Page 45 of All You Need Is Love

Chapter 10

Marshall didn’t know how all of this was going to play out—only that he had to see Shannon again.

Pronto.

Which was why he’d shown up on her doorstep at eight o’clock this morning, a cup of Earl Grey in tow.

She’d looked so adorable—and confused—as she stood there in her fuzzy pajama pants and white tank top, hair thrown up in a messy knot, her face scrubbed clean of any makeup. If that was her fresh-out-of-bed look, whew … he was a goner.

But he’d already known that last night, after he’d kissed her as thoroughly as he’d dared before she’d dropped him at Tyler and Gabrielle’s house just after midnight.

Now, they stood hand in hand at the top of a bluff, watching a few surfers ride the morning waves. So far he and Shannon were the only visitors at the hulking white lighthouse about five miles north of town, but more would likely show up in an hour when tours officially began. And while the idea of learning the history behind the light station intrigued him, he’d rather spend every spare moment with the woman beside him.

Who knew how many they had left.

He pushed the thought from his mind and tugged Shannon down the miles-long path that wound throughout the surrounding seaside area. Long beach grass waved in the wind, tickling Marshall’s legs as they ambled down the pavement. Huge rock faces emerged along the coastline, and big swells of water rose up and seemed to disappear as they splashed against the boulders.

“I haven’t been out here in a long time. This is incredible.” Shannon stopped walking for a moment as she took it all in, her gaze roaming the landscape—the utter barrenness and yet fullness of it all.

He lifted their joined hands and kissed her knuckles. “Yes, it is.”

She turned, their eyes connecting for a beat before she smiled and shook her head. “I meant the view.”

“So did I.”

Rolling her eyes, she shoved him playfully. “You did not just use that cheesy line on me.”

His free hand found his heart and pressed against his chest. “Cheesy line? I’ll have you know I meant every word.”

“They always do.”

“They?” Snagging her waist, he pulled her close, setting his nose against hers. “What other men are spouting their cheesy lines at you? Do I need to mark my claim?”

And then, as if someone had pricked a pin in her, Shannon deflated, her shoulders drooping, gaze lowering to his chest. “I just watch a lot of romance movies, that’s all.”

“Hey.” He stroked his thumb across her cheekbone and tucked a rogue strand of hair behind her ear. “I was just kidding. I know things are really new between us and didn’t mean to imply we’re exclusive or anything.”

Even though I want to be.

Never been so sure of anything, really—although he’d stayed up half the night trying to reason out how a relationship between them would ever work. Besides their differences, there was the little fact they lived three thousand miles apart.

Shannon bit her lip. “That’s not it. It’s more that you think you have any competition.” Tugging out of his grip, she stepped off the path and wandered closer to the shore.

“Shannon, wait.” Catching up to her, he touched her elbow. “Did I say something wrong?”

Finally, after a beat, she turned. “I’ve never had a boyfriend. Never dated. And last night … that was my first kiss.”

“You’re kidding.”

Her cheeks seemed in that moment to be sunburned. “I know it’s pathetic, to be twenty-seven and never—”

“That’s not what I meant.” He took her hands, looped them up and over his neck, and drew her close again. “I meant I can’t believe that someone who kisses as good as you do hasn’t had any practice before.”

And what did that mean for future kisses? Hopefully he’d get to find out.

Shannon’s jaw fell open, her mouth forming an O.

“Then again, I’m happy to help you practice some more.” He grinned. “If you’d like.”

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