Page 131 of Fly Back to Me
He presses a kiss to the top of my head, the pads of his fingers absently stroking my locks. “I was thinking the same thing. How about that?” he whispers.
My chest vibrates against him, his adorable demeanor never failing to make me chuckle. The crisp wind whisks through my tresses, my eyes lingering on the flower. “The knot in my stomach loosens more each time we visit.”
“It may never fully uncurl, but I’m going to do my best to make sure you don’t have to carry around the amount of weight you used to.”
“I’ll never understand how I got so lucky. But I’m never letting you go.”
“Believe me, I know. You’re a tough one to shoo away, Liv,” he teases.
I grin widely, raising my head to meet his eyes. “You loved every second of it.” My head shakes. “Don’t try to deny it now.”
He flashes a crooked smile, his brow climbing under his Suddora bandana. “Speaking of seduction and romance, you never signed my copy of your first novel,” he says, tapping his fingers to my thigh.
My mouth hangs open in elation, my legs lifting so he can stand up and visit the compartment box behind me. My palms cup at my chest, happiness soaring from my stomach to my throat as he showcases my self-published paperback in front of me.
They Met Twice.
“Now, I know we just received the copies yesterday, butI want the first official signature from a soon-to-be famous author.”
I wiggle my fingers in front of me. “Gimme, gimme, gimme,” I chant before he places the book in my palms. “Ah, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.” My digits trace the matte cover decorated with white feathers blowing amongst a twinkling midnight sky.
Cade smirks as he plucks a pen from his jacket pocket. “Ms. Sawyer, I’m a huge fan.”
I smile, looking up at Cade to take the pen from him. But when I open the book to the inside flap, the first page is blocked by a white envelope. Furrowing my brows, I lift my head as I ask, “What is this?”
“I was once told that if someone put in the effort to make a big gesture, they probably don’t want the contents of the gift spoiled before it’s even opened.”
I tilt my head in question. “Who told you that?”
“Officer Bellmont. When he came to my door to deliver your message,” Cade says.
I bite my lip, and he gestures that I should just open the gift already. When I look back down, I pick up the envelope and rip the flap open to the two pieces of paper inside. Turns out, the two pieces of paper are two airline tickets.
To Sydney.
“What?!” I gasp, and then I shoot my gaze up to Cade. “Holy shit! We’re going to Australia?!”
“In January. Consider this an early birthday gift.” He grins.
“Ahhhh!” I yelp as I place the book and tickets on the seat, wasting no time jumping into Cade’s arms and pecking him with a hundred kisses.
When we pull away, my hands slide from the back of his neck to the sides of his face, and I’m wearing the largest smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to have spilled coffee on astranger.”
Cade
A laugh rumbles from my lungs as I hold Olivia in my arms. “Oh, yeah? How about the part where you called me an asshole?”
Olivia’s silent for a few seconds as she considers her response. “I may have been a little off in my judgment,” she whispers cheekily, but her eyes tell me everything she feels in her heart.
I frame her cheek in my palm. “I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you more than you’ll ever know, Cade Owens.” Then she presses her forehead to mine. “And I want you to take us home to our lake house so I can make love to you over and over and over again,” she purrs against my mouth.
“Yes, ma’am,” I growl as I seize her lips.
We kiss for a few moments, not giving a single shit if an audience starts circling around us. Because we’re replacing another piece of that horrific memory that stems from this very location. But if I’m being honest, sometimes I think there is a sliver of that memory I want to hold close to my heart.
Not the part where Olivia was in trouble and cornered behind the dumpster.
