Page 63 of Whispers at Seaside
They made love for hours, fast and frantic, then slow and passionate. Mira lay in Matt’s arms long after they were done, reveling in the feel of his legs twined with hers, his heart beating against her cheek, and his fingers trailing through her hair.
“Feel that, baby?” he whispered. “That’s the moon and the stars and the sun all coming together. That’sus. How did we miss out on love like this for so long? Why couldn’t I have found you ten years ago?” Before she could respond, he said, “No, not ten years ago.Sixyears ago.”
His words cut straight to her heart. He didn’t want to change Hagen’s lineage, he just wished he’d have been there for her during that difficult time. When he gathered her in his arms, she whispered, “The moon and the sun and the stars were waiting for all the pieces of our lives to align. They trusted us to know when that time came.”
Sometime later she realized she needed to return to her own bedroom in case Hagen woke up, but she loved being in his arms too much to move. Matt kissed the top of her head.
She tipped her face up, taking in his sated gaze. “I have to go back to my own bed.”
He kissed her again and rose to his feet, bringing her up beside him, and lovingly helped her put on her nightie and kimono. “I’ll walk you to your door.”
“Mm. Sexyanda gentleman. Aren’t I the lucky one?”
“I want to spend every second I can with you.”
He kissed her again, then tucked her beneath his arm. Her favorite place—when she wasvertical.
As they walked through the quiet suite, with the lights of the city shining in through the curtains, she wondered how she’d ever step back into her real life again, where nights were spent at different houses instead of separated by a short walk across the living room.
In her bedroom, Matt pulled the covers up around Hagen, and she realized she was no longer a do-it-yourself woman patching holes with concrete. She was part of a team of two and a half, building a foundation out of love.
Chapter Twenty-Six
AFTER A LONG drive home Saturday, Matt dropped Hagen and Mira off at their house and spent the next few hours trying to concentrate on work and feeling like he’d misplaced part of himself. The cottage was too quiet. The hum of energy Mira and Hagen added to his life were markedly absent. Matt had done laundry, gone for a run, hammered out a few pages of writing, andfinally, after giving Mira time to reconnect with her brothers and Serena and get the million things done that she’d talked about on the way home, he picked her and Hagen up for dinner at his father’s house, but those few hours apart had felt like a lifetime.
Matt and Pete carried plates of steaks and burgers across their father’s backyard to Hunter and Grayson, who were manning the grill.
“Hey diddle diddle theMattand the fiddle,Petejumped over the moon,” Sawyer sang from his perch on a lawn chair where he was playing his guitar and making up silly songs for Bea and Hagen, both of whom giggled wildly.
Jana, Parker, and Jenna were standing by the big shade tree, fawning over Jana’s new haircut, which didn’t look much different to Matt, but what did he know. Matt glanced across the yard at Mira, who was checking out the art studio their father had built for Sky when she was younger. She looked beautiful in a light green skirt and white blousy tank top. He swore she got more stunning with each passing day, and knew there was a direct correlation to his growing love for her.
Sky noticed him staring and said something to Mira, who looked over her shoulder with a killer smile that made his IQ drop about a hundred points. He blew Mira a kiss as he handed the plate to Hunter and their father joined them by the grill.
“She’s something, isn’t she?” his father said, draping an arm around Matt’s shoulder.
“Pop, she’severything. I’m giving my resignation and I’m moving back for good. I left a message for my boss earlier in the week.”
Neil’s eyes filled up and he pulled Matt into an embrace, holding him tighter and longer than he had in years. “Thank you, son. Your mother would be so happy that the family will be together again.”
“Hear that, Grayson?” Hunter said. “Matty’s been bitten by the love bug. He’s back for good.”
“Seriously? Life just got ten times better.” Grayson slapped Matt on the back.
“Yeah,” Matt said, his eyes landing on Mira again as she crossed the lawn toward the kids. “Best decision I’ve ever made.”
“Sing about Poppi!” Bea squealed, grabbing everyone’s attention with her high-pitched voice.
Sawyer glanced at Neil and began strumming out another tune. “Poppi be nimble, Poppi be quick. Poppi jump over a candlestick!”
The kids laughed and laughed.
“Maybe you can sing at the wedding,” Jana said, and grabbed Hunter’s hand, dancing around him. Hunter, who wasnota dancer, pulled Jana against him and swayed to the beat of Sawyer’s silly song.
Sawyer sang out another verse. “Pete!Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream.”
“Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,” Sky sang as she came to Sawyer’s side. “Life withSawyeris a dream.”
They took turns making up silly songs, and just as Matt got his arms around Mira, his cell phone rang. He dug it out of his pocket and squeezed Mira’s hand. “My boss. Excuse me, sunshine.”
