“I love the beach on you.” He fingers the straps of my black bikini that I’m still wearing under my t-shirt and cut-off shorts. “But I loveyouon the beach more. Especially when you are wearing this sexy thing.” He kisses my neck where my suit is tied.
“Mmmm,” I sigh, leaning back into him as his lips do their magic. “Maybe after lunch, we can see if Bee wants to help Miss Beth in her garden for a bit, and you can show me just how much you love taking the suit off of me, too?”
I grin when I feel his lips stretch against my skin into a smile.
“Hurry up with those strawberries,” he whispers. “I’m suddenly in a rush to get lunch done as quickly as possible.”
His hand skims the bottom of my cut-off shorts, and I suddenly gasp when I feel his finger slip into my bikini bottoms and run along my center. “Just a little something to tide me over until I get to eat the rest of my treat.” He releases me, and with a grin, I watch his finger disappear in his mouth before slowly sliding back out. “Sweet like honey,” he winks, walking over to where Bee is sitting and leaving me in a state that has me gripping the countertop for support.
Behind me, I hear him easily join the conversation as if he didn’t just have his finger touching me and my taste still on his tongue. I glance over my shoulder, and he looks up, giving me a devilish grin before looking back down at the phone again and focusing on what my mom is saying.
Turning back to the strawberries, I finish themup with a little more speed to my movements because of the man behind me, emanating an energy that makes me want to skip lunch and go straight to being the dessert.
Doing my best, I focus on the task at hand and prepare our sandwiches before taking them to the island. My mom's giggle floats through the air, and I hold back a grin at how even my mom can be reduced to a giggling schoolgirl in the presence of Miles.
Join the club.
He smiles when I set the plate in front of him.
“Thanks, honey. Since you made lunch, I’ll take care of dessert.”
I choke on the water that I just took a sip of and try to contain my laughter. He just grins wider at our little secret that he’s having fun with.
“Can we have chocolate chip cookies?” Bee asks, looking hopeful at Miles.
“Of course, little bee. I saved the biggest for you in the cookie jar.” He smiles at her before taking a bite of his sandwich.
I hear my mom sigh on the phone that’s propped up next to Bee. I can only imagine her big, heart eyes right now.
I told her about Miles as soon as I knew it was serious, and she insisted that she and Dad make a trip to see us. I think part of her worried I was making a mistake again and wanted to see with her own eyes how happy I was.
Based on first glance, I was nervous that she would see the tattoos and piercings and automatically assume he’s like Mark and has the bad boy attitude. I did the same thing, so I couldn’t really blame her if she did.
Once they started talking, though, and she saw how he was with me and Bee, she immediately fell for him. By the end of their weekend-long visit, he had both my parents in the palm ofhis hand. My dad is even coming back for some hockey games later this year. He was like an excited kid at Christmas when Miles told him Knox could get him tickets.
“I’m going to let you guys enjoy your lunch,” I hear my mom say. Reaching over, I take the phone and smile into eyes the same color as mine. Her short blonde hair is layered, and it’s like looking at an older version of my twin. My sister takes after my dad with her brunette hair and warm brown eyes, but since birth, I’ve always favored my mom.
“Tell Dad we said hi.”
“I will. He’s off golfing with some friends right now. He’s going to be mad that he missed talking to Bee,” she laughs.
“I’ll have her call him this week. Love you, Mom.” It was hard moving away from the only home I’ve ever known. My parents were there for me when I found out I was pregnant, and for that, I owe them everything. I knew, though, I needed to do this for myself. I wanted a change and a different life for Bee than I had growing up in the city.
Looking across the counter at Miles, I watch him laugh at Bee’s face covered in strawberry juice as he wipes it away with a napkin.
He senses me watching him, and our eyes meet. Everything I see in them tells me I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
“Hello?”I put the phone to my ear and slide my key in the front door to lock it.
“Hey girl! What are you up to?” Lyla’s voice filters through the speaker, and I smile when I hear her voice.
“I’m leaving the house now. I have a shift with Miles tonight.”
“That’s right. I had forgotten you do that on Thursdays. So,you are leaving right now?” Her voice has a different edge to it as I try to figure out why.
“Yes,” I laugh. “I’m getting in my jeep as we speak,” I say, opening the door and buckling in. “Why do you sound so strange? I can feel your excitement over the phone.” I start the engine and back out of the driveway.
“You know me. I’m always happy and excited,” she says, brushing it off. “I’ve got to go! A…a customer just walked in.” She hangs up, and I stare at the phone.
