Page 43 of The Cherry Blossom Boathouse

“That’s what’s been holding me back,” he said. “The thought you might be like all the people who have left this place without a second glance.”

She could hear it in his tone: this wasn’t just about his ex. It was about his mom, too, and anyone else who’d let him down by leaving.

“I’m not like them, Luke. I didn’t come here to change Solace Springs then leave it.” She gestured to the lake around them. “I want my bookshop to belong here, not to transform the place into something else. And—and I want to stay.”

As she said that, she realized she did. Or a large part of her did.

Luke’s expression softened. “I believe you.”

Three simple words, but Sophie felt their weight. Understood that for Luke, they represented a kind of trust he didn’t extend easily.

“I have something for you,” he said, reaching into the picnic basket. He withdrew a leather-bound notebook, hesitating briefly before handing it to her. Sophie turned it over in her hands, gasping softly when she saw the cover: a beautifully etched image of a boathouse with cherry blossoms falling around it.

“Did you make this?” she asked.

Luke nodded. “Been working on it the past coupla days. Thought it might help with your renovation plans. Open it.”

Sophie did, her breath catching at what she found inside. Luke had created a complete organizational system for her renovation: sections for materials, budget, timeline, design ideas, even a place to track expenses.

“Luke,” she breathed, “this is incredible.”

“It’s practical,” he said with a shrug. “Figured you’d appreciate something more useful than flowers, or whatever people usually do.”

Sophie looked up to find him watching her nervously, as if uncertain of her reaction. In that moment, with spring blooming around them on his impossible floating garden, Sophie knew she was falling for this man who spoke her language even when it wasn’t his own.

“It’s perfect,” she said, setting the notebook carefully aside. “And so is this. All of it.” She moved closer until their knees touched, her heart pounding. “I think,” she said softly, “that I’d very much like to finish what we started last night.”

Luke’s eyes darkened, his gaze dropping to her lips. “Been thinking about that since the second we were interrupted,” he murmured, his voice low and rough, stirring something deep inside Sophie with every word. “About how you taste, how you feel under my hands. Drove me crazy all night knowing what I’d left behind.” He reached up, his thumb brushing her bottom lip with exquisite restraint. “Tell me again what you want, Sophie. I need to hear you say it.”

“I want you, Luke Rhodes,” she said aloud, her voice breathier than she intended. “If last night was just the preview, I’d very much like to—”

She was cut off by Luke’s lips crashing into hers.

Raw.

Hot.

Perfect.

Any pretense of taking things slowly became undone as Sophie matched his intensity, her fingers threading through his hair. She tugged at his thick locks slightly, the small groan he let out in response sending a thrill straight through her. Who knew the grumpy boatman had a weakness for hair-pulling? She filed that information away for further experimentation.

He pulled her on top of his lap, her legs encircling his hips. The floating garden rocked beneath them as he trailed his lips down to her neck.

“God, Sophie,” he breathed against her skin.

She slipped her fingers beneath his shirt, the shock of warm skin over hard muscle making her gasp. Another one of his delectable groans vibrated against her fingertips as she mentally high-fived herself for eliciting that sound.

“Too many clothes,” he murmured as his fingers found the top buttons of her dress.

“Hey, will anyone see us?”

“Not this time of the morning,” he said as he continued sliding her dress up her body. “Not this part of the lake. Don’t worry.”

As he said that, Sophie realized part of her didn’t mind. The thought of being caught, of someone witnessing Luke’s hands on her body, sent a thrill through her that she definitely hadn’t expected. Good God, Bennett, she thought, what has this man done to you? She’d gone from sensible London girl to exhibitionist lakeside wanton in the span of a single week. Luke Rhodes was bringing out kinks she didn’t even know she had.

She pressed herself against him, feeling him hard, huge.

Her hand reached for his buckle…