Page 135 of That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss

“I know. Me too.”

Saying I love you may be too soon, although I’m feeling the words with my whole heart. But we’re both so new at this. And like she said. We have time. I have her.

And that’s all that matters.

“Liv.” I lift one hand to her beautiful chin and tip it upward. Then I oh-so-slowly lower my mouth to hers. We’re almost touching, but not quite. “You promise you’re not made of glass?” I ask. “I don’t want to hurt you. I’ll never hurt you.”

Her breath is warm and sweet. “You won’t.” Then she’s up on her toes, pressing her lips to mine, and all the joy and fear and hope that’s been swirling inside me finally takes flight. It’s a tornado of feelings. A full-on Liv Tsunami.

And I’m drowning in it.

I try to be gentle, but she crushes me with her kiss, and her body melts into mine. Her lips are exploring, testing and teasing. I move along with her, sharing all the wonder I’ve saved for the one who was made for me. When she sighs against my mouth—such a soft surrender—the blood courses through my veins, in a race to nowhere. My heart could be a ticking bomb right now, and I’d still be helpless to stop the countdown.

I can’t stop it, and I don’t want to.

For the first time in my life, I’m more afraid of not having someone in the first place than of losing them in the end. All I needed was to find this woman.

Her knees buckle, and we stumble backward, but our lips are still attached. So I hold her steady, moving in reverse until the lobby door finally stops us. We’re anchored in place now. No room for falling. My arms stay wrapped around her, grasping with all my strength, as if I could pull her soul inside me and keep her safe there always.

“Stay with me,” I murmur. “Never leave.”

Her breath hitches and she breaks free from our kissing long enough to say, “Ever.”

Then we’re back again, devouring each other. I pour into her all the feelings I’ve held back my entire life trying to protect myself.

So afraid of being hurt.

Of being left behind.

Liv is my home now. My whole heart and soul. Her arms are the family I’ve always wanted. From this day forward, I won’t need anyone else for the rest of my life. We’ll have forever to know one another. And to learn about ourselves. It’s just her and me now, strong and steady. Rock solid.

That is, until the door we’re pressed against opens behind us, and our anchor disappears, and Liv and I trip backward into the empty air.

Chapter Fifty-Three

Olivia

I almost fall into The Beachfront lobby.

Again.

But somehow Hudson manages to hold on to me and regain his footing at the same time. For a moment, though, I thought we were going down hard. Like all the way down. Like another my-underwear-is-exposed-on-the-lobby-floor moment. At least I’m not in my mom’s clothes this time. But seriously.

What just happened?

“Ah, Hudson!” a man exclaims. “There you are!”

“Hey, Dad,” Hudson groans.

DAD?

Hudson slowly releases me, making sure I can stand on my own. Then I straighten and take in the person standing in the doorway. He’s a slightly shorter, stiffer, silver-haired version of his son.

“Sorry to interrupt.” His eyes dart between us, and he tugs at the collar of his dress shirt. He looks like he might still be wearing the hanger from his suit jacket.

“I thought you were going to wait for me in the library,” Hudson says.

“Well, I was waiting.” He clears his throat. “But I had to go to the—ahem—men’s room. And then I couldn’t find my way back.” His expression is sheepish. “I suppose my sense of direction isn’t what it used to be. And you have a lot of different wings in this place now.”

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