Page 134 of That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss

I cough out a laugh. “What did you say to that?”

“I told her that ship has sailed. Like … all the way across the ocean.” Liv fights a grin. “As far as I’m concerned, my career there might as well be the Titanic sinking in the North Atlantic.”

“Huh.” I scratch at the almost-week-old scruff on my chin. “You know I did promise you could be Rose if you stuck around as the temporary manager here.”

“Yes, you did.” Olivia’s lip crooks. “And for the record, I’ll still help you out with the marketing for The Beachfront and the pub. But only on a part-time basis. And only if you want me to.”

“Of course. Yes. Please. I want you to.”

“Good.” A dimple presses into her cheek. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“Does that mean you’re staying in Abieville?”

“I am.” A fresh smile breaks across her face. “I’m here for you. I’m for you.”

She steps into my arms and presses her cheek against my chest. My heart swells, almost to bursting. These are the words I’ve always wanted to hear. What I needed my whole life.

“We’ve still got a lot to figure out,” she murmurs. “But I’ve been in a rush my whole life, and I might be ready to slow down.”

I release her, and look down into her eyes. “Well, Abieville’s the right place for that kind of pace.” A grin tugs at my lips. “Have you seen your cousins fish? They can stay frozen in place holding a rod still for hours.”

A chuckle sneaks out of her. “I’m not going to come to a complete stop,” she says. “In fact, I think … I want to go back to school. But I’m going to study something else this time.”

“Wow.” My forehead lifts. “Round two of school, huh?”

“Yep.” Her shoulders pitch up. “Being in classes will be different now, though. I won’t be comparing myself to anyone else. Or assuming I’m not smart enough.”

I scoff. “You are so smart.”

“Hmm.” She rolls her lips together. “Believing that took me a while, though. And I want to help other people figure their stuff out, too. Everyone’s got things buried in them, I think. We just need someone to listen in the right way while we chip off all the junk piled on top.”

I meet her gaze. “No one’s better at that than you.”

She reaches out to the porch swing rope, running her hand along its length. “You’re the first one who told me that,” she says. “So in a way, you’re also a big part of why I decided I’d make a pretty good therapist.”

“Whoa. Really?”

“Yeah.” She lets out a little squeak, and throws a hand up to her mouth. “That’s the first time I’ve said it out loud to anyone!” Her cheeks glow pink, and her excitement is contagious.

“How did you feel, saying it?”

“It felt real,” she says. “And right.”

I grin at her. “Well, I guess I won’t have to worry about us and our future communication. My girlfriend’s going to be a pro.”

“Girlfriend?” She arches a brow. “I don’t remember you asking me to be your girlfriend.”

“And I’m about to fix that.” I gather her hands, and her gaze syncs up with mine, wide and expectant. Suddenly the air around us shifts, and my mouth goes dry. “I hope I got this straight.” I clear my throat. “I’ve been working on memorizing the words.”

Her lips part, just a breath’s worth. “Memorizing what words?”

A breeze wafts over us, wrapping me in her warm cocoa butter scent. “Olivia McCoy, I have found you,” I say. “You are my sympathy. My better self. My … good angel.”

“Wait.” She sucks in a breath. “That’s Rochester! From Jane Eyre.”

My mouth quirks. “I sure am glad you recognized those lines, otherwise things could’ve gotten a little weird.”

“I recognize it. And I love it.” Her deep green eyes bore into mine. “Hudson, I …” Her voice catches, and the space between us crackles with unspoken emotion.

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