by Elks, Carrie
“I missed you, too,” she whispered into his shirt.
Breck tipped her head up, pressing his lips to hers. His breath was soft and warm. She slid her arms around his neck, her fingers brushing against his hair. He kissed her hard, his tongue sliding against hers, his hands digging into her hips until she could feel exactly how excited she made him.
Everything in her world revolved around that kiss. As he slid his hands down further, pulling her in, her mouth dissolved into his. The sensation of him against her was making her needy. She was a moment away from dragging him onto her bed.
“Cait,” he moaned, her kisses swallowing his words. “Cait, you’re driving me crazy.”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
“If you don’t stop grinding against me, I’m gonna do something we’ll both regret.”
She laughed, releasing her hold on him. “Good point. I’ll stop.”
“It’s the worst point ever,” he said, grimacing as he adjusted himself. “It’s going to be a long day.”
She swallowed, though her mouth was dry. “I’ll come back to your place tonight.”
“You’d come to my house? Seriously? Even though it’s so close to the beach?” He shook his head. “Let’s take it easy. Maybe get a hotel room instead.”
“I’m determined to beat it, you know. I’m sick of being held back by fear. If I’m moving back to California, it’s time to get back to the beach.”
“You don’t have to do it for me,” he told her. “I’ll move from the water. Move out of town. I’ll go anywhere that makes you comfortable.”
“You’d do that?” From the expression on his face, she knew he would.
“Cait, I love you. I want to be with you. If that means moving, or giving up surfing, that’s what I’ll do. Hell, I’ll even celebrate Christmas every day of the year if you want me to.”
“Let’s not go too far,” she said. “One thing at a time. Plus, from what I’ve read, exposing myself to my triggers bit by bit is definitely the best way to overcome things. And in the meantime, I want to spend the night with you.”
He grinned from ear to ear. “I guess that’s settled.” He glanced at his watch. “Can we leave right after dinner?”
“We’ll have to help with the dishes.”
“I can wash really fast.”
“I bet you can.”
He winked. “I’m going to spend the whole meal thinking about what I’m going to do to you tonight. And tomorrow. And for the rest of our lives.”
The song came to an end, segueing into the next one. It was like listening to the soundtrack of her fifteen-year-old life. And here she was, in the arms of the boy she’d fallen in love with all those years ago, her heart hammering in time to his.
“You were my first kiss, did you know that?” she whispered.
“What?” Breck frowned. “You’ve never kissed a guy before me? How did you get to twenty-eight without kissing anybody?”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m not talking about this year. I mean when we were kids. I’d kissed you that Christmas when I was fifteen. I crept into your room while you were asleep and held you as you cried. You never woke up, but I needed to be there with you.”
He stopped dancing and looked at her, shock written all over his face. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “You kissed me?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He closed his eyes for a moment. “I wish I could remember. Out of all the crap that happened that holiday, there was one beautiful moment. And I’d slept through it.”
“I can remember enough for the two of us,” she told him, tracing her finger along his jaw. “It was short and it was sweet, but it was beautiful. You ruined me forever, Brecken Miller, and you weren’t even awake for it.”
“You’ll need to show me what you did when I get you home tonight. Maybe we can reenact it again and again.”
She smiled softly. “Sounds like a great idea.”
“Your first kiss, and your last kiss,” he whispered, pressing his mouth against hers again. “There’s a certain symmetry to it.”
“Both on Christmas day, too.”
“Your first kiss was, but your last kiss won’t be. I intend on kissing you a lot, Caitie Russell. Every chance I get. Until you can’t breathe, and you can’t talk, and all you can do is drag me to bed.”
“Sounds delicious,” she said.
“Sounds perfect,” he agreed.
“Sounds like we should go and wolf down some dinner before my mom hunts us down.”
Breck took her hand, kissed her palm, and folded her fingers around his. “And after that, we can leave and I’ll show you exactly how much I’ve missed you.”
“I can’t think of a better way to spend Christmas,” she said, reluctantly pulling him into the hallway.
The smile he gave her was dazzling. “Nor can I, my darling. Nor can I.”
Epilogue
“Are you okay?” Breck asked as he carried a taped-up box into their new apartment. Caitie was standing at the window, staring out at the view. He put the box down by the door, next to the others, and walked over to her, sliding his arms around her waist. She leaned back against him, her silken hair brushing against his jaw.
“I’m more than okay,” she said, a smile in her voice. “I was thinking about how far we’ve come.”
He followed her gaze across the rooftops of Angel Sands, past Main Street and the boardwalk, to the beach below. Though they were half a mile away from the coastline, Breck still held her close, wanting to protect her from her fears.
“You sure you’re okay with this?” he asked, nodding at the window. “There are apartments without ocean views in this building. We could trade.”
She shook her head. “We’re not trading. And I’m good with the view.” She turned her head to look at him. “It’s pretty.”
God, he loved every part of her. Her vulnerabilities and her strengths, her optimism and her determination. For the past six months, while she’d been living in L.A. and he’d been here in Angel Sands, he’d watched as she battled her demons.
And won.
Now here they were, moving in together, and though this apartment was new, it felt like coming home. There was a warmth in his body that had nothing to do with the sun beating down outside, but everything to do with this woman in his arms.
She completed him. And wasn’t that a crazy thing? He hadn’t known there was a hole in his heart until she’d filled it. Hadn’t realized what he was missing until the moment he’d laid eyes on her in the Beach Club.
And now here they were, moving in together. Blending their lives the same way they’d already blended their hearts. He dipped his head to press his lips against hers, marveling at how sweet she always tasted.
“This is the last one,” Lucas called out. When he spotted them embracing by the window his voice lowered. “Guys, can you get a room? Caitie’s still my sister.”
“They got an apartment,” Ember said, following close behind him. “And you’re going to have to get over the ick. Look how in love they are.” She grinned at Breck and Caitie as they pulled apart. “They make my heart melt.”
Breck grinned at Caitie as he stepped away. “Beer?” he asked Lucas.
“Yeah. That would be good.” Lucas followed him into the spacious kitchen, where every surface was covered with boxes. They’d already unpacked their emergency supplies – coffee, milk, sodas, and beer, along with a few glasses and mugs. Breck grabbed two beers from the refrigerator and popped the caps, passing one to Lucas.
“You doing okay?” he asked, eyeing Lucas warily. He knew how hard this was for him. His protective streak was strong when it came to his sister, and it had taken him a while to warm up to their relationship.
Lucas took a long mouthful of beer. “I am now,” he said when he’d swallowed it down. “I’ve been thinking about this all day.”
“Thanks for helping us move. It means a lot to us both.” Breck lifted his own beer t
o his lips and swallowed it down. “And you know I’m never going to hurt her. Not again. I promise you that.”
“I know you won’t,” Lucas said, his voice thick. He tapped his brow with his fingers. “At least I do up here.” He moved his hands down to his chest. “But in here, she’s still my kid sister, you know? It’s taking some time for me to accept she’s all grown up.”
Through the kitchen door, Breck could see Harper walking into the hallway, carrying an armful of curtains. He lifted a hand to wave at her and she grinned back. Another person who was still getting used to Breck and Caitie moving in together.
“Cait’s my life,” he told Lucas. “I feel as protective of her as you do. Whatever it takes to make her happy, that’s what I’ll do. You don’t have to worry about us.”
Lucas nodded and put his bottle down on the countertop. “That’s good to know,” he said, pressing his lips together. “Because there’s somebody else I’m going to need to worry about soon.”
Breck tipped his head to the side, a smile playing around his lips. “Who?”
Lucas gave a little laugh, leaning back on the counter. “I’m gonna be a dad. Another seven months and everything changes.”
There was a huge squeal from the living room. A moment later, Caitie ran into the kitchen and tackle-hugged Lucas, the biggest grin on her face, Ember and Harper following behind. “Oh my god!” she said, almost jumping with delight. “I can’t believe my big brother’s going to be a daddy. That’s the best news ever.”
Lucas turned to him with a raised brow. “You need to watch yourself, my friend. She has the hearing of an elephant. Nothing gets past my sister.”
Breck lifted his bottle, his mouth splitting into a grin. “Congratulations, man,” he said, and turned to Ember, kissing her on the cheek. “You guys are going to make the best parents.”
Ember grinned. “Thank you.”
Lucas caught his eye, and Breck realized that his friend was nervous. Afraid. And no wonder. Becoming a parent wasn’t something you took lightly. It was both a blessing and a burden, Breck realized. It changed you completely from the inside out. It pushed you down the priority list, below the partner you loved and the child you made together.
Weird how he couldn’t wait for that to happen for him and Caitie.
“We should open that champagne,” Caitie said, sliding her arm around Breck’s waist. “There’s so much to celebrate.”
There really was. And as she leaned into him, her eyes soft, her smile softer, he knew that everything he’d ever wanted was right here. His heart felt full with the knowledge of it. He didn’t care about Christmas, didn’t care about the ocean, they were just hills they had to climb. And now that they’d reached the peak – together – it was time to breathe and enjoy what they had.
And the view from here was beautiful.
* * *
“Are you sure these are okay?” Harper asked, as she hooked the final curtain to the rail. She’d made every single one of them by hand – buying the fabric from a market in L.A., matching them to Caitie’s décor plans, measuring up each window to ensure the perfect fit. Though Caitie had tried to pay her friend for them, Harper had refused, reminding her they were a moving in gift.
“They’re wonderful,” Caitie said, hugging her friend. “Thank you so much. They make the room look so much better than those blinds. I can’t believe how talented you are.” She bit her lip. “I’m going to miss you.”
Harper’s eyes filled with tears, making Caitie’s heart ache. One of the reasons it had taken her six months to move in with Breck was the thought of leaving her best friend and roommate in L.A. They’d lived together since college, longer than some marriages lasted.
“Not as much as I’m going to miss you,” Harper said, her voice wobbling. She wiped the back of her hand across her cheek, ridding herself of her tears. “And I’m so happy for you. You deserve this, all of it. The guy, the apartment, the future together.”
“I’ll be coming to L.A. all the time for work,” Caitie said quickly. “We can meet up whenever I do, if you can spare the time.”
“Of course I can spare the time, dummy.” Harper made a silly face. “I’ve always got time for you.”
“Come with me, I have something to show you,” Caitie said, taking her friend’s hand, and leading her into the hallway. On the other side from Caitie’s bedroom was a doorway. She pushed it open, and light flooded out.
There was a bed and a desk in there, along with a huge box. Caitie knelt down and opened it, beckoning Harper over. “This is for you,” she said, her voice full of emotion.
“What is it?” Harper asked, a confused smile on her face. She knelt next to Caitie and stared into the box. “A sewing machine?” she asked, turning her face to look at Caitie. “Is that for me?”
Caitie nodded. “It’s like a reverse moving in gift from Breck and me. We thought that whenever you get tired of L.A. you can come here and design things. Take a break from the big city and soak up the ocean air. Let it refill your creative tank.” She smiled at Harper’s wide eyes. “This is your room. Come and visit whenever you like.”
“Won’t Breck mind?” Harper asked, biting her lip.
“It was his idea.” Caitie grinned. “He loves you almost as much as I do. You’re like his sister.” She lowered her voice. “And I know that because I heard him telling Jack that you’re off limits. It’s the bro code.” Caitie rolled her eyes so hard it hurt.
Harper laughed. “Look where that stupid code got him.” She reached into the box and ran the tip of her finger along the sewing machine, her eyes still shiny with tears. “This is beautiful,” she said softly. “Thank you.”
“I meant it. There’s no way I can go long without seeing you, not after all these years. So if you don’t come here, I’ll be hunting you down in L.A. and dragging you back for some well earned rest.”
“That doesn’t sound like a hardship,” Harper confessed. “I love this place. The town, the people, the lifestyle.” She sighed. “I can see why you’ve decided to come back.”
Caitie looked around the room and sighed. It was strange, coming home after so long. Especially to a town she’d hated spending time in. But she saw it differently now, thanks to Breck and her therapist. This town was never the problem, it was her. Her fears, her avoidance, her unwillingness to show her vulnerabilities. It had taken an act of will to finally face them. To let herself be pulled apart, so she could rebuild all over again.
“I think I might have fallen for it, too,” she told Harper.
Her friend grinned. “I think it’s a certain Angel Sands guy you’ve fallen for. And I can see why.” She took Caitie’s hand in her own. “Are you happy?”
“Yes, I am,” Caitie said, her chest tight with emotion. “So happy. I almost can’t believe it’s real.” And as she smiled, she could feel the truth of her words. Once she’d wondered if it was possible to have it all.
Now she knew it was.
* * *
It was evening by the time everybody left the apartment, and Caitie and Breck were alone in their new home. She was sliding the last plate into the dishwasher when Breck walked into the kitchen, grabbed her by the waist, and spun her around.
He kissed her hard, one hand splayed against the small of her back, the other cupping the back of her head to angle her face to his. His lips were warm, demanding, sending pulses of electricity through her veins.
“I can’t believe we can do this every day,” he said, his voice thick when they breathlessly pulled apart. “No more Skypeing, no more calling just to hear your voice. I get to wake up to you every morning.”
“You’ll be sick of me within a week,” Caitie said, grinning.
His expression was serious. “I will never get sick of you, Caitlin Russell.”
The way he was staring made her skin heat up with desire. “I can never get enough of you, either,” she told him, a shiver snaking down her spine.
“Let’s go to bed.” He took he
r hand, folding it in his own. “The cleaning up can wait.”
An hour later, after he’d loved her warm and hard the way she liked, Breck took her in his arms, spooning her so her body fit against his. She closed her eyes and breathed him in, thinking about all those nights when she’d fallen asleep to his voice on her phone and longed for his touch.
“Harper liked her gift,” she said sleepily, as he pressed his lips to her cheek. “It was so lovely of you to think of it.”
“I’m glad she did.” He kissed her again. “And I meant what I said, she’s always welcome. She’s part of you, and I love her for it. Plus she took care of you when I couldn’t.”
“It’s been a good day,” Caitie said with a smile, her eyes drifting closed. “Can you believe I’m going to be an auntie?”
She felt him smile against her skin. “You’ll be an amazing auntie,” he told her, running his lips down the side of her neck. “The same way you’ll be a fantastic mother one day.”
Caitie couldn’t help but grin. They’d talked about children – Breck wanted four, she wanted two and the occasional chance at sleep – and they’d agreed that sometime in the next couple of years they’d try. Once she’d recruited enough consultants that the business could live with her taking a step back, and when Breck had built up the team he needed to make Miller Construction a success on the West Coast.
She loved that they were in agreement about everything. Their friends, their family, their future together. After all the heartache she’d been through, being with Breck felt like the final piece of the jigsaw, slotting in so easily, making everything complete.
“I love you,” she said, her voice heavy with sleep. It had been a long day, and her body was ready to give up for the night.
“Not as much as I love you,” he told her, pulling her tightly against him. Her spine curved into his chest and stomach, their legs tangling together.