Page 67 of Beachside Kisses With My Best Friend

Okay, yeah. I’m tired. So much has happened in the last twenty-four hours. But we have time to figure it all out, to process and see what works best for us. For right now, I’m just going to enjoy this moment.

“Well, Mr. Carmichael.” I cuddle up against him, pressing the bottom of my foot against the top of his, deep under the blankets. “I reallydolike the sound of that.”

twenty-one

JORDAN

I’m standing on top of a jagged rock, overlooking one of California’s most beautiful waterfalls, my very kissable wife tucked under my arm…and wow. This is my life.

“It’s so gorgeous,” Marilee whispers. “So quiet too.”

“That’s the thing I love most about getting lost in nature.” After waking up to the sun streaming all around us from outside the tent, we snuggled for a bit before getting dressed and eating stuffed French toast at the dining dome. We have to head home in a few hours, but I wanted to check out a hike in the area, another activity to add to my tour itinerary if I take Mitchell up on the offer he presented to me at breakfast—a very lucrative offer that has my insides twirling with possibilities.

Somehow, things are all coming together with my career…and the rest of my life too.

I continue. “The peace I can find here. The way it silences my mind.”

“That’s how I feel when I’m baking.”

I squeeze her shoulders. “I know.”

She smiles. “You think you know everything about me, huh?”

“No way.” Leaning down, I give her a gentle kiss. “But I’ll always want to know more.”

Lee grows quiet, contemplative again, as we take in the view, breathe in the clean air. The water below us cascades from two main points, converging into a pond eighty feet below that Mitchell says is swimmable in the summer. An entire forest of sycamores and oaks grows up around the falls. Squirrels scurry up their trunks, birds twitter in their branches, and moss grows on the rocks at their bases. The ground is soft from the rain, but yesterday’s sun dried it enough so it’s not muddy.

I’m honestly surprised we’re the only ones up here, but you won’t find me complaining. This is our own little retreat, our haven from the world. Last night was incredible, but I’m not dumb enough to think that everything’s solved between us. Not only that, but court’s just two days away.

And Marilee is still quiet.

Removing my backpack, I set it on a rock and lower myself to the hard ground, tugging on her hand. “Whatcha thinking about now?”

“Hmm?” She joins me, bringing her knees into her chest. “Oh. Nothing.” A shiver racks her body despite the rays of the mid-morning sun.

I reach into my backpack and remove an extra hoodie—the one she stole from me that I found hanging out of her suitcase this morning. It made me smile to see it there, mingled with all of her other clothes. Like it belonged. “Unacceptable answer.” I set the jacket over her shoulders.

“That’s rather bossy of you.” But she smiles, and I know she doesn’t mind. “And thank you. For keeping me warm.”

“I can keep you warm other ways too, you know.”

She laughs and bumps me with her shoulder. “Yeah, Iknow.” And yet, she doesn’t move any closer.

“Okay, spill. Unless you really aren’t ready to talk. But I can tell something’s bugging you.”

The gentle rush of the water fills in the cracks of her hesitation. “I’m worried about court. Aren’t you?”

“Of course. But we have to trust our attorney, right? And he thinks we’ve got a solid defense. I cannot fathom a world in which a judge would take Ryder away from us.” And yes, I said us, because I’m hoping…praying…she decides to stay. “Is that really what you’re thinking about? Or is there more?”

She sighs and closes the jacket tight around her, over her whole body, her knees, as she huddles. “You really do know me, huh?”

A bird of some sort swoops into a nearby tree. I freeze, thinking it might be a bald eagle, but I can’t be sure. Either way, the possibility is there, hanging out, so close we could snap a photo.

But Marilee’s my focus right now, and I have a feeling I know why she’s feeling unsettled. I place my hand on her back and make soothing circles there. “Yes, but I’d like to hear it from you.”

“It’s just everything, I guess. The custody battle, taking over the bakery. Not even sure I really want that. And then… Last night was amazing, but it’s a lot, you know?”

“I know. But we can figure it out. Like we said, we’re not in a rush. We love each other. That’s enough for now.”

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