Page 27 of Sweet Love at Bayside
“Let’s take a look together tomorrow and see what we can figure out.” He squeezed her hand. “You’re absolutely irresistible when you’re flustered.”
“Well, you’re not getting a very good impression of me with my inebriated state last night, my mother’s misbehaving dog, and the toy shop.” She whisperedtoy shop. “Not to mention how fast we…” She blushed a red streak. “Last night.”
He couldn’t resist sliding one hand to the nape of her neck, drawing her closer, and brushing his lips over hers. “I think you’ve made an excellent impression, especially when you get flustered.”
Her lips parted and a puff of air escaped. “I’ll probably get flustered alottonight.”
He lowered his lips to hers, turning her playful smile into a series of eager kisses. He desperately wanted to deepen the kiss, but he knew she’d be embarrassed. As much as he loved seeing her cheeks pink up, battling with the hunger in her eyes, he forced himself to come up for air.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ll try to behave.”
She touched his hand and said, “Don’t behave too much, or I might have to put you in a time out.”
She was going to be the death of him. Could a man die from sweetness overload?
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I don’t think I’m capable of beingtoobehaved with you. Unless, of course, you have a naughty corner. I’d do just about anything to land there.”
Her eyes bloomed wide. She downed half her wine and whispered, “I don’t have a naughty corner!”
He laughed and gave her a chaste kiss, then forced himself to sit back and put enough space between them to keep him from takingthatany further.For now.
He took a drink to distract himself from her tongue running nervously across her lower lip, and when that didn’t work, he went for conversation. “What do you think would have been different if we’d met under different circumstances?”
“You mean besideseverything?”
“I hope you’re kidding, because I really like who you are,” he said more seriously.
“Thank you. But a lot would be different. I’m floundering a little being here this summer.”
“Because you’re watching your mother’s business and you’re not into the items she carries?”
She sat up a little taller, her expression serious. “That and the whole reason we’re here. My mother is the kind of person who lives her life on a whim, without any regard for who she hurts along the way.”
“And you’ve been hurt by her whimsical lifestyle?”
She nodded, and it made him ache and angry at once. Holding her hand, he put his other arm around her, wishing he could take away whatever pain her mother had caused.
“Violet is my half sister,” she explained. “We have different fathers. She’s two and a half years older than me, and we grew up together until I was five, when our parents—our mother and my father, Violet’s stepfather—divorced. Lizza, our mother, took Violet and moved overseas to teach.”
He ground his teeth together at the thought of Desiree as a trusting little girl having her world ripped out from under her. No wonder Violet was so protective of her. She was trying to keep anyone else from hurting her baby sister.
“They moved from one country to another while Lizza taught on six-month contracts, sometimes shorter or longer, but you get the idea. I lived with my father in Virginia, and saw them once or twice a year for a few days at a time when we were young. Violet and I spent some time together here at the Cape, but by the time we were teenagers, it was just a few disconnected and uncomfortable days each year.” Her gaze lowered to their joined hands. “I’ve never talked about this before, except with Emery.”
“I’m sorry, and thank you for trusting me enough to share it.” In an effort to lighten her mood, he said, “Is this the same Emery who says you date ‘nice’ guys?”
“The one and only. You listened to everything I said last night, didn’t you?”
Imagining all she’d gone through, the truth came easily. “How could anyone be with you and not listen to every word you say? What you’ve gone through is what’s made you the incredible woman you are. I want to hear everything you’re willing to share.”
“It actually feels good to tell you. It’s hard to have all of this in my headandtry to relax. I really like you, and I want to relax.” She looked down at their joined hands and smiled. “Just promise me that if you run for the hills, you’ll drop me off first.”
“Yeah, becausethat’slikely to happen.” He laughed, and her smile reached her eyes. “I’m not going to judge you by your mother’s actions, if that’s what you’re worried about. And I’m not going anywhere without you by my side.”
“You make my heart go a mile a minute.” She took another sip of liquid courage. “I’ve never felt like this before.”
He leaned in closer. “I might use that to my advantage later, but unless you want me to do so now, I’d suggest we move to safer ground, because that look in your eyes makes it seriouslyhardfor me to concentrate.”
He forced himself to put distance between themagain. “Tell me what it was like when you did see them.”
