Mr. Dayton laughed. “You set the rules, Presley. He’s lucky to have you.”
Beckett smiled at Presley. “We’ve barely begun and I think I owe you flowers.”
“If that Gabrielle woman sends me dagger eyes at dinner, you’re going to owe me a lot more than that.”
They all laughed. Grayson and Jill walked out first. When Beckett and Presley started for the door, Mr. Dayton asked if he could stay for a moment.
Beckett grinned at the man who’d asked so many questions the other day that he couldn’t have imagined then feeling the fondness for him that he currently did.
“Stay as long as you’d like,” he said.
When Presley took his hand on the walk back to his own cabin, he wanted to say the same to her.
Twenty
Oh boy.There was some serious activity happening in her stomach—like a flock of chickens pecking around and getting all worked up. The closer they got to the cabin, the more sensitive her skin felt, like even the breeze registered. Her chest tightened, her lungs shrinking. His girlfriend? It had taken Emmett three months and an argument to introduce her as something other than his “gal pal.” That should have been a hammer-to-the-head clue. She really hadn’t wanted to see what was right there before her.
Beckett pulled his phone out of his back pocket as Presley shut the door.
“Jilly will bring your bags down. We left them in the lobby.” He looked at her; she leaned her back against the door, unsure, unsettled, unbelievably attracted to him.
Whatever words she’d had ready vanished as they stared at each other. Beckett came closer, stopping just before their toes touched.
“You okay?”
She nodded. Presley felt like she’d had one too many drinks, like the old version of herself was watching the new version of herself, egging her on.Be bold. Take what you want. You have less than a week to be whoever you want to be with this man.
“Just staring at my boyfriend,” she said with a smile, fluttering her lashes playfully.
Beckett laughed, ducked his gaze. When he looked up again, she recognized the heat in his eyes. Felt it between them like something tangible she could hold. He stepped closer, the fronts of their bodies touching.
“I’m sorry. I did warn you about Jill’s matchmaking.”
Presley put her hands on his chest. His went to the door, caging her in. “It’s fine. I don’t blame her for protecting you. The mom was a little frightening.”
“Yes!” He laughed, but the sound cut off quick when he rested his forehead against hers. “I wish time would slow down.”
“Something tells me this brief relationship is going to be better than even my longest one.” Her fingers curled into his shirt.
“Presley.” He said it like a curse and an oath in one.
“You’re okay with this?”
His breath was shaky, which made her feel better about how worked up she was. She was quite certain she’d never wanted anyone—possibly anything—this bad.
“I’m more okay with it than I am with walking away,” he said, his finger sliding lazily up her arm, leaving a trail of goose bumps.
“So, all in?” She wanted the words. She wanted to hear what he was saying with his eyes, his hands.
“I can’t imagine anything less.” Beckett’s mouth opened as if to say more but Presley cut him off with a kiss. No more waiting. If their days were limited, she wanted every single second of every one. A low growl left the back of his throat, spurring her on, making her want more. His hands came to her hips, gripped them as she went up on tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck like she was his life preserver and he might drown if she loosened her hold even a fraction.Not on my watch.
One of his hands streaked down her side, up, played with the hem of her shirt, his fingers grazing bare skin. The need to get closer pulsed inside of her. His other hand burrowed into her hair, pulling little tendrils, but she didn’t care. This moment was burning itself into her brain like a permanent Etch A Sketch.
A heavy knock made them both jump. He moved back but she had nowhere to go. She bit her lip, could still taste him.
“That’ll be Jill,” he said, his voice low.
“Right.” She inhaled a sharp breath, let it out quickly, smoothed down her shirt. Turning, she pulled the door open and was met with only her bags. Peering out, she saw the back of Jill, who was heading back to the lodge. She picked up her things, brought them in.
