“I think this, you, has been the single greatest surprise in my life,” she says and presses a kiss to my lips. “And I think you taste like beer.”

“True.”

“And I’m pretty sure I think whatever this is scares the shit out of both of us and that’s okay too.”

She doesn’t protest as I carry her outside, the night air cool against our skin. The pool glistens beneath the landscape lights, but only I can see it since it’s at her back.

“And I think”—I walk us right to the edge of the pool— “I think we’re doing way too much talking and not enough living.”

Her eyes flash with realization. “You wouldn’t—”

I smirk. “Too late, baby. Time to Live-A-Little,” I shout as I jump in, bringing her with me.

Her shriek is drowned out by us going under water, but her arms never fall from around my neck and her legs find my hips again as we come up for air.

She beats against my chest with one hand while shaking her hair out of her face. “You bastard.”

“Yes, but you still love me,” I joke before I catch myself. My half laugh falls off as she runs a hand down my cheek and then presses a gentle kiss to my shoulder before looking up to meet my eyes.

There’s quiet all around us.

Even in my head.

She exhales, resting her forehead against mine. “Yeah,” she whispers. “I do.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Hendrix

The scent of brown sugar fills my nose as I mix more dough. My movements are automatic because my mind is somewhere else. Specifically, skinny-dipping under the stars.

Making love under the stars.

And telling Jase that I love him.

Yeah, that.

It wasn’t planned. More like it just kind of happened. And when it did, I sucked in a breath and feared the worst—that Jase would do exactly what he said he would—push me away.

But I saw the same affection in his eyes.

I saw it reflected back at me.

He might not be able to say the words, but when his lips brushed against mine, when I sank down on him as our gazes held, I could see it in his eyes and feel it in his touch.

And that has to be enough for me. For now.

I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, then force myself back to a reality I never expected to be mine—not after Paul and surely not after some signed contract punctuated with an NDA.

Love was never part of this deal.

It’s not what we signed up for.

But it doesn’t change the fact that I feel it.

“Thank you,” the last customer still sitting in the café area calls out as they leave.