“Me too. Why does it scare you?”

“I don’t want to wreck our working relationship.”

“I think we’re both too professional to let that happen.”

She nods. “You’re right.”

“What really scares you?”

“That you won’t mean any of it. Maybe you’re still hung up on Roshana. Maybe none of it is true.”

That slams into my gut. “Goldie. I was into you the night we met at the Walker, months ago. I’ve been invested in every argument, every joke, trivia night, your vision for art and your family resort, and every twist and quirk of these goddamn lips.

You have invaded every thought and turned my life upside down.

I couldn’t stop thinking about you if I tried, and I don’t want to.

Yes, I’m scared. I’m scared you don’t feel the same.

I’m scared you’ll let your fears about relationships frighten you away from me.

I’m scared you’ll change your mind. I’m scared you’ll never fully let me in.

” I exhale and when we stop at a red light, I put the SUV in park and turn to face her.

“Roshana fucking who? I’m scared because I’ve never felt this way about anyone, not even close to it, and it’s fucking overwhelming. ”

Her eyes are glassy, but she smiles.

The car behind us lets out a loud honk, and she jumps, laughing.

I get back in gear and drive ahead, cursing. “I can’t get you home soon enough.”

“I’ve never felt this way about anyone either, Milo.” She squeezes my hand.

“Not even Wes?”

“My best day with him was not even close to how good my worst day is with you,” she says.

“Dammit, woman. I need to kiss you.” I speed through the streets and she laughs.

When we pull up to my building, she whistles under her breath. “I’ve always wanted to see the inside of this building.”

I grin as I park and lead her to the elevator, my hand resting low on her back. “Perfect. Your wish is my command.”

“You sure are a lot more accommodating than you were in the beginning.” She smirks at me and then her eyes widen when we step out on the penthouse level.

“It was hard to be accommodating when you were busting my balls every chance you got.” I lean around her to unlock my door.

She giggles. “I don’t plan to stop, so…” She lifts her shoulder and glances back at me, grinning.

I groan and have to adjust myself when she turns to stare at my place. She shuffles in slowly and I close the door behind us.

“Milo, this is insane.”

I chuckle and toss my keys on the side table.

She lets out a breathy, “Wow.”

I watch her wander through the room, trailing her hand over the back of my couch and walking to the windows. Two walls are entirely floor-to-ceiling windows, but the view has never been so spectacular. She stands there looking out at the skyline.

“These windows. This view,” she says, turning around to face me. “Milo, this is gorgeous.”

“We need all the light we can get in the winter, right?”

“So true. I’m impressed. I love the choices you’ve made. This lamp. That rug.” She points to them as we walk to the kitchen. “Beautiful.”

“Thank you.” I can’t hide how pleased I am. “That means a lot coming from you.”

She grins. “Again. Not what I would’ve expected to hear from you the night we met.”

“Ditto. You called my work a travesty, so I think we’ve come a long way.”

She puts her face in her hands and shakes her head. “Me and my mouth.”

“I’m crazy about that mouth.”

She presses her lips together, her cheeks flaming. I love it when they do that. She glances away shyly and I stalk toward her just as she squeals.

“Is that chocolate-covered strawberries on your counter? Milo! Who even are you?”

“I had Jenny leave them for us. She cleans the place and leaves meals for me when I’m in town.”

I put my hands on her waist and she wraps her arms around my neck, playing with my hair.

“That’s so billionaire of you.”

I groan. “Not something I love to be called these days, but I guess it’s fitting. I remembered you saying you had a thing for strawberries…especially the ones covered in chocolate.”

“I can’t believe you remember that.” She leans up and kisses my cheek.

“That’s really sweet, Mildie. And also, I know you’re trying to distract me right now.

” Her eyes are bright with that mischievous gleam that makes me nervous yet on my toes.

“I read that you have donated millions to charities…is that true?”

I shift, uncomfortable with this topic. “Also, not something I love being broadcast. A journalist got to one of my former accountants, who quit because she didn’t want to return after maternity leave. She was chatty and said more than she should’ve.”

She grins, and because I’m so tall and don’t want her neck to hurt looking up at me, I lift her onto my countertop. I also happen to really like her on countertops.

“Back to the chocolate-covered strawberries, Golo,” I say, kissing her neck.

Her breath catches and her head falls back, giving me full access.

“I’m not able to eat them sexily,” she says, her voice breathy.

I laugh against her skin. This woman cracks me up.

“Everything you do is sexy.” I kiss my way up to her mouth and pick up one of the strawberries next to her. “And now I have to see.”

“You’ve been warned,” she says, when I lift it to her mouth.

She takes a bite and half of the chocolate falls and strawberry juice runs down her chin. We both laugh. I lean in and catch the juice with my tongue and trail up to her mouth.

“Still sexy,” I say against her lips.

I lean back and give her the rest of the strawberry, grinning as I hold my hand under her chin this time.

Her eyes are playful as she takes the last bite.

She’s so damn cute and sexy and beautiful and funny, I live in a constant state of stomach flips and desire.

It’s insanity. I’m losing my fucking mind. And I’m hard ninety percent of the day.

I lift my thumb before the juice can drip this time and she wraps her mouth around my finger, sucking it clean.

I groan.

The next moment, my mouth is on hers. I scoot her toward the edge of the counter and she whimpers when she feels how hard I am.

Months of tension, of skirting around this, come crashing down, and it’s like we both combust. My hands slide into her hair, hers pull at my shirt, and our tongues tangle like they’re made for each other.

I come up for air because I need to slow down, savor this, and I also want to check in.

“Do you want this?” I ask.

“More than anything,” she says, tugging my mouth back to hers.

“God, I want you,” I say, against her lips.

“You’ve got me.” She sounds breathless.

I groan again and she smiles. I lift her off the counter and her legs wrap around my waist. I carry her upstairs, and between the kitchen and the bedroom, a few clothes are left behind.

She unbuttons my shirt and tosses it aside and I lift hers over her head.

I set her in front of my bed and she starts undoing my pants as I lower the zipper on the back of her skirt.

She tugs her skirt off and I look down for a moment to step out of my pants.

When I look up again, she’s standing in this blue one-piece lacy thing that is God’s gift to mankind.

“Fuck. Me. You’re a masterpiece.”

“Thank you,” she says softly.

“Turn around.”

She does and I curse again. There’s lace at the top and then barely any over her ass, which is framed perfectly. I take my briefs off and my dick has never been happier. I stare at her and groan.

“Another work of art. I don’t know which I love more,” I tell her.