Page 11 of Whispers at Seaside
As he pulled up to her cottage, he said, “You’re right. Sorry. I haven’t slept in…” He looked at the clock on the dashboard. “Almost two full days.”
“Seriously?”
“I had a lot of packing to do, and then I was lucky enough to spend an amazing night with this really sexy woman.” He parked the car in front of her adorable cottage. Yellow shutters and flower boxes billowing with colorful blooms beneath each window accented weathered-gray cedar siding. The small yard was well kept, with typical Cape Cod sand and grass in the front and pockets of pretty gardens. It was easy to imagine Mira and Hagen strolling through the community to the pool, or hanging out down at the bay. He felt an unfamiliar longing to share in those moments.
Matt came around the car and helped her out. “Nice cottage.”
“Thanks. It has a great view of the water.” She yawned again. “I’m sorry. I’m usually in bed by nine thirty.”
“You should have told me. I would have totally been up for that.”
“Matt,” she whispered.
She nibbled on her lower lip, and it cut straight to his heart. Sometime over the evening he realized that coming home had as much to do with Mira as it did with his family. He didn’t want to rush her or make her feel uncomfortable, but hewantedher, and he wasn’t about to pretend he didn’t.
He slid his hand beneath her hair and massaged her shoulder, loving the moan it incited.
“It’s almost eight. There’s no way you’ll be awake enough to hang out with Hagen. He’ll probably want to talk about his first overnight adventure in exorbitant detail. Why don’t you take a nap and I’ll hang out here and write on the deck, spend time with Hagen, and then after you wake up, we can go get your car.”
She unlocked the front door, and he followed her inside.
“I can’t do that.” She yawned again, her eyes wide with embarrassment.
“You can, and you will.” He took in her cozy wine-colored sofa and colorful accent pillows, which matched the floral curtains. A wooden rocking chair sat beside the window with a paperback on the cushion. The coffee table was home to a laptop and two binders, as well as severalNational Geographicmagazines, a book titledBoat Building 101, and a stack of Boxcar mysteries.Hagen.The kitchen was outfitted with white cabinets with yellow handles, matching her sunny disposition. The whole cottage felt very feminine. VeryMira.
“Matt, you need to sleep as much as I do.” She yawned again, and he couldn’t resist pulling her into his arms.
“Is that an invitation?”
“Not when Hagen’s going to be here soon.”
“Oh, the possibilities you’ve just left open.” Her cheeks flushed, and he added, “Really, sunshine. I usually make do with only a few hours’ sleep. Go take a nap. I’ll go home and crash for the afternoon after we get your car.”
“But I can take a nap while Hagen plays.”
“He’s going to be excited about his night out, and I’d like to see him anyway. I missed him these last few weeks, too.” He was looking forward to hearing about Hagen’s first sleepover. He’d lived with updates via texts for long enough. This was so much better.
“Really?” Mira asked tentatively. “He’ll be over the moon. He adores you, but you’ve already gone above and beyond what a good friend should do. You’ve given me a night I’ll never forget.”
“Then let me give you more.” He cradled her beautiful face in his hands. His entire body flamed with anticipation. “We never got our one kiss, and a kiss good night seems fitting, even if it’s in the morning.”
“Yes,” she whispered breathlessly.
His heart sprinted toward the finish line, but he was in no hurry to take his first taste, a taste he’d remember forever. He brushed his thumb over her lower lip, and her needful sounds made everything sizzle—the air around them, the surface of his skin, anddeeper. He followed the curve of her lips with his tongue as he’d been dying to do all night, and she closed her eyes.That’s it, baby. Give yourself over to me.He kissed the corner of her mouth, then the center of her upper lip, savoring every second as her breathing hitched and her fingers pressed into his sides. The anticipation was killing him, but hehadto take a moment to look at her face, free from all worry, her soft, smooth skin flushed with desire. She was stunning, and when he closed his eyes tonight, this was the picture he’d remember. Mira, surrendering to their passion. She made a whimpering noise in the back of her throat, sending spikes of heat down his spine, and he couldn’t wait another second. He kissed her softly at first, allowing their mouths to adjust, their tongues to find their way to that slow, drugging stride. He wanted this kiss to fill her dreams, to stay with her until she woke, and to tug at her throughout her days. He wanted this kiss to be the beginning of many, many more.
Chapter Five
MIRA BOLTED UPRIGHT in her bed and grabbed her phone.Two o’clock? Shoot!She’d told herself she’d only sleep for an hour. She hurried into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face, listening intently for Hagen and Matt. She looked like she hadn’t slept in a week! She quickly ran a brush through her hair, washed up, put on a little blush so she didn’t scare Matt away, and took care of her bathroom needs. She scrubbed her armpits with a washcloth—a shower would have to wait—and five minutes later, donning a clean sundress and a little perfume, she went in search of her little man.
And my big man.
Her mind careened back to their kiss. She could live forever with the memory of that one perfect kiss.
A breeze swept through the screen door that led to the deck, and she heard Matt’s voice. She peered outside, but didn’t see Matt or Hagen. She crossed the deck and saw them sitting on the dunes side by side—with Serena and Drake. Great. They’d probably already interrogated Matt.
She crossed the warm sand, hoping they hadn’t completely scared him off—or turned him on, considering Serena looked like Rachel McAdams. Mira and Serena had grown up together, and when her brothers needed someone to temporarily manage the resort, Serena, who was between jobs, had been the perfect choice. She could be tough as nails or sweet as pie, depending on what a situation called for, and unlike most women, she didn’t fawn all over Mira’s handsome brothers. She’d gotten that out of her system when they were teenagers.
As Mira approached, Serena turned and mouthed,I love him, making Mira even more nervous.
