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She laughed softly. “That sounds lovely.”

“It is.” I took a deep breath and thought about all those Thanksgivings growing up. “But honestly? Growing up with so many siblings, I always felt like it was impossible to stand out. To get noticed. There were so many of us, all competing for attention. Callum was the responsible one. Drew was the troublemaker. Micah was the creative genius. Hollis was the charmer. Beau was the smart one. Cleo was the baby. And I was just… Jeremy. Another Blackwell kid in a sea of Blackwell kids.”

Lucy was quiet for a moment. “Is that why you became a model? So that people would see you?”

She was maybe a little too perceptive. I laughed and shook my head. “I never thought of it that way. But maybe. Yeah. Maybe that’s exactly why.”

“Well, the whole world is seeing you now. The campaign is everywhere. You can’t scroll through social media without seeing your face. It’s pretty hard to be the prettiest face in that room, but you pulled it off.”

“Thanks.” I rolled my eyes. “What about you?” I turned to look at her. The fading sunlight caught the gold in her hair, the blue of her eyes. “Do you see me?”

She held my gaze. That electric tension that had been simmering since Alaska bubbled up.

“I see you,” she said softly. “You’re so much more than just the vapid model you show off to the world. You’re sweet. Caring. Thoughtful. The way you look after everyone around you is impressive. The way you went out of your way to make today perfect for me?” She paused, her voice catching slightly. “I feel blessed that you’re in my life, Jeremy.”

My heart did a somersault. I reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger against her cheek. “I like your hair down.”

“Thought I’d give my scalp a break,” she said with a laugh.

“Lucy.” Her name was the only word I could manage. Desire had me in a grip and there was only one way out.

It wasn’t like the cabin. That had been desperate, fueled by fear and adrenaline and the need for warmth. I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her like I had all the time in the world. Nothing existed beyond this moment and the woman melting into me.

She kissed me back. Her hands slid up my chest and my shoulders, pulling me closer. I could taste the pumpkin pie she had for dessert. She made a sexy little sound that had my cock jumping to attention. I slowed down, taking my time. Her mouth opened under mine and I took the invitation, tongue sliding against hers, tasting sugar and spice and the little catch of her breath when I tilted her head and deepened it.

She made that sound again. Soft. Wrecked. Like she hadn’t meant to let it out. I eagerly swallowed it and wanted more. Needed more.

My hands left her face and found her waist, pulling her in until there was no space left between us. The cashmere was soft under my palms. Her fingers curled into my shoulders and held on like she didn’t trust her knees.

I didn’t trust mine either.

I backed her up a step, then another, until her shoulders met the stone pillar at the edge of the patio. Not hard. Just enough that I could lean into her and feel the whole line of her body against mine. She gasped into my mouth. I swallowed it, kissing her like the weeks apart had been a punishment I’d earned and was finally done serving.

“Jeremy,” she breathed when I dragged my mouth to the corner of hers, then lower, along her jaw.

“I know.” I didn’t know. I just knew I didn’t want to stop. My lips moved to her ear. She shivered, hands sliding up into my hair. “God, Lucy.”

I moved back to her mouth because I couldn’t help it.

The door behind us opened. We jumped apart like teenagers caught by their parents. I spun around, heart racing, to find Gladys standing in the doorway with a smile on her face.

“Well,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “Don’t stop on my account.”

“Gram!” Lucy’s face had gone bright red.

“I just came to tell you that Harold and I are going to head back to the hotel. It’s been a long day, and these old bones need rest.” Gladys looked between us, clearly enjoying our discomfort. “But please, continue whatever it was you were doing.”

“I’ll drive you,” Lucy said quickly, smoothing down her hair and straightening her sweater. “Let me just get my keys.”

“I’ll come with you,” I heard myself say. “Keep you company on the drive back.”

Gladys’s smile widened. “How thoughtful.”

We said our goodbyes to the rest of the family. Mom hugged Gladys like they’d known each other for years and made her promise to come back before she left town. Harold shook hands with everyone and declared it the best Thanksgiving he’d had in decades.

Then we were in Lucy’s car, Harold and Gladys in the back seat chattering away about how nice my family was. Harold wasn’t aware of the star power in the room until Gladys filled him in on each of my family’s resumes. I was used to hearing the shock and awe.

“That was quite a meal,” Harold said. “Your mother is an excellent cook, Jeremy.”