A slow smile spreads across his face. “Relaxed. Maybe satisfied. Huh, wonder why that is?” That grin now in full force—cocky bastard.
I roll my eyes, shoving his shoulder playfully. “Subtle, Taylor. Real subtle.”
“Not trying to be subtle darlin’.” He captures my hand, interlacing our fingers. “Seeing you like this—relaxed, smiling—it suits you.”
I should pull away. I should maintain some distance, protect myself from getting too attached. Instead, I find myself squeezing his hand. “Maybe I have reason to be relaxed.”
His expression softens and his voice drops. “I'd like to keep giving you reasons.”
The sincerity in his voice makes my heart stumble. This is dangerous territory—the kind that leads to hopes and expectations and eventual disappointment. It’s too much, so I do what I do best- deflect with humor.
I choke on a laugh. “You gonna embroider that on a pillow?”
He leans in, mock-serious. “Damn right. Right next to my hand embroidered quilt that reads 'Live, Laugh, Lick.'“
I’m still in a complete fit of laughter when he brings our joined hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles. Soft. Tender. Terrifying.
Yet looking at him now, with the sun highlighting the amber flecks in his eyes and his hand warm around mine, I can't bring myself to retreat.
“I should get back to my article,” I say, but make no move to reclaim my hand.
“What's it about?” he asks, seemingly content to sit beside me all day.
“Finding unexpected connection in unplanned destinations,” I admit, the irony not lost on either of us.
He raises an eyebrow. “Sounds familiar.”
“Pure coincidence,” I insist, though we both know it's not.
Bringing our joined hands to his lips and pressing a kiss to my knuckles, he chuckles and stands, that fine-ass cowboy swaggering back toward his tools. But before he reaches them, he glances over his shoulder.
“You know what they say about coincidences.”
“And what's that?”
“The universe doesn't believe in them.”
“And Mia?” His turns to face me.
“Yeah?”
His gaze snags mine, a flash of something too honest. “I don’t think it was a mistake, you ending up here. I think it was the first thing the universe’s gotten right in a long time.” He chuckles lightly “Funny how a wrong turn landed you right where you were meant to be.”
My breath catches. I don’t respond.
Because that warmth inside me? The one that feels suspiciously like hope?
It’s rising. Fast.
And I know it’s only a matter of time before it drags me under.
As I watch him return to his work, his words echo in my mind. I'm starting to think I might believe in all that too, and that realization terrifies me more than any high dive or Olympic final ever could.
Because Grant Taylor isn't just getting under my skin. He's working his way into my heart, making me question everything I thought I knew about myself—about what I want, about where I belong.
For someone who's built her entire identity around never staying in one place long enough to form attachments, the thought of wanting to stay is more frightening than any leap I’ve ever jumped.
Chapter 26
