Page 42 of Take This Heart (Windy Harbor #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

NEGOTIATIONS

GOLDIE

We get back to Windy Harbor that night and I feel like I can breathe easier already. It’s been an emotional day, an emotional week. We catch up with Dad and my grandmas, eating Grandma Nancy’s Snickerdoodle bars. Before everyone goes to bed, I give my dad the letters.

“Thanks, buttercup. I’m glad you’re back,” he says. He waves the letters. “I’ll reach out to Ava tomorrow.”

“Okay. I’d like to be there when you see her,” I say.

“All right,” he says, squeezing my shoulder. “Night, Milo.”

“Good night.” Milo smiles at him from across the room.

I kiss Dad’s cheek and he pads down the hall. Kevin looks back at me like he’s torn between my dad and me, but then he follows my dad.

I can’t even be disappointed because they’re so cute together.

My phone buzzes with an incoming FaceTime. I glance at the screen and grin.

“Addy,” I say.

“Ignore me. You should take the call. I’m happy to see you smiling like that,” Milo says. “I can head out.”

“No, stay.” I hold onto his hand. “You haven’t met Addy yet and she wants to meet you.”

“Okay,” he says, smirking.

I swipe to accept.

Addy’s face fills the screen, looking gorgeous, as always. “There you are! I thought I might miss you again.”

Her eyes narrow, and she leans in closer to the camera. “Is that…Milo Lombardi?”

He lifts a hand, offering a polite smile. “Hello.”

“Hello.” She beams. “So…you’re Milo.”

“I am.” He puts his arm around my shoulder. “And you must be the infamous best friend who’s married to my favorite running back.”

“Aw, thanks, man,” Penn says in the background.

Addy grins and turns it so Penn’s in view. “His ears are always fine-tuned to praise.”

We laugh.

Addy turns the phone back to herself. “So…Goldie…remember when you grilled Penn like a CIA operative? It’s time for payback.”

I stiffen and pretend to look at a watch that doesn’t exist on my wrist. “Look at the time, chasing our guests away.”

Addy’s eyes are gleaming with excitement. “Nope, we’re just getting started. Okay, Milo. First question. Have you ever made Goldie cry?”

He blinks and stares at me.

I wince. “I did give Penn the third degree when I met him…”

“True story,” Penn yells.

“Uh, I’ve never made her cry on purpose,” Milo says.

She squints. “That’s good…I think. Do you believe in soulmates?”

“I probably can’t pass, can I?” He smirks.

“Absolutely not.” She crosses her arms over her chest and I fight back a laugh.

Addy is not a ballbuster, so this is hilarious.

Milo looks amused. “My parents are soulmates. I believe some people fit you so well, there’s no other explanation but that you’re meant to be together.”

Addy glances at me and lifts her eyebrows. She approves of that answer, and so do I.

“How would you describe Goldie in three words?”

Milo doesn’t hesitate. “Inspiring. Brilliant. Beautiful.”

My chest tightens. Addy goes quiet for a beat.

“Well, damn,” she whispers. “Golds, I like this one.”

Milo chuckles and kisses my temple. “I like this one too,” he says.

“Oh, you guys are so cute together,” she says. “Okay, rapid-fire segment. No pauses, just the first thing out of your mouth. Ready?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No,” Addy and I both say.

He laughs.

“They appear so sweet, but they’re ruthless when they want to be,” Penn says, dipping in just long enough to show the side of his face and then he’s back out.

“Oh, I know this one is,” Milo says, giving me a look that sends fire licking down my spine.

I shiver and he smiles, like he knows perfectly well what he’s doing.

“Fire away,” he says.

“What’s your biggest flaw?”

“According to Goldie, I’m infuriating.”

I snort and Addy’s eyes dance between the two of us.

“Favorite childhood memory?”

He pauses slightly. “Drawing buildings on the back of receipts from my mom’s purse.”

“That is adorable,” Addy coos. “Golds!” She gives me wide eyes. “I thought you said the two of you can spar like two hellions.”

“No, no. Don’t let this gooey center side fool you. He can be lippy as all hell,” I say.

Milo laughs. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you about the sass on this one.” He tilts his thumb in my direction.

“Oh, no,” Addy says, cackling. “My girl has the sass for days when she needs to pull it out. Do you remember what Goldie was wearing the first time you realized you were into her?”

“An emerald green dress that is sleeveless on one shoulder and goes up like this on the other.” He drags his hand over my shoulder, smiling over at me.

I’m caught giving him googly eyes.

“That’s what I was wearing the night we met,” I whisper.

“I know. And I loved that you wore it again for me the other night.” His voice is husky.

“It is getting steamy all up in here,” Addy says, fanning her face. “Okay, a serious one. What are your intentions with my girl?”

“That’s easy. To appreciate the way she shines in every situation. To never forget how lucky I am for every minute we have together. And to love her so well, she’ll never doubt how I feel.”

I feel Addy’s eyes on us, but I’m too busy staring at Milo. His lips tilt up, caught in my gaze. He finally glances at Addy.

“So we’re talking love. Okay. Good, very good,” she says softly.

“What else?” he asks.

“How do you feel about kids?”

“Addy!” I gasp.

“Payback,” she sings.

“I do not think my questions were this invasive,” I argue.

Milo chuckles. “I’m pro kids.”

Nice. I file that away.

“And naked cats?” Addy asks.

“Hey!” Penn grumbles.

“What?” Milo gives me a confused look and I shake my head, slicing a hand in front of my neck for him to not say anything else.

“You haven’t been showing him my daily photos, Golds?” Addy frowns.

“Heh heh, he’s always…out when you send them.” I only ever lie to Addy when it’s about her Sphynx cats.

“Just say you like ‘em,” Penn calls.

“Okay…I like them?” Milo says.

Addy clasps her hands together.

“Amazing. Okay, that’s all I’ve got. You answered everything to my satisfaction,” she says. Her eyes widen at me and she mouths, Oh my God!

He chuckles and rubs his hand down his face. “You weren’t messing around.”

“You passed with flying colors, man!” Penn says in the background. “Well done.”

Addy points the phone to him and Penn is petting Jezebel.

“Ahh!” Milo jolts and lets out what is not exactly a yell, but it’s not not a yell either.

“Jezebel, our Sphynx,” Addy says primly.

“Got it,” Milo says weakly.

“I was going to say if you hurt Goldie, I’ll come out there and slash your tires with a crochet needle, but I don’t think it’s even necessary!” Addy says.

We all laugh.

“You thrive very well under pressure,” she adds.

He smirks and the temperature in the room heats. “Thank you.” He looks at me. “What do I get for passing the test?”

I point at his face and look at Addy. “See that right there? That cocky attitude is when I have to bring the sass out and set him straight.”

Milo’s laugh is raspy. “You love every cocky part about me.” He jerks to the side when I poke him and hit a ticklish spot.

He laughs and gets up, leaning back down so he’s in the camera.

“It was really great to meet you, Addy. And you too, Penn. I’ll let you two have some privacy so I can keep staying on the good side of this one right here. ”

He kisses my cheek and his eyes are full of promise when he backs away.

Addy presses her lips together and she fans her face. Wow, she mouths.

My cheeks are on fire.

Out loud, Addy says, “Well, this has been so fun and so enlightening. I will let you two get back to your night. Call me tomorrow and fill me in on the latest going on around there.” She leans in closer and whispers, “And go give that man his reward.”

“Okay, I will,” I say, laughing. “Love you.”

“I love you too. And I think I might love Milo a little bit after this conversation.”

“Hey!” Penn calls.

“Slow your roll. For her. I love him for her,” she says, rolling her eyes.

She blows me a kiss and we hang up.

Milo leans against the doorjamb, arms folded. His posture screams nonchalance, but his eyes tell me he’s ready to pounce.

“Are we in your bed or mine tonight?” He lifts off the doorjamb and stalks toward me, bending down to hover near my mouth.

“We…you…” I squeak. “You want—”

“Remember how I said when we got back, I didn’t want to sleep without you?”

I gawk. “I thought you were just being sweet…” I laugh when he nuzzles my neck and nips at my earlobe.

“I’m rarely sweet, Golo.”

“I think you’re very sweet.” I put my hands on either side of his face. “We don’t actually sleep when we’re in bed together,” I whisper.

“Let’s get an early start.” He looks at his phone. “It’s almost ten.” His smile is wicked when he looks up. “I’ll give you two orgasms in the next twenty minutes and you can be asleep by ten thirty.”

“Let’s stay here then, so we don’t waste any time.”

“Done.”

“And you get a pass to wake me up once in the night.” I lift a shoulder. “You know…if we need more orgasms.”

He tugs me up so I’m standing and lines my body up to his. I gasp when I feel how hard he is, and I’m instantly ready to start our twenty minutes.

“Now I understand what my parents meant when they said a happy couple is one who learns how to negotiate.”

I laugh.

“Just so we’re clear though. You can wake me up as many times as you want,” he says.