Page 28 of Stealing Summer

"Nah," I admitted with a wistful chuckle. "They never bloomed like Grandma's did. And Mom... she could never find those seeds again. But she got me back into the garden—it was special." I glanced up at Reese, meeting his gaze. "Nothing extravagant like your Italy story, though."

Reese pushed off from his seat, closing the distance between us until he was crouched beside me, his presence grounding. "Your story beats mine," he said, his voice earnest.

But before the silence could stretch too long, he straightened up, his charm sliding back into place seamlessly. "Anyway," he said with a wink, his smile returned. "Did you ever hear about the time I convinced Crew and Bailey I was a lost prince?"

I could sense that our discussion was starting to delve into deeper territory and he was trying to retreat. His voice had its usual hint of mischief, but I knew then that he wasn’t as carefree as he seemed—even if he hardly ever showed it.

When we got back to the marina, Reese tied up the boat and helped me out onto the dock. As we walked to his truck, our hands brushed against each other as we exchanged playful banter. I could still feel the attraction lingering between us. Even the faint touch stirred something inside me. I glanced at his vehicle, a shiny

black truck with tinted windows and a slightly aggressive stance. It was exactly the kind of truck one would expect from Reese.

“Here we are,” he said, opening the tailgate and casually tossing a few of his things into the back. He then walked over to the passenger side, opened the door, and extended a hand to help me in. His green eyes met mine, a silent invitation for me to trust him. His strong grip held on to my hand, guiding me up into the high seat.

I settled into the plush leather seat, my eyes wandering around the interior. It wasn’t long before something caught my eye, a CD that was tucked into the otherwise sleek and clutter-free dashboard. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Really? You’re a Swiftie?” I asked, teasing him while holding up the CD case so he could see it.

“Can you blame me?” he replied with a lopsided grin that somehow made him even more attractive. “I’m not ashamed to admit that I like her music.”

“Neither am I,” I admitted, still snickering. “I just wouldn’t have expected it from you, that’s all, and who even has CDs anymore?” I joked, laughing harder as I dangled the CD just out of Reese’s reach. His arm was fully extended, fingertips grazing the case, but I continued to pull it away, my laughter bubbling up with each attempt he made to grab it.

“Give it back,” he demanded, shifting over the center console and leaning in closer while still reaching for the CD. My smile faded, knowing how close we were now. I could feel the heat radiating off his body. His eyes were dark and intense, full of desire.

“Reese,” I whispered hesitating, barely able to breathe as I stared into those hypnotizing eyes. Our faces were only inches apart, and I knew without a doubt that all it would take was one small movement for our lips to touch.

His gaze drifted to my mouth and lingered there for a heartbeat before he pulled back, as if physically forcing himself to put some distance between us. “Don’t worry, I’m playing by your rules, Hartford,” A small smile formed at the corner of his mouth, and I had the sudden urge to kiss it away, to explore him further—but I didn’t. “Let’s get you home.”

My stupid, stupid rules. Him respecting my wishes only magnified the desire for him that was consuming me, and I hated how much more I wanted him because of it.

The drive back to the cabin was a blur of teasing remarks and tense glances. When we finally arrived, he walked me to the front door. The air between us thickened with an unspoken energy, and I fidgeted nervously with the keys in my hand.

With his hands stuffed in the pockets of his shorts, he turned to face me and the faint porch light. "Change your mind yet?" His voice broke the silence, playful and sure. "Ready for that goodnight kiss?"

I felt that familiar flutter in my stomach, the one I’d been trying to ignore ever since the first time I met him. I shook my head, trying to brush off the butterflies. "Not a chance."

Reese chuckled and stepped closer, taking my hand in his. My breath caught in my throat as he kissed the back of my hand.

"The pleasure was all mine, Hartford," he said, his voice low and smooth before he let go of my hand.

When he finally walked away, I was left standing on the front porch, disoriented by the sudden absence of his touch. Reese shot me a wink and gave me one last look—a silent communication that this was just the beginning—before turning and walking away into the night.

fourteen

The tapping on my door pulled me from a deep sleep. As I blinked and became aware of the morning light streaming through my window. I could hear Boston’s voice from outside my room.

“Hey, you up?” he called out, tapping his knuckles against the wooden surface again.

“Coming,” my voice was groggy from sleep as I dragged myself out of bed, shuffling to the door in my pajamas.

I opened the door, revealing him in a white fitted t-shirt and shorts. His hair appeared slightly disheveled as if he had just woken up.

“Hey, Boston... What’s up?” I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand. “It’s early.”

“We need to talk,” he said, with a steady voice. “About Reese.”

“Reese?” I frowned, clearly confused. “What about him?”

Boston’s jaw tightened for a moment before he spoke. “I saw you last night when we were leaving the restaurant across the street from the lake. You were with Reese.”

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