Page 57 of The Guest Cottage

Honestly, that voice was enough to make her melt, and she wasn’t a melting type of woman. Or rather, she hadn’t been. Now, with him? Seemed entirely possible.

The “what ifs” were piling up, but seriously, what if she’d never met this remarkable man who’d given her such a wonderful new perspective on pleasure?

She answered honestly. “At this point, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“What do you mean?”

Snuggling in and relishing the way Cort’s arms came around her, she opened her recently guarded heart to him. “The cheating, the hurtful comments. Moving here.” She hesitated, but then decided she might as well explain. “Meeting you.”

Rather than making him withdraw, the statement had him holding her closer. “Glad to hear it.”

Hmm. It wasn’t exactly a reciprocal declaration, but she didn’t mind. Too much. Everything was so new to her, she didn’t mind relishing it alone for a while.

He nuzzled against her neck. “And how do you feel about Pixie?”

“She makes it easy for me to see how fortunate I am. I’m glad to be in Bramble, and in this position—”

“Naked against a man who wants you again?”

Happiness brought out a silly laugh. “Againstyou, Cort, and if that scares you, too bad.”

“I’m a Marine, baby,” he teased. “A gorgeous woman doesn’t scare me.”

Knowing her hair was sleep-tumbled, that she wasn’t wearing a speck of makeup, and she was far from beautiful, she smiled at him, and suddenly found herself on her back with him staring intently down at her.

As if he’d read her mind—something he did often—he asked, “How can you not know how gorgeous you are?” He tunneled his fingers into her messy hair, his chest lowered to hers, giving her all his delicious weight and hardness, and he kissed her in ways that, until last night, she had forgotten were possible. When he shifted to her throat, his hot mouth dampening her skin, he murmured, “Absolutely, incredibly gorgeous.”

With him, she could almost believe it.

It wasn’t until an hour later, utterly satisfied, that they headed down to the dock, each of them carrying a mug of coffee. The sun had already risen, scattering golden diamonds over the glimmering surface of the lake.

They’d both brought their phones with them, just in case Pixie had a problem.

Looking off to her right, Marlow studied the tiny lake house where, hopefully, Pixie was catching up on sleep.

Instead of sitting in the chair, they sat on the end of the dock again. Marlow’s toes dipped into the cold water, and she leaned against Cort’s shoulder. “Life can be so hard, and then so funny, and I think if we’re really paying attention, if we’re absorbing it instead of just drifting through it, we can learn so much. About ourselves, and about other people.”

“Philosophical,” he said. “Great sex does that to me, too.”

She snickered. “See? You lighten my mood so easily, not that I was in a dark mood right now. Actually, I haven’t been since I came here.” Again, she glanced toward the tiny house where Pixie stayed. “I hope Bramble has that same effect on her.”

“I think you will be the one who affects her, but yes, the town helps.”

She sipped her coffee, savoring the warmth of the morning air. “Will it be a problem for you? I mean, I’m here, and now Pixie, too.”

“With Andy.” He smiled. “Babies count on the census.”

“Ouch. So you’re basically harboring three people in a town that doesn’t like newcomers.”

He rested a hand on her thigh. “You’re all visitors, not permanent residents.”

Biting her lip, Marlow refrained from pointing out yet again that she hoped to become permanent. She’d pressured him enough already. The last thing she wanted was for him to suddenly get cold feet and stop seeing her.

She was enjoying him far, far too much for that.

No sooner did she have the thought than another followed. If things did abruptly end with Cort, she’d be okay. She’d already proven to herself that she had the fortitude and resilience to move forward when necessary.

She didn’t want it to happen. She was happy here, and for now at least, Cort made her happy, too. Deliriously happy.Or-gasmicallyhappy, in fact, as she thought about his lovemaking.

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