Page 74 of Summer Love

I'd never felt like that during sex, like there was something missing in my past relationships. A connection I never had with anyone before Elena.

I sat on the bench seat and pulled her into my lap. It felt good to hold her like this, like she was something precious I never wanted to let go of.

"It's the perfect evening," Elena said. The water bobbed around us, and we could hear the waves in the distance. "Sometimes I wonder how this is my life. It's like being on a permanent vacation."

I played with the strands of her hair. "I never thought about it like that."

"The beach is within sight or hearing distance. And if not, you can always smell the salt in the air. The storms are so much more intense here, and you can watch the lightening zigzag through the sky, reflecting across the water. It's breathtaking."

"You're the one that's breathtaking. Much more fascinating than any ocean."

She dropped her gaze to me, playing with the hair at the base of my neck. "You say the sweetest things."

"Mmm. I think it's you that brings it out in me."

She laughed lightly. "I like that answer."

"Nothing with you is an act. This is all me." I almost didn't recognize myself, because I'd never been like this with anyone. I was more carefree and easygoing.

"Well, I like this side of you, Hudson Kingston."

"I like my name on your lips." I kissed her then, wondering how long I could keep her here. How long would she stay invested in me. I wasn't dumb enough to think it could last forever. But I hoped it would.

ChapterSeventeen

ELENA

We spent Sunday working on Grams's porch to make up for taking off on Saturday. She spoiled us with cookies and lemonade and hung around at times to remark on our progress. It felt good to tear the old one down and then rebuild it. It was a renewal of sorts for Grams. A new beginning.

I liked knowing that I'd done something to help Grams.

We spent the day ripping up the floorboards, and his brothers showed up in the afternoon. That's when our progress improved. I finally stepped back and let them do their job. They were efficient. They must have worked together often because they each had their role to play, and they worked seamlessly together.

Satisfied that they were fine without my assistance, I went inside to find Grams sitting in her chair watching the guys. "They work fast."

I sat on the edge of the couch. "They sure do."

"Hudson seems so serious, and his brothers are more easygoing."

I nodded. "He's like that with others. I think he's relaxed with me."

Grams gave me a knowing look. "You like each other."

"I wouldn't be involved with someone I didn't like and respect. But he's also different from the men in Boston. Everyone I dated there was in the corporate world. They'd look down on Hudson and his brothers for working with their hands, but they are running a successful business."

Grams chuckled. "You don't have to convince me."

I sighed, curling my legs underneath me. "Are we moving too fast? Should we slow down and take our time?"

"There's no right or wrong answer to your questions. You have to do what feels right."

I watched Hudson pull out one of the boards, Dalton easily throwing it into the pile, and then Brady stacked them and carried them around to the front. "How can I trust my intuition?"

"That's the million-dollar question. You have to slow down enough to hear it through the noise. Then you have to trust yourself."

"That's hard." There was my job to consider, Grams, and even my parents. They thought there were more opportunities off the island, and they were right about that. But if I was lucky enough to secure an island job, I could stay. I wanted that more than anything.

"What do you want?" Grams asked.

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