Page 105 of All We Need

She doesn’t fight her smile or me. “You’renot too bad yourself,Dimples.”

I spoke prematurely.

EitherAlyisn’t putting her mind to it, or she really is terrible.

I’m not complaining, becauseI’vehad her lithe body pressed against mine for the last hour.Herfrustrated little huffs and grunts are adorable.

More importantly, she’s switched off.

“One last try on your own,”Isay encouragingly.

Her knees are bent, ass nestled into my lap as she grips my wrists hovering at her sides.

“Okay.”Shepuffs out her chest, hands shaking. “Buttell me when you’re going to push me.”

“You got it.Onmy count.Five, four, three—Go!”

“Booth!” she screeches asInudge her forward and she glides away, arms flailing in the air.

Cupping my hands around my mouth,Iinstruct her. “Keepyour knees bent!Eyesup!Stoplooking down!Nowturn!”

“You didn’t teach me how to turn!”

“It’s easy.Allin your hips.”She’sreally picking up speed.Herhair whips behind her as she races toward a huge bank of snow. “Aly, turn!Now!”

“You are the worst instructor!Ihat—”Hertirade is cut off when she body slams into a drift, a plume of snow dancing up into the air.

“Shit.Shit.Shit.”Iglide across the ice, pumping my armsand legs before skidding to a stop. “Thatwas impressive.Tenout of ten.”

Two menacing eyes, with lashes weighed down with flecks of white, track my movements.Agloved hand shoots up.Ishould have seen it coming.Themoment our fingers make contact, she’s hauling me down.Inot so gracefully land on top of her, and thenI’mthe one screeching.

A sharp bite zaps down my spine when a handful of snow is dumped down my clothes. “Fuck, you little witch!Iwas helping you.”

“You sabotaged me!Noweat snow too.”AndIliterally do when she shoves a handful in my face.

We roll around, wrestling each other in the snow until we’re wheezing with laughter, faces flushed, clothing soaked through.Frostbitten and shivering, we eventually stop and catch our breaths.

Birds chirp around us as we settle on our backs, staring up at the sky.

“Thank you,” she murmurs softly.

I glance at her side profile. “Forwhat?”

“For being you.Shamelessly, without any walls or falseness.Youdon’t treat me like something about to crack under the pressure.Ineeded this.”Shemeets my gaze. “I’llnever forget this or my time inSuttonBay.”

My heart jackhammers in my chest. “Iwon’t forget this either.”Iwon’t forget you.“Now, let’s get back and warm up.There’sa bathtub waiting with our names on it.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

alessandra

I’m in trouble.

My time here was supposed to be fleeting.Inand out.I’dtry to connect with my blood relatives once, and if they weren’t interested, farewellSuttonBay.Therestaurant wasn’t a mindless investment, but an opportunity to be here.Meaning, the relationshipsIbuilt with the employees would be surface level.That’snot to sayI’dneglect my responsibilities as the owner, but since being here, it’s clear they don’t need me.

If all fails withMartinand my birth father, at leastIwas able to save a family-owned business.

WatchingBooth’smuscular, naked body climb into the steaming bathtub is also a win.Oursituationship definitely isn’t surface level.Themost unnerving part?I’mnot drowning below the surface.Ifloat effortlessly with him.

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