Page 20 of One Summer Weekend
She looked down at him, her dark hair falling like a curtain, and arched her eyebrow. “No wall of pillows between us tonight?”
“Nope. I’m not afraid of your girl cooties anymore.” When she pulled his T-shirt over her head and tossed it aside, he reached up and cupped the weight of her breasts in his hands. He could lie there and look at her all damn day.
“What are you thinking right now?”
“That, along with a great ass, you also have great boobs and since I’m now free to appreciate them, I intend to take my time about it.”
“We don’t really have a lot of time, so maybe do more appreciating with your hands and less with your eyes.”
“I can do both,” he promised, and then he took his time proving it.
The breakfast buffet was set up in the formal dining room, and Carly actually stopped walking when she crossed the threshold and saw the natural light streaming through the wall of windows that looked over the rocky part of their private beach.
“Look at this place,” she said quietly to Noah. She knew he was close enough to hear her since he’d bumped into her when she stopped short.
“I hope the coffee’s as good as the view.”
She laughed and led him to an empty table. They set their phones down to claim their seats, and she was thrilled to see there were silver coffee carafes and cream and sugar on the table, so they’d only have to make one trip.
She and Noah parted ways halfway through the line, when she went for the fruit and he went for the variety of breakfast meats. She knew he’d get too much, so she’d steal some of his bacon rather than dodge the elbows to get a chance at the tongs. Then she bypassed the warmer full of fluffy scrambled eggs to get in line for an omelet.
Sara and a woman who’d been introduced to Carly as a cousin but whose name she’d forgotten were waiting for omelets, and Sara gave her a warm smile as she approached them.
“Good morning, Carly. How did you sleep last night?”
Like a woman who’d been very thoroughly made love to, though she didn’t say that out loud. “There’s something about ocean air that makes me sleep like a log.”
“Me, too.” Sara chuckled, and then lifted her finger to point at a spot on Carly’s face. “You have a little...scruff burn? On your jaw.”
“Oh.” Did that nervous giggle come out of her mouth?
She needed to play it cool. While in her mind, she was thinking it wasn’t the first time she’d had a little beard burn, but this time was different because it was from Noah’s beard. Ohmigod, I had sex with Noah. But everybody else at this wedding assumed she and Noah had been having sex for six months, so it should be no big deal.
But it was a big deal. It was averybig deal.
“I probably should have put some makeup on,” she said, not sure makeup would even cover it since she didn’t have a lot of experience with the stuff. Zoe would know, but the last thing she was going to do was text her cousin.
Hey, funny story. I had sex with Noah and I need to know what to use to hide the marks his scruffy jaw left on my face.
Zoe wouldn’t send a text back. She’d actually call her so Carly could have the pleasure of hearing her laugh her ass off. She might even FaceTime her to see the damage for herself.
“Is Emily excited for her big day?” she asked, desperate to change the subject.
“I swear, she’s practically glowing.” She looked over at her sister, who was stealing fruit from her almost-husband’s plate. “The weather forecast is perfect, everything’s ready. It’s going to be magical.”
“And so romantic,” her cousin said. “Who knows, maybe Noah will even be inspired to get down on one knee.”
Carly laughed, because the idea of Noah proposing to anybody—never mind her—was ridiculous. Then she realized the cousin wasn’t kidding and stopped laughing. Both women were giving her expectant looks and she could almost see the dialogue bubbles over their heads.It’s been six months. Such a romantic place. Wouldn’t it just be dreamy if he proposed to you on the beach?
Nope. “Noah has some commitment issues.”
Sara’s eyes widened. “Six months seems like a good start, though.”
“Oh, he’s definitely committed to me,” Carly said quickly, and that wasn’t even really a lie. “But marriage is a big step and we’re not in any rush.”
“Maybe watching Jim and Emily get married will be a kick in the ass for him,” the cousin said. “You two make such a nice couple.”
“Thank you.” Carly wasn’t sure how she’d come to that conclusion after one evening—unless she was referring to the kiss—but theyweregood together. As friends.
