Page 159 of Body Check

But they weren’t in Boston. They were still at the resort, on vacation.

Gauzy curtains covered the windows instead of room-darkening drapes. The sky was dark and filled with twinkling stars instead of the glow of city lights.

For a moment, Gavin just looked at Dakota, tracing his gaze across his smooth forehead, down over the bridge of his nose, and then to his full lips.

He looked peaceful. At ease.

And Gavin felt that contentment too.

The sun-drenched days and sultry nights on the island had eased the ever-present tension in his shoulders and unraveled the tightly wound ball of stress in his chest.

Even when work intruded, Gavin did it all with a lighter mood. Feeling more hopeful about his life.

Thiswas the success he’d dreamed of.

Not the ‘looks good on social media but feels like shit to live through’ kind he’d shared with Rory.

But something softer. Something more genuine.

Gavin felt a rush of gratitude for everything that had led to this precise moment. Turning forty, getting divorced … they’d been hard. But so worth it now that he was on the other side.

He didn’t just have material and career success now. He hadhappiness. Love. And he was finding the balance in his life that had been so sorely missing.

He smiled at the thought that it was a yoga instructor who’d helped him find that. Fitting.

Beside him, Dakota shifted in his sleep, a lock of hair tumbling across his face and obscuring his eyes. Gavin reached out, stroking the back of his finger across Dakota’s cheekbone to softly brush the hair away without waking him.

“Love you,” he whispered before he stood and tugged on boxer briefs.

Gavin carried his phone and earbuds out onto the patio, quietly closing the door behind him.

The change from the air-conditioned villa to the steamy island air was startling, the humidity making sweat break out on his skin. But a moment later a breeze came up off the ocean, cooling him.

He took a seat on one of the comfy loungers and connected his earbuds. The earlier call had been from Jed Reilly, GM of the LA Stars, so he re-dialed the number.

“There you are,” Jed answered.

“Yeah. Sorry I hung up on you earlier. My partner was asleep, and I didn’t want to wake him.”

“You’re fine,” Jed said. “Congrats on the new relationship, by the way. Bold move you made stepping down that way, but it’s impressive.”

“Thanks.” Gavin smiled. “It’s going well.”

“How are you feeling about bringing Finn O’Shea on board to fill in your old role?”

“Fantastic,” Gavin said. “It’s nice to know that noteveryfire in the organization needs to be put out by me anymore.”

Jed chuckled. “I hear that.”

“So, why’d you call me at this hour of the night?” Gavin asked. “Do you have something cooking?”

“Yeah. The heat just got turned up on a player,” Jed said grimly. “But not on who you think.”

“Oh?” Gavin crossed his ankles, staring at the glint of moonlight on the small plunge pool a few feet away, illuminating the stretch of white sandy beach and the ocean beyond in muted shades.

A few palm trees swayed in the breeze.

Yesterday, he and Dakota had spent at least an hour in the hammock between them, kissing and quietly talking.

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