Page 105 of Somewhere You Belong

Chuckling, I reply, “No can do, Goose. That image is now tattooed on my brain among the others.”

She rolls her eyes, but then smirks in my direction again. “That’s fine. Let me give you another one to add to the collection then, shall we?”

Slowly, she drags her tank top up her torso, extracting it from her body, leaving her standing there in a simple white bra that looks so good against her tan skin. Next, she unbuttons her shorts and shoves them down, shimmying her hips as she does so, and then stands tall again, licking her lips seductively.

And I’m instantly hard again, contemplating just how fucking lucky I am to be here with her, and not questioning how we got here.

Because all I see in front of me is not a practically naked woman whom I’m about to devour.

No.

I see a woman rooted in place.

She looks happy.

She looks like she belongs there.

She looks like she’s mine.

And I show her how much I like that idea all night long.

***

“I wasn’t sure if you were going to make it.” My mother treads across the sand to where I’m standing with my team, waiting for the first game to begin. The Carrington Cove Games are about to be underway and we couldn’t have asked for better weather.

The sun is shining, the ocean breeze is light but strong enough to ward off the heat, and the crowd of spectators is growing by the minute.

“You know I wouldn’t miss the games.” She pats me on the shoulder before pulling me in for a hug.

“I know. It’s just the first one since Dad died, and…”

She straightens her spine. “I can’t be afraid to live because of the emotions that are going to pop up, Dallas. Your father may not be here, but I still am.”

I pull her closer and kiss her temple. “Yes you are, Mom.”

As I go to release her, Willow approaches us from behind, her voice causing me to spin around. “Sorry I’m late.” But before she gets close to me, she freezes. “Oh. Um, hi.”

My mother clears her throat. “Hello there.”

My eyes bounce back and forth between them, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that Willow is nervous about meeting my mother. I didn’t exactly tell Willow that she’d be here, but I knew this meeting was inevitable.

This is a small town after all.

“Willow, this is my mother, Katherine. Mom, this is Willow, the woman…”

“Who inherited the Bayshore house,” my mother finishes for me. “I know.”

“You two have met?” I ask, staring at them both.

“Not officially,” my mother answers. “But you know how people talk, Dallas, and a name like Willow isn’t one you hear very often.”

Willow tucks her hair behind her ear even though most of it is pulled back in her signature low bun. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Sheppard.”

“Please, honey. Call me Katherine.”

“If you insist.” Willow turns to me now. “Anything you need me to do?”

“Actually there is.” I reach down to the bag by my feet and pull out the shirt I brought just for her. “You can put this on.” Holding up the navy blue t-shirt with the Catch & Release logo on it, I study her face for her reaction.

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