Page 24 of Aftershock's Fury

“I remember us coming up here so many times when we were kids,” she says.

“You were a kid. I was a teenager. A teenager who shouldn’t have watched you so closely.”

“You never crossed that line.”

“I know.”

I grab my backpack from the back of the bike and open it. Inside, there’s a small cooler with a couple bottles of water and some sandwiches.

“There isn’t really a good place to eat up here,” I say. “But I thought we could take a little break, stretch, and get your legs back before we head out.”

I watch her as she looks around us, clocking the moment she notices my brothers and the prospects. Some had followed behind, others were in the lead. I wasn’t going to risk her safety again. But I needed this time with her. Tonight, I have something else in mind. After what happened at the brewery, I had to change what I originally had planned.

I pull out two bottles of water and hand her one. She takes a long drink after I open it for her. She walks a small circle around our area, taking it all in. I give her space because I know she needs it. Her father and mother loved bringing her up here. I remember the hikes and berry picking at the end of summer.

When I pull out the sandwiches, she turns to look at me. The moment she realizes the bread is from the bakery, a smile brightens her face. The weight of old memories fades away. I plan to give her new ones—ones for us and the family we will have.

I hand her a sandwich, and she opens it.

“Oh my God! How did you remember?” She takes a big bite and moans. “I haven’t had one of these in so long. I think Daddy made me one for my high school graduation. But once I was incollege, I was so busy I didn’t even think about taking the time to have one.”

The orange marmalade sandwich with butter on fresh bread was her favorite growing up, because she loved Paddington Bear. She used to have a stuffed version of him, but it got left behind when they had to leave. I know she will be surprised when she sees him again.

I move closer to her. “I remember everything about you, Harlowe.”

She looks up at me with tears shining in her eyes. I lean down and kiss her softly again. I want to consume her, but not here, not with all these people around. Her taste of sweet cherries bursts across my senses, mingling with the lingering marmalade, and I groan, wanting more of her.

“Thank you,” she says softly, leaning into me, her hands full of water and food.

“Always, Starlight.” I kiss her forehead and step back. “Want a bite?” I offer her my roast beef sandwich, packed with protein.

Her lips pinch, and her eyes dance as she shakes her head and takes another bite of her own meal. We stand there, chatting quietly, as we finish our small picnic. I take the trash to one of the bear-proof cans and turn back to see her standing by my bike. She’s calm and centered, taking in her surroundings.

“Ready to head out?” I ask her when I approach.

“Yes.”

We get back on the bike, and I signal the guys to break up again. I head back the way we came. At one point, I pull over so we can get a picture by the river. Instead of going through Wasilla, I turn down Seldon and make my way back to my house that way. I love the feel of her behind me, wrapped around me. Her legs cradle my hips, and I can’t stop the thoughts of finally making her mine. I promised to give her hearts and roses, and that’s my intent.

When we pull up to my house, the guys break off, and I click the remote to open the garage. My dad went his own way this evening, leaving me the house to myself with my girl for a while before the next part of our date. I help her off the bike and remove her helmet. She stretches and flexes her back. I can’t stop myself, I pull her into my body and take her lips in a deep kiss. I want to put everything I’m feeling and what I want to do to her into this kiss. When we finally part, she’s breathless and I’m hard as a rock.

“Come on, let me show you around before I change my mind about giving you time.”

Taking her hand in mine, I lead her around the house, showing her everything except the master suite. That will happen soon enough, just not right now.

“Why do you have so many bedrooms?” she asks after I show her the other three.

“Well, one is for Dad until we get his place done out back. Then I plan to fill the rest up with our kids, Starlight.”

She shivers, and I push her against the wall of the hall. “Do you want kids still, beautiful?”

“I do.”

“I can’t wait until you say that statement and it means more than the question you just answered,” I confess to her.

After grilling steak and baked potatoes in the outdoor kitchen on my back deck, I just want to keep her here and cuddle. But I made a couple of promises. I’d give her time, and the guys want a second chance. I glance at her outfit, glad she’s not dressed as sexy as she might like for our next stop, but I want to give her the chance to change anyway.

“I have another place I’d like to take you, but I don’t know if I need to take you home first and allow you to change. What do you think?”

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