Page 60 of Dancing on Air

By the time they were done with dessert, he was pretty sure his sister had just made another friend.

“We’re going to head up,” Cora said, taking his hand.

“I’m going to go out for a walk,” Missy said. “See you in the morning. We can meet in here for breakfast around…”

“Ten,” Max supplied. “I want to sleep in.” He quickly pulled Cora towards the doors.

“That was smooth,” Cora chuckled as they climbed the stairs.

“It was true. I normally don’t get up until around nine,” he admitted.

“There is no way my body is going to let me sleep past seven,” Cora said.

“Oh, there’s a way.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her outside her door. “Your room or mine?”

“Mine,” she said as she opened the door.

They practically fell inside as their mouths moved over one another.

Before, in the city, his movements were filled with speed and need. Here, with the quiet of the country and the fresh salt breeze floating through the open balcony doors, he took his time showing Cora just what she meant to him.

They lost track of time pleasing and exploring one another. Before long, the sunlight was streaming into the room, and they were wrapped around one another fast asleep.

He felt the moment Cora woke. Her body seemed to heat from within.

“Sleep.” He groaned.

“Can’t.” She sighed. “I want to move. My body wants to move.” She sat up and looked down at him. “I’m going for a jog. Want to—” His groan stopped her and she giggled. “Okay, sleep in. I’m going to take a spin around the island.”

He groaned and reached for her. “Stay.”

She laughed and pulled out of his reach. “Nope, gotta move,” she said, and he heard her disappear into the bathroom.

When she left in jogging shorts, a tank top, and running shoes, he instantly felt guilty. He rolled out of bed and pulled on his own running clothes. By the time he caught up with her, she’d already run around the island once.

“You didn’t have to join me,” she said, not even out of breath.

He grunted, causing her to chuckle as he easily matched her pace.

“Not a morning person?” she asked, turning around and jogging backwards in front of him.

He grunted again. “No one likes a showoff.”

Cora laughed and turned back around and jogged next to him for a few moments.

By the time they reached the gazebo, he had reached his runner’s high and sped up.

“Oh, are we racing?” Cora laughed. “First one to the beach wins?” Before he could respond, she took off.

He caught up with her this time but had to admit, she was faster than he was and it was a strain to keep up with her. They finished neck to neck, but he was breathless and she was laughing as if she’d just enjoyed the torment.

“You’re sick, you know that right,” he told her as his arms wrapped around her.

“I’m at the top of my physical health. It only goes downhill from here. Or so every other dancer out there says.” She smiled at him.

“I’m so far downhill from you, it’s not funny. “Still, it did feel good to get out this morning.” He kissed her. “Now, how about we get some coffee and sit in a rocking chair on the porch and watch the world wake until breakfast, like old people?”

“That sounds amazing.” She held onto him. “Thanks for coming with me.”