Page 33 of Take This Heart (Windy Harbor #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

GOOOOD MORNING

MILO

After cake, which is one of the best I’ve had, we go through a long Minnesota goodbye.

I didn’t think anyone could linger at the door longer than my parents, but the Whitmans are right up there.

Goldie follows me out, apologizing for her family’s total disregard of boundaries and then gives me a kiss that nearly brings me to my knees.

I feel intoxicated as I stumble away with my dick completely pissed at me for leaving her.

I’m at my place just long enough to set my bag down before I call Goldie.

She picks up after the second ring. “Hello?”

“Want to come over?”

She laughs. “Miss me already?”

“Yes.”

“I miss you too.”

“Perfect, then come over. I’ll watch for you and walk you up…or I could come back to pick you up if you don’t want to leave your car parked outside the cafe.”

“You’re serious.”

“Absolutely.”

She laughs again. God, I love her laugh. She gives it her all, the way she does everything, and in person, it’s like the sun coming out on a cloudy day—everything around her brightens.

“I want to, but I should probably stay here to help Dad in the morning. As crazy as he is about the grandmas, I think he needs a buffer after the weekend. He’s a little edgier than usual right now.”

“Okay, I understand.” I’m smiling like a smitten fool as I add, “I could also take you back before everyone wakes up in the morning.”

“How about Friday night?”

I try not to sag with disappointment. Smitten fool. “Friday night it is…unless I can talk you into sooner between now and then.”

She giggles.

“Give it your best shot,” she says in a flirty voice.

“Prepare to be wowed.”

“Your work is cut out for you. ‘Would you like to come over,’” she says in my deep voice, which makes me laugh, “while sweet, is not wow-worthy.”

“Goldie, two nights with you were not enough. Falling asleep and waking up next to you was something I didn’t even know I could miss, but now that I’ve experienced it, I don’t want to miss another day.”

It’s quiet for a beat.

“Wow,” she says softly. “That was really good.”

“It’s true.”

“We hardly slept though...so…I don’t see how it could really be true.”

My laugh is husky and I move to my bed, leaning back against the headboard. I love the way this woman doesn’t let me get away with shit.

“Okay, Marigold, my literal dove. True confession. Both nights you fell asleep before me and both mornings you woke up after me, and you know what?”

“What?” she whispers.

“I loved every second.”

I hear her quick intake of breath and smile.

“Good night, Golo. Sweet dreams,” I say, and hang up.

I work on sketches until I can’t see straight, a surprise I’ve been thinking about for Goldie taking shape.

The next morning, I’m sitting by the cafe window when I see her pull up.

She gets out of her car, the wind twisting her hair around her face.

The sunlight makes her hair look as if it’s spun from gold.

I sit up straighter, my body on full alert.

She’s wearing a short summer dress today instead of her usual work attire of a tank top or sweatshirt with jeans.

She looks beautiful in everything she wears, and especially with nothing at all, but today…

fuck me. The wind picks up and her dress whips around, giving me a glimpse of her thighs as she tries to hold it down. I adjust in my seat.

She walks in and goes straight to the counter, picking up the iced coffee and scone that’s waiting for her. Juju is speaking to a customer and stops in mid-sentence when she sees Goldie. A smile grows until she’s beaming and she points at Goldie.

Goldie holds up a hand. “Don’t say it.” She laughs.

“I can tell you had a good weekend is all I was going to say,” Juju says, as Goldie is going “Bup-bup-bup” over her, trying to silence her.

I laugh, enjoying the show from my seat.

Goldie turns and pauses when she sees me, but then she moves forward and comes to a stop at the table.

“You caught all of that, didn’t you, you smug little thing.” She crosses her arms and I lean back in my seat, taking her in.

“Oh, Goldie, you know nothing about me is small.”

She hears the women at the table next to us snickering, and her head whips around.

“Because you’re so tall,” she says loudly, her face flaming. “So, so tall. Morning, Beverly.” Her head dips. “Carol.”

“Morning, Goldie,” Beverly says, winking at me.

Carol waves at both of us, still laughing behind her other hand.

Goldie pulls out the chair across from me and sits, hissing, “And doing it all from my table, I might add, Milo Lombardi!”

I lean in until we’re only a couple of inches apart. “There’s a kissing tax to sit at this table.”

Her eyes drop to my mouth. “You think you’re getting a kiss after what you just pulled?”

“Yes, I insist.”

We stare at each other for a long moment and she starts drifting closer, when a voice behind her says, “Just the person I wanted to see.”

Goldie and I look up to see Ava standing there.

Goldie freezes and she and Ava stare at each other.

“Ava, did you want to see me about something?” I ask.

She looks at me, a tiny frown forming. “No, not you…her.” She tilts her head toward Goldie.

She takes a step forward and leans closer to me.

“Although I have to say, it’s disappointing to see you looking so cozy with a Whitman.

” She smiles. “I’ll try not to hold it against you though, cuz. There’s time to change your mind.”

I’m so taken aback, I just stare at her in shock. As I’m about to set her straight, she turns her attention to Goldie. She places a flyer in front of her and points at it. I try to see it, but Goldie picks it up before I can.

“What is this?” Goldie asks.

“I’m giving you a warning. This is what we’ll be bringing to the town meeting next week. There’s time to stop your plans before it gets ugly.”

“Save the Otters?” Goldie reads. “And what exactly do you mean, you’re bringing this to the town meeting? We love the otters. We see them every time we’re in town for the winter. In fact, one comes back to visit every year…Orion.”

“Which is precisely why you must be stopped,” Ava says.

“We’re not damaging the otters’ home. The renovations and buildouts will be where they are now, and we intend to maintain the integrity of the waterfront,” Goldie says.

“We’ll see what everyone thinks at the meeting.” Ava shrugs.

I can’t stand it, I have to speak up. “Ava, what is this about? I assure you, we’ve already taken all of this into consideration. Are you really so caught up in Bruce’s fight that you’re going to follow suit without even getting to know Goldie and her family?”

“I know enough about Goldie and her family,” she says, her eyes flashing.

“I don’t see how,” I argue. “You’ve done nothing but try to stir up trouble for them since you got here.”

Her jaw is clenched as she shifts on her feet.

“Seems like your mind’s made up,” Goldie says quietly. “I guess we’ll see you at the meeting.”

Ava nods and turns to leave. Before she reaches the door, she looks back at me and says, “Dad will be back in Windy Harbor for the weekend. He said he invited you to dinner on Sunday, but you haven’t responded yet.”

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to make it,” I say.

She stares at me for a long moment then nods. “So, this is the way we’re playing this…okay, got it.”

She turns and leaves.

Goldie is visibly shaken after she’s gone, and the whole cafe shoots curious looks our way.

I take Goldie’s hand and thread our fingers together. “I’m really sorry about that.”

“What did she mean about the way you’re playing this?”

“I have no idea.” I frown.

“You haven’t been talking to her?”

“Only when Bruce introduced us.”

She still looks troubled.

“Hey, don’t worry. This town loves you. I might go Sunday just to see if I can change their minds.”

“Don’t bother,” she says. “Unless you want to go…”

“I’d much rather stay buried in you, but if I must, I’ll go and do the Lord’s work.”

Her cheeks turn bright red and she turns to see if Beverly and Carol are still listening to our conversation.

Beverly is in mid-sentence. “…and she said we all sound just like Fargo, which is absolutely ridiculous...”

Goldie gives me a pointed look. “You better be glad that Fargo once again offended a Minnesotan.”

I smirk. “Well, you know we don’t sound like that.”

“I know that’s what we all like to say, but I dare you to tell Grandma Donna that little tidbit with a straight face. She sounds just like Marge.”

“Nonsense.” I laugh and lean in. “Back to what’s important…I’d love to know what you’d have done as punishment if they had been listening.”

She leans even closer. “Wouldn’t you like to know…”

“I have a better idea. Why don’t we go upstairs and you can show me?”

She picks up her phone and tries to pretend my words don’t affect her. She sounds breathless when she says, “Unfortunately, I have to get back to the house. I’m meeting with Noah.”

“Interesting. I’m meeting with Noah too…in forty-five minutes.”

She bites her bottom lip and my eyes are drawn to it.

“Are you teasing me, Golo?”

“What do you think?”

I get as close as I can to her ear, my voice low and raspy. “I think you’re asking to be fucked this morning, Goldie Whitman. Is your love language: try to get under Milo Lombardi’s skin?”

She lifts a shoulder. “Do you often speak of yourself in third person?”

I rub my hand over my face and let out a long exhale. “My door is unlocked. Go upstairs and get naked. I need to force my dick to cooperate long enough for me to walk out of here without giving the good folks of Windy Harbor a show.”

“Aw, come on.” She pouts. “They need some entertainment around here.”

“You’re not helping,” I growl.

She grins and it’s the she devil out in full form. Definitely not helping my situation.

She stands and puts her hand on my shoulder, bending down to whisper in my ear, “Distract them.”

While she walks to the door that leads upstairs, I call out, “Juju, did I hear you made a new drink this morning?”

Everyone turns and looks at her and she nods.

“Put it on my tab, please, Juju. Round’s on me for the whole house.”

A cheer goes up and Goldie slips upstairs. After I get pounded on the back a few times by the customers, I slip out the door myself.

When I open my door, Goldie’s standing by my couch.

I shake my head. “Goldie, Goldie, Goldie,” I tsk. “What am I gonna do with you? You didn’t do as I asked.” I look her over and move toward her. I put my hand on her neck, my thumb tracing over her lip. “This is not naked at all,” I say in her ear.

She turns and bends over the back of the couch and her dress lifts just enough for me to get a peek of her cheeks.

I hum my approval and slide my hands up her dress, finding her completely bare.

She looks at me over her shoulder and gives me a sassy look.

I smack her backside and she grins. It turns into a moan when my fingers wander between her legs, finding her slit ready for me.

“Mmm. So wet.” I work my fingers in and out of her, doing a swipe over her clit with each pass. When I press inside her again, deeper this time, she thrusts into my hand.

“You, Milo,” she pants. “I need you.”

I ignore her until she’s close, her walls clamping around me, her whimpers fueling me.

When she’s about to fall over the edge, I slowly slide my fingers out and undo my pants just enough to pull my dick out of my briefs and slam into her.

She lets out a long guttural moan and I’m right there with her. It feels too good.

“I missed you last night,” I tell her, thrusting faster and faster.

My chest bows over her back and my hands are everywhere, one moving over her tits and waist and ass, and the other hyperfocused on her clit.

“I missed you—ah, I’m so close,” she cries. “You feel so good.”

“I’ll let you come if you stay here tonight,” I tell her.

“Fri…day,” she moans.

I withdraw my fingers and she tries to grab my hand.

“Nuh-uh-uh,” I say.

She swivels her hips and I squeeze my eyes shut. This little minx will get her way no matter what.

“Fine,” I mutter, putting my fingers back where they belong. “But I’m not happy about it.”

She looks at me over her shoulder and grins, her eyelids heavy. “You sure feel happy about it.”

“Because you’ve bewitched me with your pussy,” I grumble.

It doesn’t carry any bite because in the next second, we’re both coming harder than ever, gasps and moans and stars and mind-numbing bliss.