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Beau laughed. “Nah. Just a front-row seat to the best view of the stars.” He slid his finger in a cross over his chest. “You have my word.”
Her smile widened, and a mischievous light glimmered in her eye, but she took his hand and allowed him to lead her to the space beside him on the blanket. He cupped the back of her head as she lay down beside him, and looked up at the night sky.
“Over there,” he said, pointing to a swath of hazy light to the southeast of them that stretched in an uneven line through a scattering of bright stars that surrounded it. “Do you see it?”
“The Milky Way,” she said, smiling. “And there . . .” She pointed toward the tree line, at sporadic specks of light flashing among the branches. “Fireflies too. I haven’t seen those in years.”
“Now,” he said softly, “what’d I tell you?”
“Free admission to the heavens,” she whispered, staring up at the bright stars and the glowing moon.
“And was I right?” he teased, slipping his hand over hers by his side and weaving their fingers together. Her palm was warm and soft, and he eased closer, resting his thigh against hers.
A soft sigh of pleasure escaped her, and she moved her head, resting her cheek against his shoulder. “You were. I can’t imagine anything better.”
“Can’t you?” he asked quietly.
She moved against him, rolling over on her side, and rested her small palm on the center of his chest, right over his heart. Her hand flexed against him, pressing firmly, as she rose to one elbow and leaned over him, her long hair falling over one of her shoulders and brushing his neck.
“Yes,” she whispered, her gaze lowering to his mouth. But shadows lingered in her eyes, a wealth of sadness mingling with the desire in her gaze.
“Kit?” He lifted his hand, smoothed it beneath the fall of her hair, and slid it around the back of her neck. “What is it? What do you need to say?”
Her mouth parted, and she moved to speak, her lips trembling, but no sound emerged.
He waited, drifting his thumb gently along her smooth nape, meeting her eyes, urging her to speak.
“I . . .” Her eyes lowered, and her gaze fixed on his chest. “I love you. But . . .”
His heart thumped painfully, and the rush of pleasure he’d felt at her initial words faded as tears filled her eyes. “But what?”
She closed her eyes, tears slipping from her lashes. “It’s not the right time.”
He pulled in a breath, a shudder running through him. “What do you mean?”
“I mean . . .” She opened her eyes and met his again, pain in the dark depths. “I can’t rebuild a relationship with Viv and pursue one with you at the same time. It would be too complicated, and it . . . it would hurt her too much.” Her chin trembled. “I’ve hurt her enough as it is. She and I need time to get to know each other again as we are now. We need time to trust each other again.”
He smiled tightly. “And I would get in the way of that?”
She stared down at him, her fingertips drifting over his mouth, her thumb lingering on his lower lip. “I think it’d be difficult to navigate for both of us. And it’s not just Viv I’m thinking of. There’s Cal, as well.” Her breath caught, and she turned her head, her gaze seeking out the soft glow of fireflies in the trees. “I’ve lost my mother in the worst way. A way I imagine was almost as hard as the way Cal lost Evelyn.” She faced him again, her hand on his chest curling into his shirt. “I care about Cal, and I don’t want to risk hurting him in any way. Even if it were unintentional. I need to heal my own family before I try to be a part of yours. As much as I wish things were different, now just isn’t the right time for us.”
He wanted to be angry. Wanted to argue and rage at the unfairness of it all, at the fact that he was losing her. But the sincerity in her eyes and the emotion in her voice when she spoke of Cal were enough to reassure him there might still be a chance for them . . . one day.
Beau cradled her face in his hands, his eyes seeking hers, as she looked down at him. “I’ll wait,” he whispered. “Until it’s the right time. As long as it takes.”
Pain moved through her expression. “I’m sorry, Beau. I—”
“No.” He shook his head and wiped away a tear from her cheek, his own breath catching. “There’s nothing to apologize for. You’re protecting your sister and my son.” Despite the deep ache inside him, his smile returned. “And you love me, just as I love you.” He tugged her closer, his lips brushing hers. “That alone is enough to carry me through forever.”
A soft cry escaped her, and her hand released his T-shirt and slid up his chest. Both of her soft palms cupped the back of his head as she lowered her mouth to his and parted his lips with hers.
He closed his eyes and slid his arms around her, his palms gliding over her back and hips; his legs tangled with hers as he held her tightly against him. She settled perfectly against him, her soft curves filling his hard planes, and he lifted his hands to her hair, wound the silky strands around his fingers as she pressed closer, her smooth cheek rubbing against his rough jaw. He breathed her in, savoring her kiss, her sweet scent, and the intoxicating taste of her on his tongue, wishing he could make the moment last forever.
She lifted her mouth from his and dragged in a raspy breath, her heart hammering against his chest, her skin heating beneath his touch. An almost desperate plea entered her voice when she asked, “Can we stay here a little while longer? Can we just have this . . . for a few more minutes?”
Her cheeks were flushed, the stubble lining his jaw having left its mark, and her lips had deepened to a shade of rose. He kissed her again slowly, the feel of her soft mouth parting against his tongue making his body tighten.
He pulled away with a ragged groan and tucked her head beneath his chin. With her cheek resting on his chest, her soft breaths swept over his thin T-shirt above the strong throb of his heart.
