She slipped off her sandals and stepped onto the shiny hardwood floors. The wide foyer opened to a dining room to the right and a great room straight ahead. A stone fireplace graced the center of the back wall, flanked by two glass doors that led to a deck. Lizzie walked through the living room, taking in the decorative moldings and dark cherry mantel over the fireplace. A stone surround led up to the cathedral ceiling. A railing overlooked the living room from the second floor. Knowing Blue’s capable hands had brought this place to life, she felt him all around her.
“This is gorgeous. Did you take out the second floor above this room, or was it like this?”
Blue came to her side, pride beaming in his eyes. “I removed the second floor here and kept two bedrooms on the other side.”
“This a work of art,” Lizzie said as they passed through an archway into the kitchen, where she admired the custom-built cabinetry. Blue never flaunted his talents. He was as modest as he was generous, and those traits only added to his allure. “I love how you used the muted greens and earth tones. I can just imagine how beautiful it would be with the bay window open and the breeze coming off the water while you’re cooking.” She sighed. “Heaven.”
He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you like it. You’re the first to see it, you know.”
“I am?” She turned to face him. “I’m honored that you’d share it with me.”
“I want to share so much more with you, Lizzie.”
A thrill rushed through her at the thought of sharing her life with Blue, but that thrill was chased by a nagging voice reminding her of the parts of her life she couldn’t share. It had become the constant push-pull she’d worried it would, and now she had to figure out how to deal with it.
“When the house is done, we’ll throw open the windows and cook something wonderful. Come on, I’ll show you the upstairs and then the lighthouse.”
They followed the hardwood stairs up to the second-floor hall overlooking the living room, which led to two bedrooms, complete with full baths.
“I just finished the hardwood floors. I’m working on the closets and moldings next.”
“It amazes me how much you can do, and you have such great vision.” She thought about the incredible job he was doing in her kitchen, which brought her mind back to the basement kitchen and to her webcast. For a second she wondered if she really could share her secrets with Blue. If he might be able to overlook what she did. She walked to the window and gazed out over the water, deciding to leave that thought unanswered for a little longer. “This is just lovely. I can see why you were so drawn to it.”
“Wait until you see the lighthouse.”
A few minutes later they stood at the bottom of the circular iron staircase in the lighthouse. The steps had molded iron risers with intricate designs, the type that they could see straight through. Lizzie’s heart beat so fast she felt like she might hyperventilate.
“I’m not great with open staircases like this.” She hated how weak she sounded. She’d forgotten the panic that filled her at open staircases. There was no reason for it that she’d ever been able to put her finger on, but the fear was very real, clutching at her chest and squeezing her lungs.
“It’s okay. We don’t have to go up.” Blue reached for her hand, and she stood stock-still.
“I want to. I really want to.”
“Okay, then let’s do this.” He moved to the side with the railing and wrapped one arm firmly around her from behind. His other hand pressed to her belly. She felt secure, safe. “I’ve got you. Are you afraid of heights?”
“No. There’s just something about these types of stairs that freak me out. I haven’t been in many places like this. Otherwise I would have warned you.”
They made their way up the stairs slowly. Blue was patient, taking each step at her pace and not pushing her to ascend them any quicker than she was able. When they reached the doorway to the balcony, he stopped and held her close.
“You never need to warn me. There’s nothing I can’t handle. Are you sure you’ll be okay on the balcony? We’re really high up.”
Nothing you can’t handle? Again, she wondered if that were really true.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. It’s just the open stairs that rattle me.”
He opened the door and a gust of cold air rushed over them. Lizzie pressed herself closer to Blue, stealing his warmth as they stepped outside and took in the breathtaking view of the water and the miles of unencumbered shoreline.
“Thank you. I’m sorry about that.”
“Lizzie, you never have to apologize for being scared. We all have fears.”
If only he knew her greatest one. Losing him because of what she did. She tamped down that thought and focused on the here and now—being with Blue in this incredible place.
“Thanks for understanding. It’s crazy that you own this. What will you do with the lighthouse?”
“I’m not sure yet. I thought about restoring it to its original condition.”
“Makes sense, I guess. But if it were mine, I’d do something really different. You’ve got this spectacular view. Why not make this into livable space? I’d put a floor between the top and bottom with another balcony and windows. Or maybe that’s not structurally possible, but how cool would it be if it was?”
He stood behind her with his arms wrapped around her waist. “I love your vision. You don’t see what everyone else sees. Like with your orange kitchen and your string gardens, you put your personal touch on everything.”
“Is that a nice way to say I have weird taste?”
The brisk air stung her cheeks and Blue’s warmth heated the rest of her.
“No, it’s me telling you that I am attracted to everything about you, Lizzie, and I’m totally falling for you.” He turned her in his arms and gazed into her eyes. “I’m picturing you here with me all the time. In the house. In the lighthouse. On the beach.”
Her heart was beating so fast she was afraid if she opened her mouth it would come racing out.
“Does that freak you out?” he asked.
She shook her head, envisioning the same things, despite the devil on her shoulder whispering, “Naked Baker.” Her hair whipped across her face in the wind. Blue gathered it in his hands and held it over her shoulder as he leaned down and kissed her, sealing her secret away.
***
THEY TOOK A walk along the beach, kept company by the sounds of waves rolling in. They were barefoot, and the sand was cool beneath their feet. When they returned to his property, Blue spread out a blanket on the beach and made a fire to keep them warm, then joined Lizzie, reclining on his side and propping himself up on his elbow.
“I can’t remember when I’ve had such a great day. I still don’t know how you fit almost two full pies in that tiny body of yours.”
She laughed as she stretched out beside him. “My mom used to tell me that one day I’d wake up weighing six hundred pounds, and I used to say that that would be okay. At least I’d enjoy getting there.”
He placed his hand on her hip. “You’d be just as gorgeous, no matter what size you were. Your beauty comes from within.”
She blushed and dropped her eyes. When she met his gaze again, her eyes were serious. “Blue, you’re such a great guy. You’re open and honest in a way that most guys aren’t, and you’re romantic and thoughtful. Why are you still single?”
“Why? Well, for the last year I’ve been trying to get a certain woman’s attention.” He knew she was asking for more, and although he hadn’t ever shared his past with anyone but family, he wanted to let Lizzie into his world. He didn’t want any secrets between them.
“Before that, I guess it was a combination of not meeting the right person, and the past.”
“The past?”
His gut knotted with the memory, but he wanted to be honest with her. “I dated a girl for a little more than a year, and I thought she was it, you know? We were young, and honestly, she pr
obably did me a favor, but I caught her cheating on me, and…” He shrugged, hoping that would suffice.
“And it hurt,” she offered.
He nodded.
“That sucks. I never understand why people cheat instead of just breaking up. I’m sorry you went through that. Although I can’t imagine anyone ever cheating on you.”
He moved closer, bringing their bodies together, and draped an arm around her, holding her to him. Her feet snuck between his legs, and he knew she was seeking warmth. Reflections of the fire danced in her eyes, and when she smiled, he felt it in the center of his chest.
“What about you? You’re gorgeous, you have your own business, and you’re sweeter than that pie we had this afternoon. Why hasn’t some guy scooped you up by now?”
“I told you, my life is complicated. After college I opened my flower shop, and that was really time-consuming. And lately…I’m just so busy all the time.”
“So no horrible breakups? No stalker ex-boyfriends?” He hadn’t heard about Lizzie dating since he’d known her, and he’d wondered why.
“No, thank goodness. I’ve been focused on other things.”
“It seems like it’s paid off. P-town Petals is the place for flowers in Provincetown. Maybe now it’s time to focus on you for a while. To focus on us.”
“I’d like that,” she whispered.
Blue lowered Lizzie to her back as he pressed his lips to hers.
“Do you have any idea what torture it is to work in your house? To smell your perfume as you walk by? To know that everything I build is going to have your hands on it?”
She inhaled a ragged breath.
“I want to be those cabinets and feel your hands on me every day.” He pressed his lips to the corner of her mouth. “I want to be the countertop that you trail your fingers on every time you walk by.” He kissed the delicate line of her jaw. “I want to make love to you on every surface, so every time you reach for a glass, or prepare a meal, you think of me. Of us. Of how good we feel together.”
“Oh, yes,” she whispered.
His mouth covered hers hungrily, and she succumbed to the forceful domination of his lips, meeting every stroke of his tongue with her own. He’d been reining in his desire since their very first kiss, and now, as she clutched at his back, pressing her body against him, he didn’t want to hold back anymore. He slipped a hand beneath her shirt, needing to feel the weight of her breast against his palm.
“You feel so good,” he said before kissing her again.
His lips trailed over her jaw to the hollow of her neck. She arched back, offering herself up to him as he lifted her shirt. His promise came rushing back and he stopped, breathing hard, needing her approval to take them further.
“Don’t stop,” she urged.
“I’m not sure I’ll be able to.” He searched her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
He pressed his lips to hers in another soul-searing kiss, need pulsing through his veins, hot and urgent. He wanted to go slowly, to pleasure her in every way, tease her and taunt her until she was begging for him, but his body had a mind of its own. And it was on a mission, moving south, pushing her shirt up and taking her bra with it, exposing her perfect breasts, which he had to taste. A moan of desire escaped his lungs as he lowered his mouth to her nipple and it pebbled against his tongue. He sucked it into his mouth, earning a gasp of pleasure from Lizzie as she pressed her hips and breasts to him again. Licking and tasting wasn’t enough. Nothing would ever be enough. His hand slid down her stomach to her skirt. Before he could gather it in his hands, she pushed out of it. He tugged off his shirt and quickly shed his pants, moving over her naked skin, intoxicated by her scent and the feel of her fingers clutching at his back.
“You feel so good,” he rasped against her neck.
His hands slid over the dip of her waist as she pressed on the back of his hips. Her breasts crushed against his chest as she lifted her hips, and he gripped them tightly, pressing his hard length against her belly, wanting so badly to bury himself inside her, but there was so much more he wanted to do first, so much more pleasure he wanted to bring her. He took her in another hasty kiss.
“Blue, I need you,” she pleaded.
He smiled down at her. “Oh, you’ll get me, baby. You’ll get me.”
He blazed a path with his mouth over her breasts, down her stomach, to the damp curls between her legs. She clawed at the blanket as her knees fell open, welcoming him. Blue’s hands explored the expanse of her creamy thighs as he lowered his mouth to her. The first stroke of his tongue was heaven for both of them as she moaned her pleasure loud and tangled her hands in his hair. Hell, he loved the way she guided him, coaxing him on. His heart slammed against his chest as her sweetness melted over his tongue, and she gasped, then moaned again as he dragged his tongue over her, each time taking her a little deeper. The world careened out of focus, and pleasuring Lizzie took over as he devoured her slick flesh. He pushed his tongue inside her, expertly stroking over her swollen clit with his fingers. Her breathing came fast, and Blue opened his eyes, needing to see her as she came apart. The sight of her lying naked in the moonlight, her hair strewn across the blanket, so open to him, so trusting, spurred primal desires he had no hope of holding back.
He held her thighs down as he feasted on her, taking her quickly up to the edge as her hips fought to lift and her fingers dug into his scalp.
“Ohgodohgodohgod.”
Heat spread like wildfire through his chest as she clawed at his hands. He skillfully slid his fingers in deep, stroking over the spot that caused a sharp inhalation with each pass. Her inner muscles clenched and pulsed against him as he lapped at her sweetness, and she shattered against his mouth. A cool sea breeze whispered over his skin, fighting against the heat that simmered within him. When his name sailed from her lips, it was almost too much to take. She roused his passion like no woman ever had, and he had to have her. All of her. To claim her and make her his. He moved up her body, feeling her wet heat against the tip of his arousal.
“Please tell me you’re on the pill,” he said gruffly.
“Yes. God, yes.”
He sealed his lips over hers as he pushed into her tight heat, groaning at the exquisite pleasure of finally—finally—becoming one with Lizzie. They both stilled, and a sense of deep inner peace rivaled the urgent need to feel her around his hard length. Her raw sensuousness had the power to take him right over the edge, but it was the look in her eyes that stole the truth from his lungs.
“This. Here. Now,” Blue panted out. “Every moment of my life has been leading up to this. To you.”
They moved in perfect tandem, every thrust draining their breath, every touch burning with desire. Nothing compared to the feel of her body wrapped around him, her hands playing over his flesh like she owned it. Their kisses consumed him as he drew in and out of her, filling her completely with every thrust. A hot tide of emotions pulled him closer to the edge. Lizzie wrapped her legs around his hips, allowing him to sink deeper into her. He felt a tremor rumble through her as her thighs tightened around him and her breathing hitched.
“Blue—”
“Let go, baby,” he urged, his need to come mounted with the turbulence of their passion.
He thrust in harder, deeper, filling his palms with her sweet ass as he took her in another greedy kiss, and she lost all control. His air became hers as he captured her cries in his mouth. Her body vibrated and her inner muscles pulsed like liquid fire, dragging him past the point of cognition as he followed her over the edge in his own intense release.
They lay there for a long while, their hearts frantic, their bodies sated. Blue shifted to lie beside her, and she pressed on his lower back and said, “Stay.”
He’d never heard so much emotion in one word, and as he touched his forehead to hers and whispered, “Always,” he knew she’d claimed him every bit as deeply as he’d claimed her.
LIZZIE DRIFTED THROUGH Monday morning feeling like her whole world had changed. When Blue had shown up at her house to work on the renovations, he’d swept her into his arms, and it had taken all of her focus not to throw caution to the wind and stay home with him instead of rushing off to the shop. But her supplier was due to bring fresh flowers, and Blue had enough on his plate between her kitchen renovations and working on his own place. He didn’t need her slowing him down, no matter how enjoyable it would be.
“Knock, knock.” Sky breezed through the door wearing a short dress, knit stockings, and knee-high go-go boots and carrying a to-go cup in each hand. “I brought liquid energy.”
“You’re a goddess.” Lizzie sipped the delicious coffee as she moved through the shop putting together displays and primping flowers.
“So? I texted and left messages and you totally ignored me.” Sky pushed herself up and sat on the counter, watching Lizzie whip around the shop. “Either you’ve turned antisocial or you were with Mr. Blue Eyes, and from that freshly fucked glow you’re sporting, I’m thinking it’s the latter.”
Lizzie set her coffee down on the counter beside Sky and stared at the colorful bouquet in front of her, sighing dreamily.
“Sky, he’s so…” She sighed again, because words to describe Blue were not coming easily. She felt so much for him, so fast, and everything about him was in high focus. If she closed her eyes, she could see his, full of wicked sensuality and something far deeper. Knowing Sky was still waiting for her to finish her thoughts, she finally said, “He’s everything. Hot, sexy, sweet-but-all-male.”
“I know he is. I told you!” She kicked her feet excitedly. “So. Did you two…?”
“Did we ever.” Lizzie felt her cheeks flush, and when Sky jumped from the counter and barreled into her, hugging her so tightly she could barely breathe, she couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m so happy. Two of my best friends, together. What the hell took you so long?” She pushed her long dark hair over her shoulder and hugged Lizzie again. “So, you guys are a couple now, right? Like, not dating other people?”
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