Just One Kiss (Appletree Cove)

by Hall, Traci

  “Are you serious about riding the Ferris wheel?” The clear night sky, the bright moon, and Seattle’s great wheel light show made this seem like a carnival and he was with his best girl. His only girl.

  She nodded. “I do. Have you done this before?”

  “During the day.”

  “Just wait,” she promised. “It’s spectacular.”

  The smells and lights brought Sawyer back to his youth in L.A., but this wasn’t an ordinary date. This was special.

  He bought tickets, and they had the heated car to themselves. Side by side. She gave him his suit jacket back, but he didn’t need it—he was plenty warm just from sitting next to her. There was so much he wanted to say to Grace. He also just wanted to be in this moment. He would recall fifty years from now that this was the night he knew he loved her.

  “See?” she said, pointing to his right, her arm brushing his.

  He stared out at the boats on the water all lit up. Fishing ships, ferries, sailboats. Restaurants and high-rises. The city glowed like Vegas. “I can’t believe I’ve never done this at night. It’s a completely different experience.”

  “I love this ride.” She gripped the bar as it rocked, and they slowly moved up to load the next car. “Do you like roller coasters? There’s so much I don’t know about you.”

  “Roller coasters?” Sawyer had been busy working. “I don’t think I’ve ever been on one.”

  “Oh, just wait, then. Next time…” Grace stopped talking and glanced at him. A shiny black curl dangled down the side of her cheek, and he smoothed it back, relishing the softness of her skin.

  “Yes?” he encouraged. Whatever she wanted to do, he’d make it happen somehow.

  She gave a little shrug. “I don’t know how to act, or how to think, when it comes to us.”

  “Just be yourself. You’re amazing. There isn’t one thing about you that I don’t find fascinating.” He caressed the top of her hand, the knuckles white from where she held the bar.

  She nibbled her lower lip.

  The wheel went up then stopped with a sway. They had a better view of Elliot Bay and Pier 57, the houseboats and barges, thousands of tiny white lights glimmering below as they went higher.

  “You mean that?” Her lashes fluttered. The car rocked, but it added to the thrill of being with Grace. There was nobody else like her.

  His gut tightened as he asked, “What do you want, Grace?” Sawyer feared scaring her away. She was a butterfly. Dazzling, but he knew he had to take care not to crush her free spirit with too many expectations. Rules. Would she be interested in a committed relationship? A family?

  She gazed at him with smoldering blue eyes that was a punch of heat. Grace was a temptress whether in black noir or coveralls. It was her that he needed. He took her hand, his insides quaking. What if she wanted nothing?

  But no. She’d come to the restaurant because she cared. He kissed her palm.

  She hummed and inched closer across the slick bench seat. “I should say I want to go slow, but that isn’t my style—I’m all in, Sawyer.” Grace leaned toward him, her mouth lifted to kiss him lightly, gently. A promise of more to come. She put her hand over his heart.

  Could she feel it beating hard? Out of control?

  “You’re so strong I thought I might lose myself, but instead, admitting I love you makes me stronger, too.” Grace laughed huskily, the smell of her lotion, roses, wafting from her skin to his nose.

  “Love. I love you so much that I’m not strong at all,” he admitted in a shaky voice.

  “Sawyer!” She stared into his eyes. Did she see the truth of his feelings for her? “We’re so different.”

  “Together,” he said, brushing his lips across her hand, “we make a perfect team.” He, too, was all in. For the first time since setting out to find his roots, he knew he’d arrived. It wasn’t a matter of only helping others but finding the right someone to share this life with.

  When the car reached the very top, he entwined their fingers as they peered out at the vast cityscape, the lights beneath them like diamonds on black velvet.

  “Magical,” she breathed as she took in the vista.

  He glanced at her. “Do you wish you had your camera?”

  She turned slightly so they were thigh to thigh. “No.” Grace glimpsed up at him with a half smile. “I want to be in this moment, just you and me.”

  He couldn’t be more in love with Grace. It took all of his willpower to slowly lean down for a taste of her lips. Her lashes fluttered closed, mink resting on the curve of her cheek, her breaths warm and quick as her desire heightened. He could feel the race of her pulse from where he clasped her wrist.

  Sawyer applied the lightest pressure from his lips to hers, and she responded without hesitation, their tongues tangling and teasing—tasting, savoring. Passion flared, and he pulled her to his lap, rocking the car.

  His breath caught, and he broke free to drag air into his lungs—her eyes, dazed, focused at last, and she blinked like a kitten.

  “Just one kiss, Grace, will never be enough.”

  “I love you, Sawyer. I’ve never been in love before.” She traced his jaw. “You were worth waiting for.”

  They went around one more time, but they were so wrapped up in one another they didn’t notice.

  Epilogue

  Monday morning, Grace woke up grinning at the fireworks she and Sawyer had created. She’d known they’d be hot together, but their lovemaking gave combustible a whole new meaning.

  “We’re getting a new mattress,” Sawyer said, lifting up on his elbow from her twin-sized bed. His chest muscles flexed, and she touched the scar at his ribs. “I think I have a bruise from a broken box spring.”

  “Fine. You’re like that princess and the pea, but I won’t argue.” She dropped a kiss on his nose. “See? Compromise.”

  He reached out for her, grabbed her by the waist, and pinned her beneath him—she stopped laughing when he kissed her so deeply her toes curled, and she wrapped her arm around his shoulders. This would never be enough.

  An hour later, her alarm went off and demanded she get out of bed, which she did with great reluctance. Sawyer was strong and warm and held her so tenderly. Grace had no doubt that he loved her. She didn’t know where things were going or how long it would last, but for now, this was perfect. Other than the mattress. “I can’t be late. I have to see Mr. Haviland today.”

  “I should come with you.” Sawyer tossed the covers back and jumped from bed. She forced her eyes away from his delectable body as he pulled on boxers.

  “No.” Grace slipped a sundress over her head until she could decide what armor she wanted to wear to the bank. “It’s something I need to do on my own.”

  “We can help each other.” His seductive tone tempted her, but she stayed strong as he followed her to the kitchen. Shirtless. Just as she preferred.

  They’d gotten a hotel room in downtown Seattle Friday night. She’d been swept away by his declaration of love. He’d explained about Daniella and her games, and they’d agreed that the model was no longer important. The chemistry between them had been off the charts. Saturday she’d told him her wonderful news. They’d had lunch and dinner, and he’d stayed at her place Saturday night to watch movies with her and Violet—and Bert, while Lottie got a full night’s rest. Sunday they’d been inseparable, allowing Tomas and Bobby into their circle.

  Monday. She’d made a promise to herself that she would be open to whatever this relationship with Sawyer needed to be, so long as they were together in some way. Neighbors with benefits, maybe, she laughed to herself.

  “Hungry?” She sliced bread for the toaster oven and got out her homemade grape jelly.

  “Starving. You’ve worn me out, Grace.” Sawyer grinned with inexhaustible energy, his brown hair tousled. “If you had a microwave, we could have bacon and eg
g sandwiches already.”

  Though he was much taller than her, she still looked down her nose at him. “No microwave.”

  He pulled on his T-shirt and shorts from yesterday and stole a kiss. “What if I promise not to say a word—then can I come? Moral support only.”

  “You will scowl and glare.” As much as she wanted to rely on his strength, she knew it was something for her to do alone.

  They shared another kiss, and she went out back to feed the chickens, singing as she went along. You’d like him, Grandma Dahlia.

  Grace heard the phone in her kitchen ring and ran inside. Sawyer was slathering jelly on toast, and she loved that he was at home at her table. She smiled at him and answered, “Hello?”

  Lottie squealed then said, “Mr. Haviland can kiss your ass.”

  Grace laughed so hard she had to lean against the kitchen counter, handset to her ear. “I still can’t believe it.” After the torment the man had put her through, it was going to feel very empowering to pay off the taxes. And she hoped like crazy that they offered a survey for customer service. He would get very poor marks.

  “Good luck, hon.”

  Sawyer might not believe in luck, but she sure did. Combined with hard work of course. “Thanks! We will need to celebrate.”

  Lottie cleared her throat. “So. Can you babysit next Friday? I mean, I know you’re busy but…”

  She would never leave her friend hanging. “Of course. School meeting about Vi and Bert?”

  “Nope.” Lottie giggled. “This would be dinner. Bill asked me out. I think I may have raved about how much fun you and Sawyer had on the Ferris wheel.”

  They had. She winked at Sawyer, who was only getting her side of the conversation. “Finally. It’s very romantic, I promise.”

  “Customer just came in—call me later?”

  “I will.” Grace hung up with Lottie and grinned at Sawyer. “Bill finally asked Lottie out.”

  “’Bout time,” Sawyer said, wiping jelly from his mouth.

  “I said I’d babysit Friday.” Would he want to be with her, or would he find other things to do? How would their lives combine? Surely, he wouldn’t want to hang out at her place all the time. She’d only been to his house once.

  “Can I sneak over and make out with the sitter once Violet is asleep?”

  Her heart thumped in response to his silliness. Grace tossed a toast crumb at him. Just go with the flow. “I’m getting dressed to face the dragon in his den. Purple or yellow?”

  “Yellow. You look like sunshine.”

  She walked across the small kitchen and dropped a kiss to his forehead. “Be right back.”

  Nervous, she grabbed her handbag and made for the door.

  Sawyer met her there, his gaze intense.

  Her stomach flipped. She held up the check with trembling fingers. “Looks like we’re going to be neighbors forever.” No matter what else happened.

  “Oh, I don’t know.” Sawyer twirled her around and set her back on her feet toward the kitchen as if he didn’t want her to go just yet. His deep kiss congratulated, encouraged, and showed his love. Pulling up an inch so they were nose to nose, he caressed her cheek. “I think I’d be even happier if you came and lived with me.”

  Sawyer pulled a square box from his front jeans’ pocket and lowered to one knee.

  Her entire body shook. “What?”

  “Grace Sheldon, will you marry me?”

  “Sawyer!”

  “I love you. I want to spend our lives together. You can paint the whole house with purple glitter if that makes you happy.”

  The heart-shaped amethyst ring glimmered in the morning sun, like the lights of the city had below them Friday night when she knew she loved him, and only him. She knew instantly what she wanted and threw her arms around him. “Yes, yes!”

  Tears of joy spilled down her cheeks and glittered in his eyes, too. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive.”

  “And that makes me the happiest woman. We are different, Sawyer, but in the best kind of way.” They clasped hands and shared a kiss of tenderness so gentle and loving it made her senseless.

  “Maybe Lottie and Violet can move in here? That way I can still help with Vi and keep my chickens and…”

  He lifted her hand and slid the heart-shaped purple stone onto her finger. It was a perfect fit. “I’m sure things will all work out, Grace. With you, they always do.”

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  About the Author

  With an impressive bibliography in an array of genres, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall has garnered a notable fan base. She pens stories guaranteed to touch the heart while transporting the reader to another time and place. Her belief in happily ever after shines through, whether it’s a romantic glimpse into history or a love affair for today.

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