“Yeah.”
She knew she had to tread carefully. If she wanted forever with him, she couldn't paint him into a corner. She couldn't beg him to stay and she didn't want him to feel tied down. No one wanted to feel like they didn't have options.
But she'd just unpacked her last box a week ago. She’d made friends. She had gym buddies, and a favorite grocery store. Layla, her business partner, lived here.
Silence hung between them and when they pulled up to a stop light, he reached for her hand. She gave him a squeeze and a smile.
He lifted her hand to his lips and brushed kisses over her knuckles.
“I love you.”
Her heart expanded in her chest. “Love you too.”
If only she could go back in time and tell her tortured teenaged self to hang on. Don’t give up hope. Everything you ever wanted, you’re going to get if you just stay true to yourself.
How many times had she looked at David, longing for him to look at her like a man should look at a woman?
Countless.
And now…here he was. Next to her, touching her, kissing her, and whispering the three words she’d always longed to hear.
She took a steadying breath and prayed that they’d come up with a solution to the distance problem.
“We’ll figure it out,” he promised, as if he’d read her mind.
The determination and sincerity etched on his handsome face made her a believer.
17
David glanced at his watch and did the math. The pilot would be announcing their descent any minute.
He'd never flown first class before; somehow it didn't compare to the back of the cargo planes he usually flew on.
He'd be lying if he said he wasn't excited about the meeting with Allen. While he'd always pictured himself working on an Allen Croft movie, a special project was just that. Special. He couldn't wait to hear what the director had in mind. He was a visionary, after all.
David gave Sabrina a gentle shake. She'd been up till four am finishing a project, so she could take today off to be with him. Plus, a trip to the beach seemed to entice her.
What would it take to make her stay with him full time?
She stretched against him and tipped her head back. The sweet smile she gave him took his breath away.
Magnificent. Enchanting. He was enthralled. He knew it. Whipped. Whatever you wanted to call it.
He was falling harder every day.
Part of him thought he'd never actually gotten over her the first time.
That'd explain the powerful connection he'd felt with her since the moment she'd bumped into him at Jill's Halloween party.
But there was that little thought taunting him in the back of his mind. He was a transient and her work was in Georgia.
Well, not really. She could technically work from anywhere. She'd packed a stack of some sort of card to address, in case they had any downtime this weekend.
He didn't plan to let her up for air if he could help it.
Right on cue, the pilot came over the intercom and asked everyone to buckle up for the landing in Miami.
“Sweet dreams?” he asked as she struggled with her seatbelt.
“Very.”
“Dream about me?” Man, he was a cheese-ball.
She grinned over at him and he felt a kick in the chest.
“You know it.”
“As soon as we land, we’ll make those dreams come true. All right?”
She leaned in close and lifted her lips to his ear. “Down boy.”
“Not a chance.”
She chuckled.
A driver picked them up and David was thankful to not have to fight airport crowds or traffic. Plus, he had Sabrina all to himself and his hands were free.
Too bad she didn't seem interested in snuggling in his lap.
“Do you ever wonder where we'd be or what we'd be doing if I hadn't been cow-toed by those girls in school?”
He frowned at her question. Truth be told, he had wondered in those first months after graduation. It'd been so easy to torture himself with speculation and what-ifs. While he hadn’t known exactly why she’d withdrawn into herself, he had questioned how they would have spent that summer at the cusp of their adulthood.
Would she have been his first? Would she have given herself to him under a cloudless sky? Would he have asked her to marry him?
Then, like now, questioning the direction of things didn’t do any good.
“I think we had to travel the path we did to get to where we are now. Anything different and we might not have been at Jill's party. Or we might not have been single.”
Part of him ached just to think that. If Samuel hadn't died, Vanessa would most likely still be alive too. Would they still be together? She'd never seemed overly eager to tie the knot. Would he have asked her?
It'd been so long, he wasn't sure if he'd have asked out of love or duty.
And now, he wasn't sure how he felt about domesticated bliss. His life was fine just the way it was. Or, it had been.
Traveling from place to place, making movies. Serving his country. Hanging out with friends.
But this last month with Sabrina had shown him a different side of life. One where all the corners were bright with her radiant spirit. She laughed daily, making his heart happy. Her smile made him eager to please her. And she seemed to love taking care of him. From bringing his dirty clothes back to her apartment for a wash to stuffing him full of whatever cookie the local bakery was making that week.
He had to admit that the sex was off the charts and that was certainly a plus. For a man who hadn't been particularly interested in the horizontal hokey pokey these last few years, he couldn't get enough of her.
“Yeah. You're right,” she agreed.
He could almost read her thoughts. If she'd stood up to those bitches in high school, she wouldn't have met Ethan. She might not have gone on the journey she had to lose the weight and tone her body to perfection. She most likely wouldn't have started her stationary business.
Sometimes adversity was what made a person rise above. It’d certainly worked for her.
“Don't look back, Sabrina. You're not going in that direction.”
She sighed and snuggled closer.
“I love you, David Lee Jameson. Always have and always will.”
“Love you too, mouse.”
* * *
Even with a hunk at her side, Sabrina found herself staring out at the palm trees whizzing by. The sky was the most brilliant shade of blue and the sun was extra warm. She lifted her face to it and reveled in its heat.
“It was sweet of Allen and Marissa to invite me along. They’re good people.”
“We didn’t want Marissa to be a third wheel.” She heard the smile in David’s voice.
“I bet their house is amazing. The one in California has this infinity pool that’s to die for.”
“Being a super successful director has its perks.”
Right now, she’d be happy to sort out her own living situation. She’d signed a six-month lease with the option of staying on month-to-month. Time was almost up. While she appreciated the flexibility, she was ready to set down roots.
She glanced over at David’s profile. His palm was so warm against hers, so strong but so gentle. Her need for permanence was directly opposed to his current career. More than ever she felt their time together ticking away.
He caught her staring at him and he smiled. “What’s on your mind?”
“How long will you be in New Orleans?”
He stretched and rubbed his free hand down his thigh. “If everything goes according to plan, six months.”
She nodded, knowing she had no right to make demands on him or his time. Heck, they’d only been together a few short weeks, though it felt like longer.
They’d grown closer in those weeks than she ever had with Jakob. David might be a man of few words, but the invisible connection between them spoke volumes.
“Here we
are,” the driver said.
They turned into a palm lined drive. The slender trees framed a large white house with a terra cotta roof. The property was pretty enough to be a movie set or at the very least, on a magazine cover.
Sabrina was a sucker for lush landscaping and a manicured lawn.
Allen’s yard could have been a golf course it was so expansive and well groomed. The car pulled to a stop in the circular drive and the front door opened. Allen and Marissa stepped onto the shady porch as the driver made his way around to the rear door of the car.
Sabrina mentally crossed her fingers that Allen and David could come to some sort of agreement, that David would find some sort of project that fulfilled him creatively.
Down here in the sun-kissed state, the world felt open with possibilities and she couldn't wait to see what it had in store. Not only for him, but for them.
David exited first and held out a hand to help her. She loved that he was old fashioned like that, always opening doors and taking care of her. It was those little details about being a couple that she had missed.
The warm salty air rushed around her, enveloping her like a blanket. Once again, she lifted her face to the sun and made a memory.
“Hey, glad you guys could make it on such short notice,” Allen said.
Sabrina hugged Marissa, as well as her sweet, pregnant belly would allow. “Are you kidding? A trip to south Florida? Count me in.”
Marissa laughed and linked her arm through Sabrina's. “Wait until you see the view.”
“Don't make me,” Sabrina teased.
Allen ushered them through an enormous front door. It had to be at least six feet wide. Her eyes immediately zeroed in on the gorgeous azure sea framed by massive windows on the other side of the house.
They didn't stop until they were on a palm shaded veranda overlooking the pool and another expanse of green grass and of course, the ocean. The space was breathtaking, and Sabrina said so.
“Thanks. We like it,” Allen said.
“It's so much calmer out here I think. It'll be good for the baby.”
“You're staying on the east coast?” David asked as they settled into the most comfortable patio furniture Sabrina had ever felt.
It probably cost more than her car but the buttery soft fabric and down like pillows would be worth it. Especially with a view like that. She might just live out here.
“Until after the baby is born.”
A woman in black slacks and a white button up brought out a tray of drinks.
“Are you guys hungry? It’s not a long flight from Atlanta so I wasn’t sure if they’d feed you on the plane,” Marissa said.
“I could eat,” David said.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Allen pulled out his cell phone and tapped away for a few seconds.
Sabrina had to admit, this life wasn’t bad. Having delicious food delivered at the touch of a button. The view couldn’t be beat. The slight breeze and the warm air was to die for. She felt David’s gaze and smiled over at him.
He reached for her hand, lacing their fingers. Yeah, she could get used to living like this.
* * *
That night they went out to a restaurant with an incredible skyline view. The security team that followed Allen around took a little getting used to, but David seemed to enjoy chatting with them.
When he was happy, she was happy.
She couldn’t imagine needing that kind of protection though. Seeing David standing shoulder to shoulder with the men dressed in black, she was reminded of the haunted house.
When that car had back-fired, there hadn’t been a moment of hesitation in David. He’d simply reacted, protected her, covered her body with his own. Even then, when he was fighting their attraction, he’d cared for her deeply.
Her chest ached with how much she loved him. For a time, she’d tried to deny that she could fall so far, so fast. But that was pointless.
Sometimes love just found you, wrapped its arms around you and whispered, ‘hold on tight.’ Sabrina intended to do just that.
David had grown from her best friend to the man of her dreams.
Whatever it took to make him happy, that’s what she wanted. That’s what she’d do. Wherever it took her. Even if it meant packing her apartment up and heading to the bayou.
Back at the house, she encouraged David to hang out with Allen as long as he wanted. That was the whole point of the trip, and she liked to think she could survive a few hours without him.
Maybe.
“I’ll be up in a few,” he told her with a kiss to the cheek. Desire coiled deep inside her; she loved the bloom of anticipation.
In the guest room she found their luggage and an incredible arrangement of flowers on the dresser. She paused with her toiletry bag to inhale the sweet scent of the enormous white lilies.
The adjoining bathroom, like the rest of the house, was elegantly appointed. Uncluttered but not sparse or cold. She ran her finger-tip along the smooth granite counter, appreciating the soft tones and gorgeous orchids.
After slipping into her favorite satin pajamas, she called Layla and hit the speaker phone button.
“How's life in South Beach?” her partner said by way of greeting.
“Gorgeous, as expected. How are things there? Did the envelopes arrive for Stephanie's project?”
“They did. I got Kristen's suite mailed and picked up stamps for Candy's invitations.”
“You're so good to me.” Having Layla as a partner was a Godsend. In fact, Sabrina couldn't remember how she'd survived without her. What had started out as a part time job had morphed into a full time assistant and now a partner who kept her on track and handled the licensing of her product line. “How's Jamie?”
A dreamy sigh echoed through the line. “Wonderful. We have plans for the whole weekend.”
“Good. You deserve to cut loose. I really appreciate all your help, so David and I could make this trip.”
She'd felt a little guilty when Layla had canceled her date on Thursday night to help out. But as usual, her partner had come to the rescue. And Jamie had insisted that it was no big deal, he'd get her all to himself all weekend.
The man was smitten. It was obvious by the smile in his voice and the way he sent her sweet little texts throughout the day.
If Sabrina were a jealous person, she'd be green eyed after watching those two fall in love. But she was so excited for them and if she wasn't mistaken, she'd be designing a wedding invite for the two of them sometime next year.
That prospect made her a little giddy.
“How are things with David?”
Sabrina patted her face dry and picked up the phone before stepping into the bedroom to make sure she was alone. It's not that she had secrets from him, not anymore, not ever again. But there were some things you could confide in your girlfriends before spilling the beans to your lover.
“I'm excited he's getting this opportunity. Allen is really impressed with his work and his work ethic. Plus you know how much Allen respects the military.” He'd done several movies highlighting the ravages of battle and the toll on the friends and family of the soldier.
“Yes, but how are you two doing?”
Sabrina sat down on the end of the bed with a sigh.
“It feels precarious. That's my fault, really. I'm ready to settle down. I'm not getting any younger--”
“He isn't either...”
“But that was part of my reason for moving from California. I left all those memories behind and I wanted to build something fresh, find a nice Georgia boy to settle down with--”
“David is a Georgia boy...”
“But maybe it was silly to hope that the first guy I date would be “the guy.”“
“Not silly. You've dated plenty. You're in your thirties. You know what you want. The question is does he want the same things?”
Sabrina screwed her lips from side to side. “That's the part I don't know. I hate to put him on the spot. We've on
ly been seeing each other for a month. It seems crazy to plan my future based on a month, right?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
Layla's conspiratorial tone piqued Sabrina's interest.
“You don't think so?”
“You've known this guy most of your life, right?”
“Well, yeah. I mean, there's that huge gap but--”
“Do you trust him?”
“Yes.” That was an easy answer. David was the strong silent type, humble to a fault, and she knew that he had a good heart. And after her recent experiences, she saw no signs of deception and boy was she keeping her eyes peeled for them.
“You get along well with him. You've learned a lot since you last saw each other. From what I hear, the sex is fantastic.”
Sabrina chuckled. “No kidding.”
“Sounds to me like a guy worth falling for.”
Good, because it was too late. She’d already fallen.
“Yeah, there's just that minor detail of me wanting roots and him traveling the world.”
“Honey, your roots will wrap around him. Doesn't matter where he parks the camper.”
That gave Sabrina a full belly laugh. When she caught her breath, she accepted Layla's point. Sometimes, home was where your heart was, rather than where your stuff was.
But was she ready to give up her dream of settling into a lovely, quiet studio space and buying a house?
David said goodnight to Allen and wound his way through the house to the wide, sweeping staircase. Allen had given him a lot to think about but right now he wanted to think about the beauty waiting for him at the end of the hall.
The guest room door opened silently, and Sabrina sat snuggled in the plush bed, a book propped against her knees. It was dark except for the single lamp on the nightstand.
She was so pretty, fresh faced and ready for bed. Her gorgeous brown skin looked soft and luminous against the white pajamas and suddenly he couldn't wait to slide between the sheets and just be with her.
He couldn't remember a time in the past where he simply wanted to lay beside a woman and bask in her radiance. But with Sabrina, he found himself wanting simply to be near her. Even if they didn't say a word, being in the same room was enough.
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