He gave her ass another tap, then pressed a kiss there. “I need to see you, gorgeous.”
He shifted her beside him and grabbed a condom from the nightstand, sheathing himself. Confidence and desire billowed off of him as he lowered himself to his back and reached for her hand, helped her straddle his hips.
When he was buried deep inside her, he pulled her face closer to his and said, “You light me up, Harper, inside and out.” He touched his lips to hers and said, “It’s not just the sex, baby. It’s everything about you. Your sweet smiles, your playful teases, and that look in your eyes right now that says you’re falling hard for me and you don’t want to say it out loud.”
Her heart slammed against her ribs. Could he feel it? Did he know it was trying to break free? To become one with his?
He cradled her face between his hands, gazing deeply into her eyes as he said, “Know this, sweetheart. I’m falling for you and I never want to stop.”
Before she could respond, he kissed her. Their bodies moved in exquisite harmony, and as they soared toward the clouds, his confession pulled hers to the surface and she whispered, “I’ve already fallen.”
LATER THAT AFTERNOON, after a long ride with the guys, Gavin and Harper shopped for furniture. He was still riding the high off their morning confessions.
“What about this one?” Harper plopped down on a couch and patted the cushion beside her. Her skin had the fresh glow of a new tan, and her hair fell in silky waves over the thin straps of her tank dress.
He sat down, pulled her closer, and said, “I can’t really tell.” They were alone in the back of the store, so he leaned over her, pressing her down to her back as they kissed.
“Is this what you think is going to happen on your new couch?” she asked with a sweet laugh.
“I don’t think we’re allowed to do what’ll probably happen on our couch in here, but this is a good start.” He kissed her again and said, “I’m just trying to be thorough. There are a lot of things to consider when purchasing furniture.” He laced their hands together, lifting hers over her head, but the couch wasn’t deep enough. “This couch is a total cock blocker. If I can’t hold your hands, it’ll never work.”
He got up, and she giggled as he pulled her up beside him. He led her to an extra-deep couch with a cuddler on one end.
“You want a sex pit,” she whispered.
“What I want is a couch that is large enough and comfortable enough for me to hold you, love you, and fall asleep tangled up in you, so you’ll never want to leave my arms.” He sat on the oversized cushions of the cuddler and pulled her down to his lap. He put his hand beneath her hair, caressing the nape of her neck, and said, “See, beautiful? Isn’t this nice?”
“I’m not sure yet.” She looked around the showroom. She got up on her knees and straddled his hips. Her arms circled his neck and her eyes darkened. “Yeah. This feels right.”
“God, Harper. You make it impossible not to love you.”
She touched her forehead to his and whispered, “You love sex. Don’t confuse that with loving me.”
In one swift move he took her down to her back and pinned her hands beside her head, returning her wide grin with one of his own as he said, “I’ve never told a woman I love her before. Not once.”
“Gavin,” she said with love in her eyes.
“It’s true. Don’t ever believe I would be shallow enough to say something so important because of sex. Especially to you. I said I was falling for you because I didn’t want to scare you off, but I love you, Harper. I love your careful nature as much as I love our hot, sexy nights. I love the way our lives have come together. I love falling asleep with you safe in my arms and waking to your sweet snoring sounds.”
She laughed, and a tear slipped from her eyes.
“I told my parents about you, sweetheart. I want to bring you home to meet them at Thanksgiving.”
“Oh, Gavin, I love you so much. You could never scare me off, and I’d love to meet your family.”
As he lowered his lips to hers, someone cleared their throat, and Harper flew to her feet, taking Gavin up with her. A saleswoman stood beside the cuddler. She looked to be in her late forties, and her smile told Gavin she was used to catching couples in compromising positions.
“Hi. I’m Gavin Wheeler.” He shook her hand and said, “This is my girlfriend, Harper. We’ll take this couch.”
Harper whispered, “You haven’t even looked around.”
“I just handed you my heart on those cushions. That couch is ours.”
With a dreamy expression, Harper leaned into him and said, “You’re really something, and I’m so glad you’re mine.”
“I am, too,” the saleswoman said. “If you’d like to hand her your heart again on an armchair or a table, we have plenty of other pieces that match this set.”
Chapter Sixteen
“THESE GUYS ARE out of their minds,” Gavin said as he and Serena walked out of the Wharf Thursday afternoon. The owners had completely changed directions and decided that outfitting the restaurant in stainless steel and glass was a good idea. “Do they realize they’re in a beach community? Their building is a converted cottage, for Pete’s sake.”
Serena set her bag on the hood of her car, glancing back at the restaurant. She looked strikingly professional in a black skirt and a royal-blue blouse. “It’s that crazy branding company they’ve started using. I recommended three local companies, but the owner’s sister’s boyfriend is supposed to be some kind of branding guru. The trouble is, he’s never even been to the East Coast. He has no idea about the difference between Provincetown, Orleans, or Boston, much less how the restaurant interiors differ.”
“Know what I think?”
“That we should walk away and count our blessings to be free of them? The last thing we need is to design a restaurant that is sure to fail and will reflect badly on our company.”
“No. I think we need to meet with their branding guy.”
“I suggested that,” she reminded him. The owners had nixed the idea.
“Maybe we shouldn’t suggest it. We accepted this contract based on designing in the fashion we pitched, one that’s consistent with the food they offer, their reputation, and the location. I think we should demand the meeting. Sure, we can walk away and pick up another client, but there’s a piece of me that feels bad for these guys.”
Serena put her hand on her hip and said, “Because they’re making bad business decisions? You’re such a softie.”
“I can’t help it. They took over the restaurant from their parents. It’s not like they have fifty years of experience. When we decided to open our business together, we agreed we weren’t going to be only financially driven. We wanted to be good at what we did, to make a difference and make a name for ourselves. Part of being good at what we do is giving our two cents in a way that we can be heard.” He shrugged and said, “What have we got to lose? Even if they say no, we’re in no worse shape than if we’d cut ties now. But if they agree and we build a solid enough case that their branding guy can’t see past it, then we’re helping them in a way that feels good.”
Serena’s lips curved up. “You’re right. We have nothing to lose. Want to go back in right now?”
“Not now.” He and Harper had plans to barbecue tonight. She’d been working feverishly on her script, her new assignments, and the article she’d written about Harvey. He wanted to pick up some flowers to surprise her with on the way home.
“Let’s sit on it for a day and set up an appointment tomorrow. That way we can walk in with a document in hand to nullify the contract so they know we’re serious.”
“I knew there was a reason I liked you. You can be a hard-ass when it serves you well.”
“You liked me because of the old Wheeler charm,” he teased.
“Actually, it was the cookies you used to leave on my desk. Speaking of which, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen any of those.” She cocked her head to the side an
d said, “Although, given how lovey-dovey you and Harper were at breakfast yesterday, I guess you’ve got better things on your mind than cookies. I love that you two are shacking up.”
He chuckled. “Shacking up? That sounds very nineties.”
“What do you call it?”
“I don’t know, but I fucking love it.”
“What’s wifey cooking for you tonight?”
“I’m the cook,” he corrected her. “All she has to do is light my fire.”
She rolled her eyes again. “Guys are all the same.” She lowered her voice, mocking him, and said, “Light my fire, be good in the bedroom.” In her normal tone, she said, “Do you think girls tell each other that all our guys have to do is…?” She giggled and quickly said, “Never mind. I take that back.”
Gavin laughed. “I’ve seen what the girls read in that book club. None of y’all are innocent.”
“I’ve never implied innocence.” She unlocked her car door and grabbed her bag. “Hey, did you really buy furniture for your place? Have you done the sunroom yet?” The first few months after he’d bought the house, Serena had nagged him incessantly to get with the program and decorate.
“Yes to the furniture, no to the sunroom, but I have some ideas.” Their new couch, coffee table, and armchair had been delivered, along with a dining set they’d found during the same shopping trip.
“Sounds like Harper is helping my little Gavin grow up,” she teased. “See you tomorrow.”
He chuckled as he climbed into his car. He was still smiling when he pulled down his street a little while later. There was no better feeling than coming home to find Harper writing on the dock, enjoying a snack at their new dining room table, or listening to one of the records from his collection, which they’d finally unpacked. Yesterday after work they’d gone to the Earth House, which sold vintage records, clothing, and various other items, and they’d picked up a couple of records. He’d forgotten what it was like to be with someone he wanted to share those parts of himself with.
As he pulled into the driveway, Justin’s motorcycle came into view, and just beyond was a front yard he hardly recognized. On either side of the front steps, gorgeous, kidney-shaped flower beds overflowed with colorful blooms. Harper was perched on her knees, wearing shorts and a bikini top, her hair pinned up in a high ponytail, with a pair of flowered rubber boots on her feet. She was moving dirt around the base of unwieldy tiger lilies, talking to Justin. Justin’s arms were crossed over his black Cape Stone T-shirt, and even from the side Gavin could see he wore a serious expression. His beard jumped as if his jaw was clenching.
Gavin climbed from his car with the flowers he’d bought for Harper, and they both looked over. “I must have missed the invitation to the party.”
Harper pushed to her feet with a tentative smile. She was stunning in a polka-dot bikini top and her favorite cutoffs—the ones with embroidered peace signs and flowers around the pockets. “I hope it’s okay. Oh my gosh, you brought me flowers! They’re beautiful! Thank you!” She took the bouquet as she talked excitedly. “I didn’t mean to take over the yard. I had all this extra energy and couldn’t focus on writing, so I ran out to the store to pick up a few things. While I was out, I passed the Farm, with all their gorgeous flowers on display, and got inspired to garden.”
He leaned in for a kiss and said, “They’re almost as beautiful as you are, and you can take over anything you’d like, sweetheart. What’s going on, Jus?”
“I came by to see if you guys wanted to grab a beer at Common Grounds and found Harper knee-deep in dirt, trying to save your sorry front yard. I was just telling her that I’ve been after you for months to do something with this place.”
“I never had much inspiration before.” He pulled Harper closer.
Justin scoffed. “I don’t see your knees covered in dirt. You’ve got a hell of a girlfriend.”
“Yeah, I do.” He kissed her cheek.
“Hey, Justin, why don’t you stick around and eat with us?” Harper suggested. “We’re just throwing burgers on the grill, but we’ve got beer in the fridge.”
Just when he didn’t think his life could get much better, she surprised him. There was something wonderful about his best friend and his girlfriend hitting it off. “That’s a great idea.”
“Sounds cool to me,” Justin agreed.
Harper wiped her hands on her shorts and said, “I just need to wash up. Gosh, I’ve been going, going, going since first thing this morning.”
“Where did all this extra energy come from?” Gavin asked.
Her eyes lit up as she said, “It all started this morning when I was trying to write. I’m almost ready to grovel to my ex-agent and see if she’ll pitch my script, and I’m really nervous about it. I felt like I’d downed five cups of coffee. It’s like putting myself out there naked for everyone to judge.”
“Babe, your work is fantastic, just like you.”
“Is this about the new script you’re writing that you’ve been talking about?” Justin asked.
“Yes.”
“Well, you might want to wait another couple of weeks,” Justin said. “Our business is slammed right now because we’re trying to wrap up the work we can before the week of the Fourth. We don’t even send bids for new jobs until the week after the holiday. We’ve found that anything submitted within two weeks of a major holiday gets buried in people’s inboxes.”
“Oh, good point. Geez, how could I have forgotten about the Fourth?” Harper breathed a sigh of relief.
“You’re kind of bouncing off the walls,” Justin said.
“I know! Thank you for reminding me. I’ll wait until after the holiday. But that’s not all that’s going on.” She shifted a wide-eyed gaze to Gavin. “I wanted to call you so badly, but I didn’t want to interrupt your meetings. While I was out running errands, I got a call from the producer I worked with in LA. They have ideas for a new twist on the pilot I sold them. It’s a pretty significant rewrite, and they want me to come out there to work with them on it.”
“Babe, that’s amazing. You probably should have led with that news.” A pang of longing sliced through Gavin at the thought of Harper going away after they’d just found each other. He’d never hold her back, but he was worried about how it could crush her if the show were to get canceled again. “You said it was a big deal to be part of the writing team. Being asked twice confirms just how incredible you are. When do you leave?”
Her shoulders sank. “I don’t know if I want to accept.”
“Whoa, Harp,” Gavin said. “This is everything you’ve been hoping for. This is why you write.”
“I know, but I’m just getting settled back here and…” She reached for Gavin’s hand. “We have us, and I’m going to put feelers out with other places for my new script.”
“Sweetheart, you’re not missing out on an opportunity because of me. I’ll fly out to see you every weekend if you want, but don’t give up a chance to make your dreams come true.”
“It does sound like the opportunity of a lifetime,” Justin added.
“I know,” she said in a pained voice. “But for the first time in ages, I’m really happy with what I’m doing and who I’m spending time with. I’m in the middle of a project I believe in, and I just got my life back. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I told him I need two weeks to think about it. And right now I need to get cleaned up, you need to change out of your work clothes, and Justin needs a cold beer. So, let’s get this party started!”
“But, Harp—”
“No, but Harps.” She grabbed Gavin’s and Justin’s arms and headed for the front door. “I don’t want to think about it tonight. I have two weeks to decide, and I’m not going to ruin tonight by overthinking, and you’re not allowed to either.”
“Hey, I’m not overthinking,” Justin said as he opened the front door. “A beer sounds good to me.”
Gavin held Harper on the front porch as Justin went inside. He gazed into her eyes, waiti
ng until he had her complete attention before saying, “Harper, we don’t have to talk about it right now, but please know that whatever you do, it won’t hurt what we have, okay? Don’t ever hold yourself back because of me.”
“Okay.”
“I mean it. I want everything for you, and that includes being there to help you reach every star in the sky. Promise me you won’t let our relationship hold you back.”
She went up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. “I know. I promise.” She took his hand and said, “Come on. Let’s go in.”
“Gavin, this place looks awesome!” Justin called out from the kitchen. “What’d you do, hire a decorator?”
“Funny,” Gavin said sarcastically, noticing the delicious aroma of fresh-baked goods hanging in the air. “What smells so good?”
“Nana’s everything cookies,” Harper said.
Gavin stopped cold, sure he’d misheard her. “Whose cookies?”
Justin poked his smiling face out of the kitchen and said, “Mind if I snag a cookie?”
“Sure,” Harper said, grinning. “It’s Nana’s recipe. I tracked down Beckett on Instagram to see if I could get some recent pictures for the fishing-rod frames. I didn’t want to just steal his pictures, so I messaged him and told him what I was doing. We got to talking, and I asked him about the cookies.”
“Dude, these are amazing.” Justin handed him a cookie. “I’m going to light the grill and chill on the patio while you get the lowdown, change your clothes, and whatnot.”
“Thanks.” He took a bite of the cookie, and sweetness exploded over his tongue. “Oh my God, Harper. These are better than Nana’s.” He set the cookie on the counter and gathered her in his arms, kissing her again, overwhelmed with love for her. “I can’t believe you tracked Nana down and made my favorite cookies.”
“It was fun, and Beckett is hilarious. I love him, Gavin, and he thinks the world of you. He connected me to your mom for the cookie recipe, and we talked on the phone for half an hour. Then she gave me Nana’s phone number, and Nana kept me on the phone forever. They were both so nice, and it’s obvious how much they miss you. Nana said you should come home for your birthday so she can throw you a party. I didn’t know your birthday was at the end of July. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Bayside Romance (Bayside Summers) Page 19