Too soon, he stops me, lifting me by my underarms and dragging me up until his mouth crashes down onto mine.
With his arms wrapped around me, I straddle him, shifting my hips until we line up. Pressing down as he surges up, he fills me.
Cupping his face in my hands, I kiss him as our bodies move in perfect harmony. Today our lovemaking is so much more than a physical act of pleasure; it’s a hopeful promise. Even though the odds were stacked against us, and the distance between us seemed insurmountable, we found our own way to be together.
I never considered asking him to leave his home as I struggled under the assumption that I alone was the one who had to move.
He figured out a way for both of us to have it all. I get my home during my favorite seasons, my job if Yolanda will go for it, still having half a year with my family, and Malcolm.
He flips me onto my back, his hips powering into me. Fisting his comforter, I meet each of his thrusts.
Staring up at him, it hits me. “You love me.”
He slows, grinning down at me. “I do.”
Naked beneath him, and full of him his words make me blush all over. “I love you too.”
He leans closer to press his lips to mine. “I know.”
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Texas
“Here are your keys. Congratulations.”
I accept the keys to our new beach house from our loan processor. “Thank you so much.”
We all stand and she motions for Malcolm and me to pose in front of a wall hanging of their logo for a picture.
Once she lowers the camera, we all shake hands again.
It’s not until Malcolm and I are outside by my car that I ask. “Are you ready to go home?”
He pulls open his door. “Hell yeah.”
We took our time looking for a house that would be perfect for what we need. It needs a bit of work, but we should have it up and running for rentals this summer. We’ve already got the property manager lined up. As soon as we’ve finished fixing it up, they’re going to come by and take pictures to put it up on their website.
Malcolm is in charge of the bulk of the repairs. Luckily our house doesn’t need as much work done as Finley and Noah’s did. Since they’re still working on it, Noah can swing by and help Malcolm if he needs it. I’ll help out in the evenings after work.
Pulling into the drive, we both look at each other before opening our doors. Then he grins and we both race to get out of the car and to the front door. We’re laughing and breathing hard by the time we reach the door.
After I open it, Malcolm surprises me by sweeping me up into his arms to carry me over the threshold. “You only do that after you get married.”
He kisses my temple. “I’m practicing.”
His words are no surprise. Marriage is in our future and something we’ve both discussed and want. Neither of us wants a big wedding. Things are crazy right now with buying the house, not renewing my apartment rental, and Malcolm moving down here for the season. Once it all settles down, there will likely come a day when Malcolm looks over at me and says, “Let’s go to Vegas.”
We’ll call my mom, Tim, Yolanda, Finley, and Noah, and book a flight. Then, in front of our favorite people, we’ll say I do.
That’s all we want and all we’ll need. For me, as long as I get to call him my husband at the end of it, I don’t care who marries us.
He presses his lips to mine before gently setting me back down. With a swing of his arm, he closes the door behind us and I reach for his hand.
“Ready to get to work?”
He laughs at me. “There’s plenty of time for that.”
Bouncing in my heels, I shake my head. “There isn’t. We have a million things to do.”
Cupping my cheek he grins down at me. “What do you want to tackle first?”
I turn my face into his hand. “You’re right. We have time. How about we explore the place and then maybe check out the neighborhood some?”
His thumb caresses my cheek. “Sounds like a plan.”
Our little beach house is cute but dated. The bulk of our work to it will be putting in new flooring, painting, changing out fixtures, and upgrading the kitchen appliances.
“Besides, Noah and Finley should be showing up with the truck any minute.”
I’ve been crashing with my mom ever since I turned in my keys of my old apartment. Finley and Noah have been storing my furniture at their place and are bringing it and the dogs to us.
“We can look around until they get here.”
Hand in hand, we start our tour by the kidney shaped pool in our backyard and then move from room to room, eventually ending up on the deck. We’re not right on the beach; those houses were way out of our budget. Our house is still only a third of a mile away from beach access. It used to take me thirty minutes to drive to the beach, now it’s a five-minute walk away.
“I can’t believe it’s finally ours and you’re here.”
He shifts behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “In a couple of months, it’ll be the anniversary of the night we met.”
I lean back against him. “Did you ever imagine we’d end up here?”
He chuckles, the sound of it warming my belly. “I wanted to strangle you after you set off my alarm.”
Hugging his arms I laugh. “You were seriously pissed.”
Those strong arms tighten around me. “All I wanted to do was wake up and have my wicked way with you.”
Doing the mental math of how quickly Finley and Noah should be here, I decide there isn’t enough time for me to jump him. “And now you get to have your wicked way with me everyday.”
The sound of a truck has me turning my head. There’s the slam of one door, followed by another.
I glance up at Malcolm. “Wanna bet it’s them?”
He takes a step back, pulling me with him and leads me back through the house to the front door. As I guessed, Noah, and a very pregnant Finley are heading our way. Noah has Finley’s hand in one of his and both Jack and Morgan’s leashes in the other.
“Hey guys,” Finley calls.
Jack and Morgan start panting and pulling on their leads as soon as they see their daddy.
“Hey neighbors,” I call.
Finley and I watch the dogs and supervise the guys as they unload my furniture. When they’re done, Finley and Noah leave with promises to meet up for dinner later in the week.
After waving them off, we let the dogs out into the backyard. It’s nothing like the vast space they’re used to in New Hampshire, but it’s fenced and there’s a small grassy area for them to do their business.
Malcolm beelines it to the pool, pulling his shirt off over his head.
“It’s too cold to swim,” I say, reaching out my hand as if I could stop him.
He laughs, and takes off his socks and shoes. “If I get cold you can warm me up.”
So stubborn.
I shake my head and lift the cover off the hot tub. Our real estate agent assured us the pool company the previous owners serviced both the pool and hot tub recently. The clear blue water that I uncover confirms this.
“Are you going to get in?” Malcolm asks from the pool.
I frown. “I have no clue where my bikinis are.”
His gaze moves to the houses around ours. “There’s no one around. Just go in your underwear, or better yet, nothing at all.”
My hands move to the buttons on my blouse. “So, what you’re saying is you want to christen the hot tub first.”
Water splashes over the edge as he pulls himself out of the pool and is by my side in seconds.
With wet hands, he helps me out of my shirt as his lips claim mine.
We started as a fling, but now only forever will do.
The End
Did you enjoy A Fix Fling?
Read Finley and Noah’s story in Fix Her Up.
Also by Carey Heywood
The Fix Series
F
ix Her Up (Finley & Noah)
Fix Me Not (Paige & Asher)
Fix My Fall (Abby & Spencer)
My Perfect Fix (Lucy & Gideon)
A Fix Fling Novella (Heather & Malcolm)
Him & Her Series
Him (book 1)
Her (book 2)
Them (book 3)
Sawyer Says (spin off)
Being Neighborly (spin off novella)
Carolina Days
The Other Side of Someday (Courtney & Clay)
Yesterday’s Half Truths (Lindsay & Luke)
Chasing Daylight (McKenzie & Mitch)
Love Riddles
Why Now? (Kacey & Jake)
Why Lie? (Sydney & Heath)
Why Not? (Reilly & Trip)
Standalones
Better
Stages of Grace
Uninvolved
A Bridge of Her Own
Audiobooks
Him
Her
Better
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. She was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. Supporting her all the way are her husband, three sometimes-adorable children, a mischievous black cat, their nine-pound attack Yorkie, and their new rescue German Shepherd puppy.
She loves to hear from her readers!
www.CareyHeywood.com
[email protected]
A Fix Fling (The Fix Book 5) Page 7