Page 48 of Rumors in Bayberry
He could take a hint.He understood her decision.He didn’t like it, but he understood it.Although he couldn’t help feeling that her avoiding her father was a mistake, it appeared there was nothing left he could say to her to change her mind.
“I should go.I still have some work to do before I call it a night.I just wanted to tell you goodbye.”
Her gaze rose from her phone.“As in this will be the last time I see you?”
He nodded.“Since there’s no reason for me to remain in Bayberry, I’m going to bump my flight to tomorrow.”
“Oh.”For a moment, she looked crestfallen.Did that mean she’d miss him like he’d miss her?He didn’t get a chance to ask as she rushed on.“Well, I hope you have a good flight.Thank you for the help with the maze.”
“I’ll, uh…keep an eye out for your work.I always enjoy reading your pieces.”
She smiled brightly.“Be careful or you’ll become a fan.”
He stared deep into her eyes.“I’m already your biggest fan.”
She continued to stare into his eyes, making his heart thump-thump.Her rosy lips parted, as though she were going to say something, but then she wordlessly pressed them together.He wondered what she’d do if he were to lean forward and kiss her goodbye.He just wanted one more kiss.He’d hold on to the memory of it for a long time, because when he left Bayberry, he wasn’t going to forget Sadie Jane Plummer.She was unforgettable.
She took the decision out of his hands.She lifted up on her tiptoes and just as quickly leaned forward before he realized what she was about to do.Her soft, smooth lips pressed to his.
The breath hitched in his lungs.His arms automatically wrapped around her waist, pulling her in close.He breathed in her jasmine scent.He tried to impress upon his mind every single detail of her kiss.He wanted to remember this moment when she was across the world from him and sleep refused to claim him.
Her lips moved over his mouth, deepening the kiss.Her arms wrapped around his neck as her fingertips raked up over the nape of his neck and then through his hair.
He could live in this perfect moment for the rest of eternity.Lip to lip.Heart to heart.This was the only place he wanted to be.
He knew he was never going to meet anyone as special as Sadie.He didn’t want to lose her.He was falling hard and fast for her.
As quickly as she’d kissed him, she pulled back.Her eyes were rounded, as though the intensity of the kiss had caught her off-guard.
“I, uh…” Her cheeks grew rosy.When her gaze met his, her eyes were shiny with unshed tears.“I’ll miss you.”
This was it.This was the moment he’d been dreading.This was goodbye.
A lump formed in the back of his throat.He swallowed hard.He hoped when he spoke, his voice sounded normal.“I’ll miss you too.”
They stood there in an awkward silence, staring into each other’s eyes.Every cell in his body wanted to take her back into his arms and kiss her until the sun came up.Although, he knew no matter how many times he kissed her, they would end up back at this awkward, miserable place.It was time to rip the bandage off—quickly.
Before he lost his nerve, he said, “Safe travels.”
She blinked repeatedly.“The same to you.”
And then on stiff legs, he walked over to the couch and pet Binx’s head.“No more running away.Okay?”
Not letting himself look back at Sadie, he made his way to the stairs.He rushed down them.He didn’t take a full breath until he was outside in the crisp, cool air.Autumn had definitely arrived.
It was time to go call the airlines and move up his flight.In less than twenty-four hours, he’d be back in Chicago.In forty-eight hours, Sadie would be winging her way to Brussels.And this week, what they’d shared, would be nothing but a memory—a very good memory.
Everything within him was telling him this was the biggest mistake of his life.And yet, he kept going.He didn’t have another choice.
Chapter Sixteen
Shemissedhim.
Thursday evening, Sadie was at her parents’ house for dinner.All she could think about was Reed.She missed him so much her heart ached.
She couldn’t help thinking she’d made a huge mistake.Not the kiss.Definitely not the kiss.That had been the one right move she’d made the night before.
The part she’d done wrong was letting Reed go without telling him how she felt about him.The problem was her emotions were all over the map.The one thing she knew for certain was that she was falling for him.Hard and fast.
