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Ash had turned around even though I hadn’t told him to, and he didn’t spin back around until he heard the splash of me getting into the hot tub. His eyes still went wide with desire at the sight of me in nothing but a bra.
“I can’t believe you got me to do this. My hair is going to curl.”
He grabbed my arm and drew me across the hot tub. “I like it when it curls.”
“Curls are in right now at least. If only I had them like Marley, you know? Mine is more like a curl, wave, straight mix, as if it can’t quite decide on a texture. That’s why I always straighten it.”
His hands slipped down my bare sides as I stood between his knees. “It’s pretty however you wear it. You know that.”
My hands moved to his chest. If he was going to touch me like that, I was going to get my fill too.
“Mia,” he said, pulling me closer until our chests nearly touched, “I’m glad you came over.”
“I thought about canceling.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
His hands slid lower, picking me up easily in the water and settling me into his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Marina told me not to put out.”
Ash guffawed. “I see.”
I realized just how little clothing was between us. I was in the smallest scrap of fabric. He could be inside of me in seconds if I let him. And a part of me really wanted it. The loudest part knew how bad of an idea it was to go this fast with him.
“And that she’d kill you if you hurt me.”
“That seems to be going around,” he said.
“Derek?”
He shrugged. “I told him we were going out so that he wouldn’t find out secondhand.”
“Yeah. I told Josie this afternoon.”
His eyes flashed. “Really? What did the infamous Josephine Reynolds think?”
“That you’re different with me.”
His expression softened. “Well, she’s not wrong.”
I closed my eyes and sighed heavily. But he was there, drawing my face up to his.
“Hey,” he said. “Look at me.”
I slowly opened my eyes to meet his blue orbs. My heart ached for him. For the lost girl who had wanted nothing more than this. And the woman seated on his lap who needed so much more.
“How do I know you won’t hurt me again?”
“Because your brother will kill me.”
I laughed despite myself and swatted at him. “I’m being serious.”
He arched an eyebrow. “So am I.”
“Don’t be an ass.”
He grinned wickedly at me. “Look, all I know is that I couldn’t look forward into my future for a long time. I was too bogged down in the past. And when I look forward now, all I see is you.”
At those words, I let go. I let go of the pain of our shared past and decided to look at the future.
So, when he dipped his head to meet my lips, I didn’t stop him. I leaned into it. The kiss was sweet like summer watermelon, memorable like a pageant win, and pure joy like twirling in a brand-new dress.
As much as I wanted it to go further than that, I didn’t let it. Ash didn’t push for me either. It was enough to be together. To make out in his hot tub and realize we had time to figure out where this was going.
So, we made plans for another date and another after that. And I let that hope creep back in, unbidden.
12
Savannah
July 15, 2016
“Ballentine is the newest clothing store in downtown Savannah,” the mayor of Savannah said joyously as he held a red ribbon in front of my store. “We’re lucky to have the owner, Amelia Ballentine, here with us today for the official grand opening.”
I beamed with a pair of enormous gold scissors in my hands. My whole family stood behind me. Mom had driven into Savannah with her latest boyfriend, Ian. Dad was on my other side with his arm around a proud Kathy. Derek and his fiancée, Kasey, stood between the two sides of our family. And me in the middle. I was so excited about today that I didn’t even have time to stress about anything.
The mayor said a few more congratulatory words before gesturing for me to cut the ribbon, which I did. The crowd cheered. Reporters flashed their cameras. I smiled and waved like I was back in my pageant days.
Then, the ceremony was over, and my store was officially open.
We’d soft-launched two weeks ago. I sold out of half of my stock on the first day. I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able to order enough extra to make the grand opening feel grand, but I worked my ass off to get here. I hadn’t stopped then.
“We’re so proud of you,” Mom said, pulling me in for a hug.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I cannot wait to see everyone in all of your clothes all over Savannah,” Kathy said.
