I pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
I didn’t think this night could get any better—but then I fell asleep with Eliza in my arms.
“This must be a dream,” I murmured against Eliza’s hair the next morning. My arms were wrapped around her, my chest pressed against her back. I held her tightly, as if she could disappear at any moment.
A sleepy laugh escaped her, and I felt her fingertips trace along my forearm. “Your dream was to wake up in bed with me? You might need some bigger dreams.”
“Hey, cut me some slack,” I murmured teasingly. “It took me a long time to achieve this one.” I pressed a kiss to the spot where her neck met her shoulder.
I pulled back slightly to capture this sight to memory. How her dark hair splayed on the pillow, exposing her neck. Theperfect slope of her neck meeting her shoulder, begging to be kissed. How the strap of her tank top slipped off her shoulder. And the way the sheets effortlessly wrapped around her body.
On top of all that, the sunlight was shining through the cracked blinds in a way that it looked like her tanned skin was glowing. She looked absolutely magical.
I had dozens of tattoos on my body, but the sight I never wanted to forget was right in front of me.
Unable to help myself, I leaned forward, kissing along her neck to her shoulder. She let out a quiet rumble of approval, pressing her hips against my morning erection.
I let out a groan, digging my fingers into her hip and pulling her flush against me. I inhaled her scent, murmuring, “You drive me absolutely wild. What have you done to me?”
She looked at me over her shoulder, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Rocked your world last night with the best sex of your life.”
If only she knew how real that statement was. Last night had been out of this world. Not just the sex butbeingwith Eliza was more than I could’ve ever dreamed of.
I didn’t want our time to come to an end.
For as long as I could remember, my dream had been to be head chef of a fine dining restaurant. But that was before I realized that being with Eliza was within reach. Dreams changed. I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anything or anyone.
Our physical connection had always been there and so had a friendship, but both were deeper now. I swore she felt it, too. Or at least I hoped she did.
I hoped she’d give us a chance.
“Hop in the shower with me?” she asked, untangling her body from mine. “I gotta get moving to teach class this morning, but you’re welcome to stay in bed.”
Reluctantly, I loosened my grip on her, but my eyes didn’t leave her.
She sat up, stretching her arms over her head. “What do you say?”
“If my answer is ever no to joining you in the shower, just know something is very,verywrong.”
35
LEO
I didn’t takeEliza asking me to stay lightly. I fully knew I had her trust in the palm of my hand, and I wanted to show her that I deserved it. That I deserved her heart and would do anything and everything to protect it.
There was still the question about my job, which was what I wanted to talk to Wes about today. I wanted to know what my options were if I stayed…because I’d come to love this town, the freedom in the kitchen, the creativity with the menu, the reactions from people who enjoyed my food.
I wouldn’t be sacrificing my career if I stayed. I’d gain exactly what I’d been working so damn hard for.
Eliza and I had originally said we’d stop whatever this was between us when I left Golden Falls.
Well, I didn’t want to leave. And I didn’t want us to stop.
There was another sentence on the tip of my tongue.
I loved Eliza Hayes. I’d loved her for longer than I wanted to admit, and now that I nearly had her, I couldn’t walk away.
“Hey, man. Come on in,” Wes said as I approached the doorway.
