“Does it matter how much money I make? If I can feed and clothe us and provide shelter, what else do we need?”

“Well, there’re cars and insurance and vacations and entertainment and household expenses and—”

He rested a finger over her lips. “If you live with me, life will be a lot simpler than what you’re used to.”

“I know that.”

“Do you really, Syd? Because we’re talking very simple and very quiet.”

“I get it.”

“I promise we’d have everything we need.” He leaned in to nuzzle her neck. “What other convincing do you require?”

“We’ll discuss that when your ankle feels better.”

“My ankle is numb at the moment, but another part of me is starting to ache.”

Sydney laughed at the face he made and cupped his straining erection.

His head fell back, and his hips surged in encouragement.

“Luke?”

“Hmm?”

“What if I move here and I hate it? What would we do then?”

He reached for her hand. “You have to stop that if you expect me to talk right now.”

She shifted her hand to his thigh. “Better?”

“Not really.” He sat up and put his arm around her. “I suppose if island life isn’t for you, then we’ll move.”

“You wouldn’t mind that?”

“I’d miss it here, but I’d miss you more if you left without me.”

Touched by his sweet words, Sydney shifted carefully to straddle him. “I have some things to take care of at home after Labor Day. Then I can make some decisions about what’s next.”

“Will we make these decisions together?”

“I hope so.”

With his hands on her bottom, he brought her in tight against his arousal. “I hope so, too.”

She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

“Now what’re you thinking?”

“What do you mean?”

His finger traced the furrow between her brows. “Dead giveaway.”

He read her so well that sometimes it was almost unsettling. “What if we rearrange our lives for each other and it doesn’t work out between us?”

“I don’t think that’ll happen, but if it does, we’ll figure it out then.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“Why don’t you look convinced?”

“I want so badly to believe it’ll all be fine, but after everything that’s happened to me, hell after what happened today, I’m having trouble with the concept of happily ever after.”

“All I could think about on the way to the hospital was how freaked out you’d be when you heard about what’d happened at the marina. I wanted so badly to spare you from that.”