Page 83 of Trusting the Fall

“Is this the car you’ve always driven to my house?”

Leif pulls his eyes away from the tap on the side of the house where he’s rinsing his paddle and tray, staring at his truck.

“No. I only bought the work truck last night because the hole in the wall had been bugging me.”

“Man. We really could have saved ourselves some trouble if we exchanged a few more details up front.”

The look he pins on me as he drops the now clean tools on the ground has me heating all over.

“I seem to recall, Bombshell,” he says as he stalks toward me like a predator, “asking for your name every damn time I saw you.”

I drop onto one hip, tapping a finger against my lips. “Hmm, I don’t think I recall that.”

With a growl, he scoops me up into a bear hug, peppering kisses along my neck. He puts me down long enough to turn and then hoists me onto his back. I adjust my grip across his neck as he takes the footpath beside the house, leading to the beach.

“So, tell me. What are these extra steps we need to take before we talk rings?”

I throw my head back with a laugh. “Oh my god, you’re crazy.” I kiss his cheek.

It seems now that I’ve let myself be affectionate with him, I can’t stop. “For starters, we’d need to live with each other for a bit. Make sure we don’t drive each other up the wall in close, constant quarters.”

“I have no doubt you’ll drive me up the wall. But it’ll probably end with me pushing you up against it, so I don’t mind too much.”

“Hmmm, an entire house to play around in? That sounds awfully appealing.”

“Whenever you’re ready, baby.”

I sigh contentedly, "We have so much to learn about each other.”

“We do. But there’s no one else I wanna spend time learning with.”

“Me too.”

“What’s your biggest pet peeve?” he asks. It’s the game he started the first night we met. Encouraging me to open up, to be vulnerable and honest.

“Drivers who don’t indicate. You don’t even have to take your hand off the wheel to reach the flicker.”

Leif chuckles and I press my cheek against his. It’s warm as the sun shines down on us. The ocean comes into view as we reach the end of the footpath. Huge waves crash against the shore and the sand is crowded with people enjoying the first of the summer heat.

I point my arm to the left so Leif can take the footpath that leads down to the cafe strip.

“If we were to go on a spontaneous adventure right now, where would you take us?” I ask.

“Sweden,” he answers without thinking.

“You want me to meet your hot Viking uncle?”

“You want to rethink that statement, baby, or I’ll have you on your knees making it up to me. You know I’m the only Viking you need.”

I press a lingering kiss to his neck then whisper in his ear, “Prove it.”

He quickly turns on his heel, marching back to the house. “Fuck the coffee.”

I’m holding on tighter and laughing as he practically runs back to the house. Every moment with Leif makes me fall harder. It feels too good to be true to be gifted with a man that feels made for me.

But I won’t let the fear hold me back anymore. I’ll welcome the hurt for a chance at the comfort. I’ll welcome the doubt for a chance at the certainty. And I’ll welcome the trust that comes with the fall.

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