Page 76 of Nights at Seaside
Sawyer leaned in and kissed Sky. “Morning, beautiful.”
“Good morning. I was just going to make breakfast. Are you hungry?” Sky was mentally ticking off her day to see how else she could help his parents. She had to work, and with the grand opening coming up, she didn’t have much time off, but shewasoff work today, so maybe she could help now and then help out later as she was able.
Sawyer drew her into his arms and held her close as his mother went to shower. “Hungry for you,” he said. “I’m sorry about our date, Sky.”
“Would you stop? It’s fine. I was actually thinking that you could go return the boat to Pete and I’d stay here and help your mom for a few hours.”
“You want to stay and help?” His eyes narrowed.
“Yes. Your mom needs the help, and she can probably use the company. We were just going to make googly eyes at each other all day, so why not? Besides, she has phone calls to make, and I can get to know your dad a little better.”
“Sky, are you sure?”
She touched his cheek, and he leaned in to her palm. Oh, how, she loved this man. “More than sure. I would offer to return the boat so you could spend time with your parents, but I have no idea how to sail it back to Wellfleet.”
He kissed her again. “What did I do to deserve you?”
“Everything.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
IT HAD BEEN three days since Sawyer’s father’s fall, three days since Sky had met his parents, and three days since he’d had a good night’s sleep. His parents’ neighbors had rallied around them, and that helped tremendously. Despite his mother’s arguments, Sawyer hired a part-time nurse to help during the day, and she was working out well. That put his mind mildly at ease, but all of it—his father’s fall, the devastation of reality knocking on their door—increased the pressure for him to win the title fight.
Today Sky and all of her friends were coming to watch him spar the heavyweight Roach had lined up.
Sky.Sweet, beautiful Sky, full of dusky pleasures, confidence, and tenderness. The woman who had stayed with his parents without having been asked. The woman who had just told him that she’d researched his father’s disease after knowing him only a few days, so she could help him and his family. The woman he was going to ask to marry him after he won his last fight. Now wasn’t the time, with the fight and his father’s fate hanging over his head, but soon…She’d become his whole world, and his parents had both told him how much they adored her. Not that he needed their blessing, but he was still glad to have it.
He watched her put her favorite C. J. Moon poetry book into her patchwork bag and slip her delicate feet into her sandals as she got ready to go to the tattoo shop for a while before his sparring match. Blue had finished the shelves in the back of the shop, and she wanted to check them out and put a few finishing touches on her work area where Blue had created cubbies for her supplies. But he knew Sky well enough to understand that she needed to keep her mind busy rather than sticking around the cottage and thinking about what he was doing later that afternoon. She’d done a 180-degree turn, supporting his career the way she was, and he truly appreciated and loved her even more for it. But he knew it wasn’t easy for her.
Her flowing white skirt swept over her feet as she crossed the living room, straightening the basket containing pieces of his poems as she passed. She wore a light pink tank top that hugged her curves, and as she usually did, an armful of bangles and gold swoopy earrings that sparkled in the light against her chestnut hair. She looked gorgeous. He reached for her and pulled her down onto his lap.
“It’s weird seeing you leave before me.” He nuzzled against her neck. “You smell good enough to eat.”
She leaned back, giving him better access to her neck. “I think you had enough of me this morning.”
“I’ll never get enough of you,” he said honestly.
“You better win your sparring match today, or you won’t get any more yummy Sky tonight.”
He laughed. “Oh, I won’t, will I?” He dragged his tongue along her collarbone, knowing just how much she loved it and earning himself a lustful moan.
“All my friends are going to be there today, and I want them to see my Herculean boyfriend.” Her eyes danced with the tease.
“At least you didn’t say yourcuteboyfriend.”
She kissed his chest and then pressed her lips to his as she wiggled her butt. “Cute went out the window a long time ago, Mr. Big, Strong, Alpha, Sexy Boxer Boy.”
He growled and swept her onto her back, holding her hands above her head as she giggled and squirmed beneath him. He nipped at her lower lip, then rubbed his scruff along her cheek, earning himself another sexy moan.
“You know I love that,” she said in a heady voice.
“I want you to think about me all day, so by the time we come back together tonight, you can barely wait.”
“Oh my, you are demanding.” She leaned up to kiss him, and he pulled away so she couldn’t reach him. “Tease!”
“Self-preservation. I’m already in a bad state. Any more and you’re not going to work.”
“Promises, promises.” She leaned up and kissed him long and slow.
