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“Hey, that’s an idea. We could take a yoga class together for a date.”
I grimace. “Or not.”
“Or so. I think it needs to happen.” She plants her palms on my chest, eyes dancing. “Besides, I’m always up for a good laugh and I’d probably get to see you shirtless. It’s a win-win.”
“Ah, on that note, I know you have a list of your favorite versions of me.” At this point, my grin has to be cockier than Colin’s, but I don’t care. “Number one is Lovey-Dovey Seth, number two is Daddy Seth, number three is On-Duty Seth—”
“Uh, how do you know about that?” She’s staring up at me like I read her diary, cheeks redder than an apple.
“Because I was at your house.” I lower my head, our lips mere centimeters apart, and pitch my voice lower. “I saw the piece of paper you have on your kitchen counter that listed seven different versions. I have to admit that I’m a little offended, though. Only seven things?”
“It’s an, um, ever-growing…list.” Her voice is about three octaves higher than normal, and her gaze is focused squarely on my lips now. “But you weren’t supposed to see it.”
“Too late. Number four is Boat Captain Seth, and number five is Shirtl—”
“Seth?”
I grin wickedly. “Yes?”
“How about you stop naming off my list and kiss me?”
I haven’t heard a better idea all day. I close the remaining distance between us, my eyes closing as my lips press against hers. It’s a soft kiss at first, a tender caress of my mouth and Jenna’s. She tastes like peppermint and optimism, and I tug her closer to me.
Jenna molds into my body like we were made for each other, her small hands running over my chest and landing on my shoulders. I tilt my head to have better access to her mouth, but because I’m in no particular hurry, I keep my movements slow and controlled. Every single nerve ending in my body is like a lit firecracker and Jenna’s the gasoline. I might be a first responder, but my area of expertise isnotin extinguishing fires. If we’re going off how situations usually escalate before deescalating when law enforcement gets called, I may be considered gasoline too.
And I’m glad I’m not trained to put fires out, because I don’t feel like extinguishing this fire between Jenna and me. For the first time in a long time, I feel alive again. With Jenna, I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not. She sees my flaws and the shortcomings I know I have, but instead of those flaws and shortcomings scaring her away, they seem to draw her closer. Unlike any other woman I’ve gone out with, Sierra included, I don’t feel like I need to change who I am for her to love me. I know there are changes I need to make to beworthyof her love and to be a better person, especially because of the fears and beliefs I’ve held onto for so long, but that’s different than feeling pressured to change because of an ultimatum.
Leaving one hand on her lower back, I let my other one skim up to her shoulder before my fingers move her hair aside so I can cradle the back of her head. She releases a sound that makes me press in closer, but I’m not sure I could ever be close enough to this woman. She’s the light I’ve been hiding from for so long that, at first, I felt blinded by her. But now that I’ve experienced being within her light, I can’t go back. I don’twantto go back. I want to keep Jenna in my arms for the rest of my life.
I’m not sure how long we stand there, but I kiss her like it’s the last time we’ll have the chance. I kiss her softly and slowly, our lips gently pulling and teasing. I kiss her deeply, with the intent to brand her mouth against mine so I’ll never forget it. My hands roam the exquisite landscape of her innately feminine body, alternating between her hips and her face and her back, while hers do their own exploration of my body. They started on my shoulders, but they’ve migrated down my chest and wound around my back, underneath my suit jacket. I can feel the heat of her fingers right through my dress shirt, her touch enough to bring me to my knees. We’re playing with fire, and we both know it.
I know where this will lead if I let it, so I force myself to slow down. I press a few final kisses to her soft mouth, both hands on her lower back, and then ease my lips from hers entirely. She must be as reluctant to see this moment end as I am because a whimper of protest sounds in her throat, and her eyes stay closed as she rests her cheek against my chest. Rationally, I should release her to check on the steaks. I’m a rational person by most standards.
Except for tonight, because I hold onto her instead.
“This is perfect,” she murmurs, her left hand moving from my shoulder to rest on my chest. She lifts on tiptoe to kiss the skin exposed at the collar of my shirt, which elicits a sound of protest fromme, then burrows back into my chest. “Thank you, Seth. For everything.”
“Sweetheart, we haven’t even made it to the meal yet,” I tease, pulling in a breath as I hug her closer, inhaling and exhaling a deep breath. “And I might be biased, but if you think Ben’s charcuterie boards are good—”
“They’re better than good.”
“—then my steaks are gonna blow your socks off.”
She tilts her head back now, eyes dancing. “I’m not wearing socks.”
“Ha-ha. Hilarious.”
“I know. Thank you.”
I shake my head and lean down to whisper near her ear. “I love you. Even more than I love steak, and believe me, Ilovesteak.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Jenna
Iemerge from the water and manage to wipe my eyes clear just in time to see Seth surface. Lo and behold, but it is a sight to see. He shakes his head, which sends water droplets flying and makes his hair fall into a sexy disarray. His bare shoulders just barely peek out from the waves at me, and he grins as soon as he opens his eyes and catches me staring at him.
I don’t look away.
