Parker slung Beth’s overnight bag over his shoulder and led her from the room, bouquet and all. She followed him to a golf cart he had waiting out front. There was a large wicker picnic basket in the back. Parker added her bag and flowers alongside it before helping her into the cart.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
He leaned in and kissed her sweetly. “You’ll see.”
They drove toward the beach and Parker steered the cart onto the conservation path. It was a long and winding boardwalk that wove through the inland side of the dunes that separated the golf course from the beach. The path ran through the protected area for wildlife the estate had designated when it was turned into a hotel. Beth and Parker used to spend hours hiking there as kids.
“Are we hiking?” she asked.
He grinned at her. “We’re doing a modified hike, golf cart style.”
Beth raised her eyebrows.
“I didn’t know how steady you were feeling.” Parker said. “And I don’t want you to get too worn out.”
“Parker, I feel fine.” Beth placed a soothing arm on Parker’s. “I promise.”
“Good,” he said. “But we’re still taking the golf cart.”
“Are we allowed?”
“I cleared it with the hotel.”
She laughed.
Parker queued up a playlist on his phone and Frank Sinatra’s sultry voice serenaded them as they slowly cruised through the beautiful greenery. It was perfect. Beth leaned into Parker and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. She could’ve stayed like that forever, but their joyride eventually ended at a little sandlot in front of the beach cottage.
Beth could hear the waves crashing in the distance and the smell of salt in the air instantly brought her back to her and Parker’s first kiss. She looked over at him and could tell he was thinking the same thing from the wistful curve of his lips.
Beth was awestruck that this beautiful boy was all hers. She leaned in to kiss him but he dodged her, scooping her up in his arms instead. He twirled her around before planting a kiss on her lips that left her breathless. He set her down for the briefest moment to grab the picnic basket, then he swept her up in his arms again.
“Parker,” she shrieked. “I can walk.”
“I know. I’m just being romantic.”
“So carrying me everywhere is just part of our date?”
“Yep, get used to it.”
“Really? You’re going to carry me everywhere from now on?”
“I just might. You’re great strength training,” he teased curling her like she was a kettle ball.
She gave up fighting him and nuzzled her face into his neck instead. He smelled delicious—like fresh soap and boy. Parker carried her around the side of the beach cottage, which was a small white-washed bungalow shaped like an octagon. Every room had a stunning view. Beth had only been there once before, since it was almost always rented out by guests.
When they reached the back of the cottage, Parker finally set her down. “Ta-da,” he said drawing her attention to the fire pit where a perfect bonfire waited to be lit.
Beth clapped in delight. She instantly knew what was in the picnic basket Parker set down. “S’mores?” she guessed.
“I promised you hiking, bonfires and S’mores,” he replied.
“It’s perfect,” she exclaimed, launching herself back into his arms.
Beth kissed Parker madly as the ocean air blew her hair like a golden storm around them. He held her with such intensity that she wanted to cry. She was his and he was hers. Parker was everything she’d ever wanted and they’d finally found their way to each other.
Beth’s feelings overwhelmed her as tears slipped down her cheeks.
Parker pulled away in alarm. “Are you okay?”
“Perfect,” she murmured.
“You’re crying.”
“I know,” she said swiping at her cheeks. “I’m just so happy.”
“Me too,” he said, caressing her face with heartbreaking tenderness. “Me too.”
Parker
Parker lounged in the oversized Adirondack chair with Beth in his arms. He stared at the dancing flames of their bonfire. They’d both eaten their fill of S’mores and were now snuggled in a warm cable knit blanket as the sun set, painting the sky cotton candy pinks and blues.
Today had been perfection, and there was still more to come—if that’s what Beth wanted. Parker was happy to stay right where he was. But if Beth wanted more, he wanted to let her know he wanted it too. It was a fine line to walk. He didn’t want to push her, but he didn’t want her to think that every fiber of his being wasn’t craving her.
The flames were smoldering down to embers and it was starting to get cold.
“Do you want to go inside?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
Beth gathered the blanket in her arms and stood up. She walked a few steps and turned back to him with a smirk. “What? You’re done carrying me already?”
Parker laughed but made no move to pick her up. If they were going to do more than kiss, he wanted her to lead the way. He never wanted her to feel pressured.
Beth made her way to the cottage and Parker followed her inside. It was dark and she reached for the light switch.
“Wait,” he said, grabbing a remote instead.
Parker pressed a button and the room blazed to life with the dozens of LED candles he’d set up earlier. He clicked another button and Snow Patrol’s seductive melodies softly greeted them.
Beth gasped as she took in the room. Parker watched as her hand flew to her chest. Her eyes misted up as she drank in the scene he’d arranged for her. The round cottage studio was aglow with candlelight and scattered on every surface were hundreds of bouquets of daisies. The flowers had taken him the longest to arrange, but it had been worth every second to see the look of awe on Beth’s face.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“I love it,” she whispered.
Beth walked further into the room, moving toward the king sized bed at its center. Her fingers trailed over the soft white flower petals. “Where did you get so many daisies?”
Parker laughed. “Let’s just say every florist in Savannah had a very lucrative day.”
Beth looked at him, curiously. “Why daisies?”
Parker rubbed the back of his neck shyly. “I didn’t know your favorite flower.”
Beth sauntered over to him and looped her arms around his neck. “Parker Reed, are you saying there are things you don’t know about me?”
“I guess so.”
“I think that’s a very wonderful thing,” she whispered against his lips. “That means there are still things for us to discover about each other.”
Parker kissed her for a long moment before pulling away. “What is your favorite flower?”
Beth looked as though she was pondering it for a moment. “I guess I don’t have one. Why’d you choose daisies?”
“I thought you might like them since they were the flowers on your lucky shoes.”
He watched Beth’s eyes blink in a mixture of adoration and astonishment. “Ya know, I may not have had a favorite flower, but I do now.”
“I was hoping you might say that,” Parker admitted kissing her again. “I sort of think of them as my lucky charm now.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. The last time you wore daisies on your shoes it was in my favor.” Parker kissed her slowly. “Do you remember?” he asked between kisses.
Beth nodded, whimpering as Parker trailed kisses down her throat.
“It was the night you told me you picked me,” he murmured.
“I remember.”
“I think it was the greatest night of my life.”
Beth smiled and for a second, the candlelight made her look more devilish than angelic. “I was sorta hoping tonight would be the greatest night of your life.”
Parker’s heart thumped so loudly in his chest he thought he would hav
e to turn the music up to drown it out. Beth turned away from him and started to unzip her dress. Time slowed as it fluttered to the floor and Parker drank her in—flawless skin, pearl-white lingerie.
Beth shimmered in the candlelight. She took a step toward him tugging at his shirt. It was off in an instant and they were kissing like their lives depended on it. They moved to the bed. Parker followed Beth across the plush white sheets, hypnotized by her beauty and hungry for more. She lay back, pulling his hard planes against her soft curves. The moment was so painfully exquisite that Parker found it hard to breathe. He’d always known he loved Beth, but now he was falling, deeper and faster than he knew existed. Parker never knew he could feel so much all at once. But when Beth wrapped her arms around him, he knew he was irrevocably changed.
Parker’s chest rose and fell quickly as their bodies aligned. Beth’s breaths came in fast, shallow bursts. But through it all, Parker noted their heartbeats and how perfectly matched they were—both pounding with frantic pleasure. He felt like he was about to dive off a cliff. He was terrified and exhilarated, and he’d never felt more alive.
“Are you sure?” he whispered one last time.
Beth stared into his eyes. “I told you, Parker. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
“I love you, Beth.”
“I love you too, Parker.”
45
Beth
The next morning Beth awoke first. The pale dawn light filtered in from every window, washing the beach cottage with an ethereal glow. Beth glanced at Parker. He was still fast asleep, cradling her in his arms.
Her heart swelled just looking at him. Last night had been perfect. Beth’s sisters were right; sex was incredibly special when you waited to be in love. And Beth was most definitely in love. She couldn’t imagine anything being more special than what she and Parker had shared last night. He’d been so kind and gentle with her. He knew her better than anyone else in the world and she trusted him in a way she couldn’t put into words. He was her other half, her better self—hers.
Hers. Beth would never grow tired of that word. Parker Reed was hers. And she was his. They shared the most perfect moment and nothing could ever steal that from them. Not college, not gossip, nor time. It would exist forever, just for the two of them.
She traced the warm skin of his bare chest, placing her palm above his heart. She loved feeling it beat beneath her fingers. She could lay with her head on his chest and listen to the steady rhythm of his heart forever.
Carefully, Beth placed a light kiss where her hand had been over Parker’s heart.
She was content to watch him sleep. He was so sublimely beautiful in the morning light. All mussed black hair and fine angles—a sleeping prince.
She didn’t want to wake him, but she couldn’t resist placing soft kisses up his neck. She got to his jaw before he began to stir.
His vivid blue eyes flickered open and his gorgeous face quirked into a lopsided grin. “Good morning, beautiful,” he said in his devastating morning voice.
Beth closed her eyes with delight. “I think I could die happy if I never heard another sentence for the rest of my life.”
Parker grinned. “Challenge accepted.”
Epilogue
“Beth, no boy wants to be called beautiful,” Parker groaned. “You need to pick a new nickname for me.”
“Why?” Beth whined, snuggling further under his arm. They were lying in his dorm room bed—on top of the covers at Parker’s insistence. The first day of college had snuck up on them and Beth was being sappier than usual.
“Because I don’t want my roommate to start calling me beautiful,” he joked. “I haven’t met him yet and I want to make a good impression.”
“He’s going to love you, beautiful,” Beth teased.
Parker pinched her side and she erupted into a fit of laughter. “Come on,” he pressed. “How about handsome? Or maybe I could get away with gorgeous?”
“Someone’s feeling full of themselves,” Beth taunted.
Parker pouted playfully.
She couldn’t resist him when he did that. Much more kissing ensued and when they finally came up for air Beth continued to harass him. “It’s really too bad you hate your nickname so much, because you, Parker Reed, are beautiful, inside and out. And I love you.”
Parker pulled Beth closer. “Well, when you put it that way . . .” He kissed her slowly, until she was putty in his hands. Parker sighed. “Hell, who am I kidding? I’ll let you call me anything you want.”
Beth giggled. “I know.”
She loved the easy banter they’d grown into since they started dating and was reluctant to let go. It seemed Parker was too, but with the first day of college looming there didn’t seem to be much choice.
Beth finally managed to pry herself away after multiple failed attempts in which Parker dragged her back to his bed. “Alright, I guess I should go.”
Parker looked at his watch and frowned. “If I keep you any longer you’re gonna miss your first class.”
She pouted. “I don’t wanna leave you.”
“I know,” Parker replied. “I don’t want you to either, but we talked about this. It’s gonna be fine. Our campuses aren’t that far apart.”
Beth groaned. “It’s just gonna be weird.”
“I know.” Parker admitted. “I’m not gonna know what to do with myself. We haven’t spent a moment apart since we got back from Georgia.”
“Mmm, Georgia,” Beth mused. “Can we please go back there?”
“Yes. Every summer. And then we’ll retire there when we’re old and gray and drink gin and play bridge like Nana.”
Beth laughed. “That sounds perfect! But do we have to wait until we’re old and gray? Retirement is so far away.”
Parker stroked his chin. “Good point. We’ll move there right after we graduate so all our kids can run amuck at Bellemora like we did.”
Beth looked up at him, eyes wide. “We’re having kids?”
“Lots of kids,” he replied kissing her nose.
Beth sat up. “Just how many kids are we talking?”
“Oh at least six. But not all girls, okay? I love your sisters, but they’re crazy.”
Beth snorted. “You wouldn’t want six of me?”
“On second thought,” Parker tackled her back onto the bed kissing her until she was breathless.
“Okay, okay. I think I better go before you jump start the kid plan.”
Parker chuckled, but walked Beth to the door. He slid his college hoodie over her head, kissing the crown of her head when it popped out. Her blonde hair was in a messy ponytail and he couldn’t resist giving it a tug. “Now go to class so we can get to our amazing future sooner.”
Beth grinned standing on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I love you, Parker Reed.”
“I love you too, Beth Bennett. Don’t worry, okay? It won’t be that bad.”
“I know,” she said trying to put on a brave face. “We’ll see each other all the time.”
“One more kiss,” Parker said pulling Beth toward him by her sweatshirt strings.
And then she was out the door.
Beth walked across the blustery campus as the fall leaves danced in the crisp air. The wind smelled of change and she tried not to be nervous. But as she continued to her waiting car, she glanced down at the words embroidered across Parker’s college hoodie and smiled—Harvard University.
Maybe change wasn’t so bad after all. Parker had changed his mind about college and now their campuses were only a few miles apart. Everything was falling into place for them. With Parker by her side, the future was full of possibility. And as much as that excited her, Beth was more focused on the present these days. Mainly because she’d gotten much better at seeing what was right in front of her, and she really liked the view.
Beth smiled at her driver as he opened the door to her town car. Settling into the comfortable leather of the back seat, Beth let her mind wander back to Georgi
a for a moment. She and Parker had returned to Bellemora after graduation and spent four weeks discovering just how many things they didn’t know about each other.
Grinning, Beth looked out the window as the beautiful Boston scenery passed her by. Georgia could wait. Beth and Parker had a lot of memories to make in Boston first. Especially since they had rewritten their rules . . .
Rules for surviving a crush on your best friend:
Always admit how you truly feel.
Never let your best friend date a jerk.
Attend as many weddings as possible together.
And always remember . . . love is worth the risk.
To my readers,
I want to personally thank you for taking the time to seek out this great little indie book. Writing is truly my passion. I believe each of us can find a small part of ourselves in every book we read, and carry it with us, shaping our world, our adventures and our dreams.
Following my dream to write frees my soul but knowing others find joy in my writing is indescribable. So thank you for your support and I hope your enjoyed your brief escape into the magic of these pages.
If you enjoyed this story, don’t worry, there’s plenty more currently rattling around in my rambunctious imagination. Let me and others know your thoughts by sharing a review of this book. Reviews help shape my next writing projects. So if you want more books like this one be sure to shout it from the rooftops (or social media.) ;-)
- Christina Benjamin
PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW HERE
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank everyone who made this book possible. To Philip, my best friend, my husband, my everything. Your unyielding belief and encouragement forces me to pour my best self onto each and every page. I’m beyond grateful to be married to my best friend. To Molly and Megan, who take time out of their busy lives to let me blab endlessly about my books while they help make them shine. There’s not enough wine and chocolate in the world to thank you for all you do. I’m so blessed to call you friends. To Vince for literally sitting by my side during every word, edit and rewrite. You are the stinky heartbeat at my feet and I wouldn’t trade you for the world. To Tybee Island and Palmetto Bluff for being such inspiring, romantic settings. To everyone who has ever fallen in love with their best friend and survived. To my parents for teaching me that love conquers all. And to everyone who still believes in it. And to all of you who are taking the time to read this to the very end.
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