Page 567 of One More Kiss

“I…was spreading my parents’ ashes,” I explain. “The wind…” I trail off as her face morphs from confused to horrified. She quickly shakes her hair out again and then ties it back up to keep it from blowing in her face. Her face. I can see it clearly now. She’s stunning. Her eyes are gray, her face dotted with freckles. Her high cheekbones are rosy from the cold wind. Her lips…I lick mine as I take them in. I’d love to kiss those lips. What the fuck am I thinking? I shake my head clear of thoughts that should not be in there at this moment.

“I apologize, Miss…?”

She sighs and holds up her hand for me to stop talking. “Look, it’s windy. I get it.” She looks down at the vase. I lean down to get it for her, and she also leans down. We bump heads.

“Fuck,” I mutter as I rub my head and hand her the vase.

“Look, I’m gonna go,” she says. I look at the vase. “In loving memory of Wallace Haverford.”

Oh, fucking hell, I’ve ruined it for her. She’s here spreading ashes, too. I take a deep breath and motion to her vase.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I say solemnly. She looks up at me and wipes a tear from her eye. “Thank you,” she says curtly. “Please excuse me.” She takes off, practically running, and disappears up the steps.

I sigh and sit down on a nearby rock. I look over to the box on the beach that contained my parents’ ashes. “You guys have a wicked sense of humor,” I whisper as I stare out at the North Sea. Shaking my head, I force myself to get up and grab my belongings. I just want to get out of here. I need to get out of here. What a mess of a day.

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