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When we get back to the house, Sophie doesn’t bother to pretend that she’s sleeping in the guest room. After changing into her pajamas and brushing her teeth, she slips under the covers and curls into my side.
“What time do we need to leave tomorrow?” she asks.
“After breakfast would be good. I’ve got some work to catch up on when we get back to the city.”
“Okay.” She adjusts her head against my chest, finding her spot. I sweep her hair behind her shoulder and let my fingers trail along her arm.
“Did you have fun this weekend?” I ask.
Sophie’s legs tangle between mine. For how difficult it has been to get her to cuddle with me, I’ve found when she does, she’s like a koala hugging a tree, wrapping herself around every part of my body.
“Yes. Did you?”
“Despite your no-sex rule, I had the best time.”
Sophie laughs. “I did attack you on the boat.”
“If you couldn’t tell, I liked it. A lot.” Gooseflesh appears beneath my fingertips as I trail my fingers up her bare arm. “And it was fun to hang out with my parents.”
“Your parents are sweet.”
“My mom adores you.”
“Yeah?” It’s a question, but Sophie smiles knowingly. “We did bond over our love of plants and true crime podcasts.”
Finding out my mom is an avid true crime podcast listener as well was surprising, but I liked that she and Sophie had plenty to talk about.
In the morning, after breakfast, I load the car, then we hug my parents goodbye.
Watching my mom embrace Sophie as they discuss the care of the plant my mom has propagated for her, I know it’s one of those significant life moments that will cement itself in my memories. A core memory. My brain captures the picture perfectly, etching in every detail. It’s one that will be available for playback for years to come.
It’s also the instant I realize that I’m not nervous that my parents will get attached to Sophie and I’ll have to let them know it didn’t work out between us. That my commitment to work and my inability to prioritize a relationship has gotten in the way of giving them a daughter-in-law and future grandchildren, but that Sophie could be the one to decide at any moment that we’re done and I’d hate it. I’m not anywhere near done with her. This is only the beginning.
CHAPTER27
Sophie
“I’ve got a whole day planned,” Hunter announces from the bathroom.
My body is exhausted from work. My feet ache. My back aches. Even my boobs ache. I palm myself under the covers. They did bounce a lot last night. And Hunter did grip them hard when he was taking me from behind.
He appears with a towel wrapped around his waist. His dark hair is wet and one stray longish piece on top flops over his forehead in the most adorable curl. I don’t bother to hide my stare when he drops his towel to pull on his boxer briefs and shorts. I’m checking out the way his back muscles contract with every move as he pulls on a t-shirt. I pout when the shirt hides my view, but then I’m appreciating how much I love to see his strong arms pressing against the sleeves of his shirt.
“Is it lying in bed all day?” I ask.
“No.” He laughs. “It’ll be more things to check off your tourist list.”
“Or maybe we should stay here and I could check off some unexplored territory.” I slide my hand between us to palm him through his shorts.
“Tempting, but no.” He presses a kiss to my jaw, then playfully swats my ass through the covers. “Get up. We’ve got reservations.”
“Fine.” I toss the covers back, exposing my nude body.
Hunter is halfway out the bedroom door when he jerks his head back toward me. His blue eyes zero in on my breasts. When I let my knees fall open, exposing myself to him, his eyes darken and his jaw ticks. I watch as his grip on the doorframe tightens, turning his knuckles white.
“We’re going,” he growls, and I’m not sure if he’s talking to me or himself.
“Made you look,” I call, when he finally continues out the door.
