Afterward, we lie across the bench, and he gathers me against his chest. My cheek rests over his heart. His arm wraps around me possessively, like he has no intention of letting me go.
The cool summer air feels amazing on my hot skin, and for a while, neither of us speaks.
The lake rocks the boat gently, and it’s all too much. And somehow, not enough. I want more. I wanteverything.
Is Joel what I’ve been searching for?
“You okay?” he asks, voice low.
I smile against his skin. “There’s that question again.”
“Answer it.”
I lift my head to look at him. His hair is mussed from my fingers, his expression open and unguarded.
“I’m okay,” I say softly. More than okay.Terrifyingly okay.
His hand strokes down my back. “Good.”
I settle back against his chest and let myself have one more minute.
Then another.
Then another.
I never want this night to end.
Chapter Six
Joel
Raynagetsquietonthe ride back.
Quiet in a way that makes my chest tighten, like she’s already having an argument with herself I can’t hear.
Does she regret tonight? Does she regretme?
I gave her the blanket that I keep in my dry bag, and she’s pulled the blanket around her shoulders like a cocoon. Her hair is a tangled mess from the wind and my hands, and she stares out at the water like it might have answers to whatever questions are plaguing her.
I want to reassure her. To tell her whatever she wants to hear. But I have no idea what that might be.
Does she want me to tell her that we can keep things casual? That we can do this all summer until she leaves?
It would be a lie, of course. It’s not casual for me. Not even a little bit. But if I can only have her for the summer, then it’ll be the best summer of my life. And I’ll make sure it’s the best summer of hers too.
Or should I tell her what’s really in my heart? That I don’t want her to leave. Not at the end of the summer. Notever.That somehow, even though we’ve known each other for just a few hours, I know with my whole soul that she’s the only woman I want to be with.Forever.
But I don’t know what to say, so I say nothing at all as we zip across the lake back to Mercury Slice.
When we reach the dock, I tie off and step out first, then offer her my hand. She takes it, but the second her feet hit the boards, she pulls away.
“I should go,” she says. “I have the early shift tomorrow.”
“Rayna.” My voice is rough, desperate,pathetic.
She freezes. The dock lights catch her eyes. She looks away first, then back. “Yeah?”
“Please don’t act like tonight didn’t happen. That it didn’t matter. I can take a lot… but not that.”
