That makes me smile because he is the least braggy person I’ve ever met.
“There are other guys who could go out on the on-site calls, but most of them end up being assigned to me.”
“Your bosses must really trust you.”
He nods. “It used to be fun. Even though the hours were long, it was a great way to travel and see places I wouldn’t normally see. Unfortunately, I’m not seeing any places that thrill me. Denver was great and I love the food and I’ve done some of the touristy things, but…after being here this week? I’d freaking love to get assigned someplace coastal.”
“You mentioned that you don’t have any coastal clients,” I remind him.
“None that I know of, but that doesn’t mean we don’t. I want to say we recently started working with a few in California.” He laughs softly. “Maybe I should mention that to my bosses, that we need to find more clients with an ocean view.”
We both laugh quietly before sighing and snuggling a little lower under the blankets. I think the day is catching up with us. I feel my entire body relaxing, and I’m losing the battle with keeping my eyes open.
“Liv?” he whispers.
“Hmm?” I barely get the sound out.
“I understand now.”
It takes a Herculean effort, but I open my eyes. “Understand what?”
“What all the songs are about.”
Maybe I’m dreaming because none of this is making sense. My confusion must be obvious, because he just smiles sweetly at me, caressing my cheek, and gently urges me to lie back on my pillow.
“All the love songs. I’m just laying here looking at you and…I don’t want to stop. There’s a song—I want to say by Aerosmith or something—where the chorus says how I don’t want to close my eyes or fall asleep because I don’t want to miss a thing. That’s how I feel right now. I get it. I never did before, but…now I do.”
I swear I want to say something equally romantic to him, but my brain just isn’t cooperating. All I can say is, “I get it too.”
He kisses me—a whisper soft brush against my lips—before saying, “Goodnight. Sweet dreams.”
I spend the rest of the night dreaming of the two of us running along the beach while every love song I ever heard plays.
Sweet dreams indeed.
16
ASH
The week went by way too fast and before I know it, I’m packed and on my way to Dallas.
I’ve never been more miserable in my life.
Leaving the beach was more emotional than I thought it would be. Hell, I don’t think I’ve ever felt that kind of emotion. I’m not that guy. But looking at Olivia’s sad face as I got in Zayne’s truck nearly did me in. Luckily, the guys didn’t give me any grief about it, because I’m not even sure what I would have said.
We video chatted last night, and she got very teary-eyed again and I almost wanted her to keep the video going until we both fell asleep, but suggesting it sounded creepy. Now tonight, when I get settled into my hotel room, I promised to call her. And for the next few weeks, this is going to be our lives.
And it kind of sucks.
Okay, it totally sucks.
Today, Olivia and the girls were going to the same jet ski place the guys and I went to, and I wish I could see her trying it for the first time. Is she loving it? Hating it? Did she wipe out?
Sigh.
I need to get focused on this client I’m going to see and familiarize myself with their system and what’s going wrong. I need to pay attention to all the details so I can maybe get done faster and be back in Raleigh, so I can perhaps squeeze in one more weekend at the beach before everyone goes home.
We’re at cruising altitude and allowed to take out our large electronics, and I immediately pull out my laptop to try to focus on work.
