Page 38 of Here With You

She moved away from him, and he knew their moment was over.

“That was—”

“If you say anything other than perfect, then I'll call you out for lying,” he said.

She stood and looked around for her clothes. “It was just as I remembered. How is that possible? We've both changed.” She put on her underwear and bra and stepped into her jeans.

He hopped up and took her in his arms. “We've gotten older, but have we changed? I don't think so. Inside, I'm still the cowboy you fell in love with, and you're still Emmaline, the girl who stole my heart.”

She smiled and then shook her head. “I'm not the same.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “Okay, if you say so, but I just made love to you, and it felt the same as it did all those years ago. It was perfect.” He kissed her and stood back. “I still love you. I always have.”

She pressed her head against his chest. “I don't want to love you, Miles, but I can't help myself. I'm scared you'll break my heart again.”

He held her close. “And I'm scared you'll push me away.” He kissed the top of her head. “Let's agree to take it one day at a time.”

She looked at him. “Or … one project. You want to do that again after we clean all the loungers and tables?”

“Can't someone else do that, and we go straight for the reward?” He laughed. “I feel like delegating should be rewarded as well.”

“I like how you think, but everyone is busy, and Hugh can't get it all done.”

“I'm surprised he's still here.”

She shrugged. “I don't have the heart to let him go. It's important for people to feel like they belong.”

“And his wife has an unquenchable QVC habit.”

“How do you know?”

“He told me when I helped him clean out the fire pit.”

They finished dressing and gathered the blankets. “One day, I'll have to let him go. He gets more forgetful each day and it takes him four times as long to do anything as anyone else, but today is not the day.”

When he couldn't find his left boot, he called Ollie, who trotted over, carrying it in his mouth. “Thanks, boy.” He pulled his boot on and petted Ollie's head.

“He never chews them?”

“No, he's a lover, not a chewer.”

They exited the boathouse and locked the door behind them.

“There you are,” Margot yelled from the porch of The Kessler. “We've got a problem.”

Emmaline rose on tiptoes and kissed him. “I'll take these to the laundry and meet you on the beach in ten minutes?”

“I'll be there.”

They parted on the cement path. Whatever problem was waiting for him, it better not take over ten minutes because he didn't want to be away from her for that long.

When he and Ollie entered the lobby, he saw the problem—Darryl.

Margot pointed to him. “He says the last available room is his, and he's not paying. I told him that he didn't have a room if he didn't have money. We aren't a charity.”

A family of four walked into the lobby and stood on the other side of the desk. Since Margot wasn't paying attention, he stepped in.

“Good morning. My name is Miles, and I'm the manager here. Can I help you?”

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