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Deacon's face lights up with a smile, the boyish grin of the Deacon I spent so many summers with back in high school. And then, he launches a kiss in my direction, returning the favor for what I hope isn't the last time.
Somehow, I'm stunned again by just how sweet his lips are. Not only that, they're hungry and warm, soft and steady against my own. My body sinks, relinquishing control, melting under his touch as I tilt my face to the side to kiss him more. Everything about this experience is intoxicating, pouring over me from head to toe like a hot shower of longing.
In a brief moment when our mouths part to allow us to catch our breath, I open my eyes to gaze into his dark, smoldering orbs. "You're amazing," I sigh.
"What are you doing?" Sasha giggles from the doorway, and suddenly I'm jerked back to reality. I feel the heat in my cheeks as I pull away from him, startled.
"Oh. Um, I just wanted to make sure he tried the lemon custard," I sputter, standing. "Now that I've done that, I'll be on my way. Work to do, you know. Lots of things to prepare. Bye, now."
The whole way to my car, I can't stop grinning. I hold my warm lips for a second, almost wondering if it's all a dream. There's so much left to discuss with him, but for now, I have hope, and that’s more than enough.
Chapter twenty
DEACON
“Deacon Reynolds," my mother scolds, "do you want to tell me what that snake developer is doing in my conference room? I've told him on more than one occasion that he isn't welcome at this resort. He's been sniffing around here for years, and I won't have it! Not now, not ever!"
I didn’t tell her Jon was at the party last night, just that Harper suddenly wasn’t feeling well and had to rush home. Clearly, she knows about him now.
I place my hands on her shoulders, grounding her as my father shakes his head beside her. "He showed up last night. I didn't know you've spoken to him before, but he made me an offer."
"Deacon," my father utters, his face drawn, "you haven't agreed to sell him the resort, have you?"
"I really considered it," I confess, "but Harper talked me out of it."
My mother's whole demeanor changes, and she turns away from the two of us. It isn't until I see her shaking shoulders thatI realize that she's crying. "Hey," I murmur, pulling her into my arms. "It's okay, Mom. It's not happening."
"Oh, you can be such a fool," she chides me. "I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear Harper talked some sense into you."
"That's what I do," Harper announces as she saunters down the hallway with Sasha at her side. "I talk sense into headstrong men."
Her eyes linger on mine for just a moment, and I understand her meaning. If she hadn't talked me out of selling the resort to Jon, my parents would be devastated, and this would be an entirely different conversation. For that, I owe her even more than I already do for everything she's done for them over the years.
"And she's exceptionally good at it," Dad adds.
Mom agrees, embracing Sasha, and then giving me an admonishing gaze that I've seen many times before. "Are you going to tell him or should I?" she snaps.
"Calm down, woman," my father jokes. "Deacon is in charge now. Let him break the shark's heart. I'd say he deserves it."
"Take care of this, Deacon," my mother warns, "and take that snake off these premises right this instant."
I hold the door to the conference room open, letting my parents pass through but stopping Sasha just before she can join them. "I need you to wait in my office, sweetheart. It will only take a few minutes, and once we're done with the grown-up stuff, you can come in, too. Okay?"
"Okay," she agrees, snuggling against my hip and peering up at me with big brown eyes. "I love you, Daddy."
"I love you, too." My heart swells in my chest and a feeling of pride rushes through me. This place will belong to her someday, and as long as I'm the one teaching her its value, I'm sure she'll learn to love it even more than she already does.
I guide Sasha inside my office and gently close the door. Then I grab Harper’s hand and lead her quickly around the corner.
“Since I can’t give you a proper thank you in there, I thought I’d give it to you here.” Heat travels through my body anticipating her lips on mine. “I really owe you. You were so right about how upset my parents would be.”
“Deacon,” she giggles and squirms as I lean in to kiss her neck. “Not here.”
“Oh, yes, right here. You will be given a proper thank you.” I try the other side.
When my lips brush against her ear and I whisper, “Thank you, Harper Clark,” she relents. Harper reaches up to grab my face with both hands, turning my mouth from her ear to her lips. She presses a short, but passionate kiss on me while running her hands wildly through my hair. Then breaks away quickly and walks toward the conference room with a sultry sway of her hips, giving me a mischievous grin as she enters.
I don’t know how she thinks I’m going to be able to concentrate after that. I smooth down my hair and after a few cleansing breaths, regain as much composure as I can and head in.
