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Their voices were low, and from the expressions she could make out on the profile of their faces, whatever they were discussing was serious. She should have turned around and walked back up the stairs.
People have always said no good ever came from eavesdropping. And they were right.
I don’t want a long distance relationship. Heck, I’m bad enough at short distance ones. I’d rather let her go and remember the good times.
He was right, she knew he was. And yet it hurt anyway. Because there was a piece of her heart that wanted more, no matter how stupid she knew it was. Maybe it was in the human DNA. The need for a white picket fence and children running around the yard. Nature’s way of forcing you to do her work no matter how hard you’ve tried to resist it.
After they made love last night, he’d cradled her face in his strong hands, and she’d felt this overwhelming sensation of falling. His warm brown eyes had held hers, but ever other part of her was anchorless. Belonging nowhere but there in that moment, with him.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, clutching the covers in her hands. The last time she’d felt anything like this was when she was reading her mom’s letter for the first time. But then, it was the sensation of everything falling into place. Of knowing exactly who she was supposed to be.
And now? She had no idea who Lydia Paxton is at all.
Jackson opened the bedroom door, his eyes crinkling when he saw her sitting there. “You’re awake,” he said, his smile warm. “Would you like some coffee? Breakfast?”
She forced a smile onto her face. There was no way she was spending her time in Angel Sands moping about things she’d never wanted. She’d do what Jackson said. Treat this like the vacation romance it was. Have fun, make love, and say goodbye before she left for the airport. Exactly the way it was supposed to be.
“I’m not hungry,” she told him, her voice teasing. “Not for food anyway.”
His smile deepened. “What are you hungry for?” he asked softly, walking toward her.
“You,” she told him. “Always you.”
He lifted his t-shirt over his head and climbed out of his sweats, leaving them in a puddle on the floor. Then he walked over to her, falling to his knees in front of her, and gently pushing her back on the bed before taking her thighs in his hands.
“I’m hungrier,” he murmured, burying his face between her thighs. “But I think this is a breakfast we can both enjoy.”
18
Lydia smiled as she walked onto the pier. It was beautifully decorated for Skyler’s naming day. The spring sun was beating down on the ocean, reflecting on the waves as they danced into shore. The pier was decked with flowers of varying ivory and baby pink hues, and at the end of the long wooden edifice, just before where Griff’s ship was moored, was a covered trellis.
Lydia had left Jackson’s house shortly after they’d gotten up for the second time. Jackson had given her a ride home, and kissed her hotly before she left his car, promising to catch up with her at the pier.
And now she was here early, because she wanted to give Autumn as much support as she could. She knew her sister worried about making everything perfect, even though she’d been hosting events like this on the pier for almost a year now.
“Dad’s on his way,” Autumn told her, as she rushed from her office with a wad of paper in her hands. “He’s cutting it close, but he should make it for the ceremony.” She was jittery as hell. “Can you help me with him? Make sure he’s on his best behavior.”
“Dad’s never on his best behavior,” Lydia pointed out. “He says what he thinks, whether you want to hear it or not.”
“I’d still appreciate it if you could take care of him,” Autumn said, her voice imploring.
Lydia gave her hand a squeeze. “Of course I will. And if he makes any cutting remarks, I’ll gag him with whatever designer tie he’s wearing.”
Autumn chuckled. “Maybe you should introduce him to Jackson. Since you two are a thing and all.”
“We’re not a thing.” Lydia shrugged, remembering his words from earlier that morning. “Not a long term thing, anyway. No point in getting Dad excited when I’m taking off soon.” Her words sounded like a strange echo of Jackson’s conversation with Griff earlier. Maybe if she said them enough times, they wouldn’t hurt.
Autumn blinked. “So that’s it? You’re just having a fling and leaving?”
“Did you think it was something more?” Lydia really wanted to hear her sister’s thoughts.
“I don’t know. I just think you two have something special.”
So did she. But she also knew Jackson was right. “Yeah, but we all know long distance relationships don’t work. I’m going to be away for months, and Jackson’s feet are planted firmly here in Angel Sands. There’s no future for us, so we’re going to enjoy the time we have together then go our separate ways.”
Autumn stared at her for a moment, her lips parted as though there was something she wanted to say. But she closed them again, as footsteps echoed against the wooden planks behind Lydia.
“Meghan!” Autumn said, shooting Lydia a look that told her this conversation was postponed, not canceled. “How are you?”
