He laughed and pulled her back down next to him, tucking her into the soft nook where his chest met his shoulder. “Stay. Stay as long as you want.”

Now it was her turn to sigh. “I wish I could. But I should get home.” She explained about Sage’s engagement to Hollis, how her cousin had needed her the past few days.

A look of guilt washed over Jaren’s features, but she smoothed the wrinkles away from his brow with her fingertips. “It’s all right. She has my aunt, and she seemed better today. I can stay a little longer.”

“Do you think the boat has been repaired?” he asked after a few quiet minutes, each breath filled with equal measures of bliss and fear.

“I don’t know. I’ll try to check tomorrow.”

“A part of me wishes it would never be fixed.”

“I know.”

“But I have to get back.”

It took her a moment to find her voice. “I know.” She rolled to face him and gently traced the line of his jaw. She wondered what he would look like in ten years, if he would wear a beard or cut his hair short. She understood now what her mother had meant when she said she wanted to freeze time. Leelo wished she could live in this moment, just for an hour or two, so she could memorize his face.

“Do you remember how I told you I felt like I’d always been searching for something?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Would it be strange if I said I feel like I’ve finally found it?”

A bloom of warmth spread in Leelo’s chest. She sat up a little and he did the same. “Why would that be strange?”

“We’ve only known each other for a short time.” He flushed and dropped his gaze. “I don’t want to say anything that might upset you or frighten you.”

She placed a finger under his chin and tipped it up so he would look at her. “I’m not frightened.”

“I feel like I know you, Leelo. Like I’ve always known you.”

“So do I.”

“And that doesn’t scare you? Not even a little?”

One side of her mouth curled in a grin. “Why? Are you scared of me?”

He laughed softly. “Terrified.”

She placed her hand in the center of his chest. “Your heart is beating very fast.” She traced his lips with the fingers of her other hand. “Hmm...even faster, now.” She leaned forward, feeling bold, and kissed him exactly where her fingers had been. “It’s really racing. Perhaps you need to—”

He cut her off with a playful growl, pulling her toward him to kiss her firmly. When he placed a tentative hand over her heart, she bit back a gasp.

“Is this okay?” he asked softly.