Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
He swoops in for another kiss. This one is longer and full of promise—at least that’s what my heart thinks. My head is telling me to slow down, but for once, I’m not letting that stop me. I’ve been reserved my entire life. I’ve never allowed a man to get close, not trusting anyone enough. I know in my heart that if Foster walks away, I’ll be heartbroken, but I’ll be a better person just from having known him.
Getting this time with him is a precious gift I’ll always cherish. He’s one of the greatest people I’ve ever known. And even though I know it’s going to hurt, I don’t want to miss a single solitary second of the time we have together.
“Fuck,” he rasps, pulling out of the kiss and standing to his full height. “We need to get out of this room.”
“It’s such a nice room, though. And it’s got three beds, two couches, a kitchen table, a countertop.” I tick off each one, and he groans, diving in for another kiss.
“Sand. I promised you sand,” he says against my lips, making me laugh.
“Later.”
He nods. “Later.” Taking my hand, he grabs the keycard, makes sure he has his phone, wallet, and rental keys, and we’re out the door. He pulls me close, wrapping his arm around my waist as we ride the elevator to the ground floor.
Five minutes later, I’m standing barefoot in the white sand. My toes are buried, and my heart is full. I stare out at the deep blue waters as I try to remember that this is real life. I’m not dreaming.
“You plan on getting those toes wet?” he asks me.
“Patience, Mr. Vaughn. I’m enjoying this.”
His chuckle is deep and husky. “Take all the time you need, babe,” he says, coming to stand next to me, digging his own toes into the white crystals.
I take a slow, deep breath, letting the scent of salt and sunscreen fill my lungs. The sun warms my back, and the gentle lap of the waves against the shore makes my chest tighten with happiness.
I can’t believe that I’m here.
The breeze tousles my hair, and for a second, everything else disappears. Just the sand, the sea, and the quiet warmth of him beside me.
I can feel Foster’s gaze, but it doesn’t bother me. His presence is comforting and grounding. Without saying a word, he takes my hand in his, and together, we take leisurely steps toward the water. The water kisses our ankles. A small splash rises, and I can’t help but laugh freely as we step further into the wave.
He turns so that we’re facing one another. He lifts his palms to my cheeks and grins down at me. “You’re pure temptation, baby,” he murmurs, a playful glint in his eyes.
I shake my head, smiling. “I’m just me.”
“Exactly,” he muses, bending to cup water in his hands and splashing me with it.
I shriek with laughter, and that’s how we spend the rest of our day. We laugh and play in the water like kids. Our clothes are soaked, but I can’t seem to find it in me to care. As the sun starts to set, hand in hand, we make our way back to the hotel. Our feet are covered in sand, our clothes are wet, and our smiles are wide.
Today is a day that I’ll never forget.
Chapter Fifteen
Foster
* * *
“I’ve never been on a boat,” Eden says, bouncing in the passenger seat of our rental. “I don’t know if I’ll like it.”
“I’ll be with you. Can you swim?”
“Yeah, but Foster, there are things in the ocean that want to eat me,” she says, her tone serious. I have to bite the corner of my mouth to keep my laughter at bay.
“Nothing in the water is going to eat you. I won’t let it,” I assure her.
“You can’t stop a shark.”
This time, I do chuckle. I can’t help it. “Babe, this is what they do. We’re not going to be far from shore. You’ll be able to see land all around us.”
“I know.” She huffs out a breath of air. “I just… I’ve never done anything like this before. It’s new and exciting and scary as hell.”
Reaching over the console, I take her hand in mine. “We can do something different. This is your weekend.”
“I want to see the dolphins.”
“Then we’re going to see the dolphins. I’ll be next to you the entire time. I’m a great swimmer and a professional athlete. I have stamina for days,” I tell her, my voice pitching lower.
“Trust me, I know,” she teases.
“There she is.” I smile. I love getting to see all the different sides of her. “It’s going to be fun. It’s only an hour trip. You’re going to be so entranced with the dolphins you won’t have time to worry about what else is in the water.”