Page 81 of The Promise Of Rain

“I’d like that.”

“There’s a chocolatier shop not too far from here.We’ll get a hot chocolate before heading home.”

Our server dropped our bill on the corner of our table and told us she’d be back in a few minutes.

I tugged my wallet out of my pocket and flipped it open to get my card.

“What’s that?”Jenny asked tightly.

I glanced down to see the picture I’d carried for the better part of a decade.

Saying nothing, I passed over my wallet, the same one she bought me so many Christmases ago.

She looked at the picture of herself, one she’d probably never seen, and I wondered if she remembered the day I took it.

“Do you remember?”I asked, my voice gruff.

She nodded slowly, her finger touching the bottom of the picture.“This was the happiest day of my life.”

Her words hit me like a sledgehammer.

We’d been at the beach all day with her friends.She wore a black, one-piece swimsuit that covered every inch of skin from an inch below her collarbone to the tops of her thighs.And she was still the sexiest woman on the beach.

We went home and showered off the sand, then I made love to her in our bed.After, we sat on our tiny back patio.She had her feet tucked in my lap and a soft, satisfied smile on her face.I snapped the picture without thinking, never knowing it would become my greatest treasure, a touchstone to make it through the toughest of days.

It was a nothing special day, one of many we spent exactly so.

But it was perfect.

Throat tight, I replied roughly, “I was happy, too.”

Her face flushed, a red tide of fear and doubt rising to turn her away from me.

“We’re going to have so many happy days, baby.The best is coming.This,” I tapped the picture, “isn’t it.I promise.”

16

Closer

Jenny

After Ayana’s, he laced my fingers through his and tucked them in his pocket.We walked up and down the main street until I couldn’t feel my toes.When we found the chocolatier shop, we snagged a corner table and indulged in the best hot chocolate I ever tasted in my life.

I didn’t want to leave.

Until Deacon took my hand.

Cuffing my wrist, his thumb traced the veins in my wrist and stroked my palm, the sensation making me squeeze my thighs together.Making me hungrier for him.

When we finished, he helped me on with my coat, dragging it up my arms before smoothing it over my shoulders.

I leaned into him, pressing my back to his chest as he dipped his head and pressed a firm kiss to the shell of my ear.

I shuddered, my body demanding more as his hand found the small of my back.He took my hand.Pressed his lips to my temple.Tucked me under his arm.

Every touch stoked the fire higher.

Outside, the cold cleared the fog of desire.I needed to think.To plan.To figure out the best way to move forward.