Page 27 of Kiss me Forever

“We’ve arrived,” Magnus says as he pulls up to a cozy home up on the hill with views of the magnificent harbor below. We step out of the jeep and walk inside, the home radiating a warm, welcoming vibe. I love this place so much more than his mansion in the city. There’s nowhere to hide in this place with ocean breezes blowing through it and views from every area in the house.

“I don’t know if I’m going to leave here now that you’ve brought me,” I warn him with a laugh.

“This really is paradise. I’m glad you like it. Don’t get cozy, though, because I’m starving, and I want to show you around.”

“I’d be happy to sit here at this cottage in the sun all day, but I’d regret it because I want to explore all of the island as well,” I admit.

He leads me to a golf cart which is the preferred mode of transportation on the island. They don’t offer a lot of permits to drive in Avalon as they don’t want to take away the magic of the place with a ton of traffic. The majority of the island is uninhabited to keep it a sanctuary.

He takes me straight into town to the Bluewater Avalon, a charming restaurant right on the water. We get a table in the crowded space on the outside patio, the sound of waves lapping on the shore a perfect harmony to a wonderful day.

I order the Ponzu Scallops which come out quickly. With the first bite I know I’ve found heaven on a plate. “These are the best thing I’ve ever eaten,” I tell him, savoring each and every bite. I don’t need to eat anything other than these things.

“I knew you’d like them. I’m always bummed when I come to the island and they’re out of season,” he tells me.

We continue to eat as our conversation flows, and I find myself once again lost in the sound of his voice and all he has to say. I love how his eyes light up as he talks about his family, his childhood, and the dreams he had then and the ones he has now. I open up to him, sharing my own tales, and snippets of my life. The more we talk, the more it unlocks memories and all of the moments that have shaped me, the good and the bad.

We finish lunch, then walk down to the ice-cream shop and get scoops before we jump back into the golf cart and head off to explore. We see hidden coves and scenic viewpoints as people wave at us as we pass by. Some are walking, and some on carts of their own. There are people fishing, sunbathing, swimming, diving, and so much more. There doesn’t seem to be a single person in this magical place who isn’t happy to be here. I understand how they feel.

Our last stop is at the market where we pick up some groceries so we can have a night in. We drive back to the wonderful cottage and Magnus fires up the barbecue while I set the table and put a salad together. Soon, the smell of grilled vegetables and seafood is making my stomach rumble. I don’t see how when we’ve been eating all day, but maybe it’s all of the sunshine and fresh sea air making me endlessly hungry.

We dine beneath the stars on his gorgeous patio, the night sky a glittering canopy above us. We finish dinner, then lay beneath a blanket as we sip wine while enjoying the view and continuing to visit.

“What made you and Livie so close?” he asks.

“I think it was the first time I felt like I found my soul mate. We clicked immediately. She came into my life when I really needed someone, and I think it was the same for her with me. We’ve never had a fight. There aren’t too many people who can say that in any relationship, but we just get along. Even if we don’t agree on something, we find a way to meet in the middle which means we have no reason to argue. We’ve also had some wild adventures together,” I say with a laugh.

“What’s the wildest?”

“Well, there was this time we decided to take a road trip with no destination in mind. We ended up at a tiny beach town in Oregon and slept in the car. We didn’t care. We had a blast, spending the weekend making sandwiches and laughing the entire time. We considered moving to Oregon we liked it so much, but we just couldn’t leave home. That doesn’t mean we haven’t been back to visit though.”

“I love your zest for life. It seems you and Livie are really good for each other. When you have a friendship like that you take care of it,” he says.

“Exactly. I’d never do anything to risk my friendship with her.”

“Piper, I feel the same. When you find someone who’s good for your soul you don’t throw it away.” My cheeks heat with the intensity he’s looking at me with. I lose my breath and don’t have words to say. I decide to show him how I feel in another way. I set down my glass then climb onto his lap.

He reaches for me as I cup his cheeks. I lean down and kiss him, and soon we’re lost in each other as we always are the second we touch. Soon, our clothes fall away as I sink down onto him and we make love right beneath the twinkling night sky.

By the time we’re finished, it’s sealed, I’m never leaving this island. This truly is paradise, and now there’s no doubt I’m with the man I love. I’m going to hold him for as long as I possibly can.

Chapter Sixteen

Magnus

Day one on the island went by far too quickly. Day two started out just right with breakfast with a view. We then did a little more exploring before we had to head back to the house for a little while. Business doesn’t stop even in paradise, and I had to take a call that drags on for far too long. It’s a couple of hours before I’m able to get back to Piper. I’m frustrated as I walk out to the balcony to find her beneath an umbrella with her computer on her lap.

When she sees me, she quickly closes her laptop as her cheeks flush. She smiles at me, and I wonder what she’s up to. I know it’s nothing bad, but there’s something she’s trying to hide from me, and I must know what it is.

“I’m sorry that took so long. What have you been up to?” I lean over and kiss her before sitting down next to her.

“Nothing much,” she tells me, her eyes darting away. My curiosity is piqued even more.

“You, my darling woman, are a terrible liar. Now, I have to know what you were doing on that computer.” I laugh, showing her I’m not worried, simply curious. She’s hidden nothing from me so far, so what can this possibly be that has her blushing?

She shifts in her seat as if wrestling with the decision on whether she wants to tell me or not. I wait, letting her decide. As much as I want to know, if she really doesn’t want to share, then I will drop it. She finally lets out a sigh.

“Well, now if I don’t tell you, you’ll think it’s worse than it is,” she says. “I was just sort of . . . writing.”

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