Page 63 of Beachside Kisses With My Best Friend

“We don’t have to talk about that now.”

She shakes her head, something fierce and determined in her expression. “But it matters. I pushed you away that night, told you that if you were a friend, you’d support me. I threatened to cut off all communication if you said anything bad about Donny. Who does that?”

“Lee, it’s okay.”

“But it’s not okay,” she insists, her voice rising slightly, filling with emotion. “You were there for me, and I just…I never appreciated it. Never appreciated you.” Her gaze locks onto mine, and there’s an intensity in the moment, something raw and honest that sends my heart racing. “I should have seen you.”

Then, as if time suspended, she leans in, and I can feel the electric tension crackling in the air. Her lips hover tantalizingly close to mine, and I can’t help but want to bridge the gap. I’m on fire. Every part of me screams to kiss her, to drown in this moment, but my instincts hold me back.

Honorable is the last thing I want to be right now, but it’s what’s right for her. For us. I have to be sure that she’s sure. I don’t want any regrets between us. So I gently place my hands on her arms, slowly pushing her back. “Lee,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper, heavy with the weight of desire and restraint.

She blinks, a blush creeping up her cheeks, and I see the realization dawn in her eyes. “Sorry, I just…”

“No, don’t be sorry,” I say quickly, searching for the right words. “It’s just that…” How to find the words? “I don’t want you to kiss me just because I’m not Donny, or because I’ve said something that’s always been true.”

Her brow furrows in confusion. “You don’t want to kiss me?”

“Not tonight.” I squeeze her arms, grounding us both. “Tonight’s been a whirlwind, and you look exhausted.”

And as if punctuating my point, she yawns adorably, small and vulnerable, and I can’t help but chuckle as I pull her back into my chest, cradling her against me.

“Tomorrow, though,” I murmur. “If you feel the same way, then…” I trail off, feeling the promise hanging in the air, fragile and intoxicating.

“Tomorrow?” she asks, her voice laced with sleepiness.

“Tomorrow. Or whenever. If you still want to.”

“Promise?” Her eyes flutter closed, bewitching in their innocence.

“I do.”

The words hang between us, a sacred vow. With her nestled against me, the world outside fades, leaving only the soothing sound of rain and the steady beat of our hearts. Tomorrow holds the unknown, but tonight, we exist in this cocoon of warmth and unspoken possibilities, the embers of something real flickering ever so gently, waiting to ignite fully under the right kind of spark.

For the first time in a long time, I have hope.

And that’s a beautiful thing.

twenty

MARILEE

I truly couldn’t imagine a more perfect day. So far, it’s been one for the books.

After our tumultuous evening—during which I cried more tears than I have in a good, long while—I woke up in the California king-sized bed under the softest duvet. Jordan was nowhere to be seen, though sunlight streamed in through the window and my suitcase sat on the footboard bench. Not only that, but a lidded cup of coffee rested on my side table, still warm to the touch.

I was up and showered before Jordan returned in his running clothes, pulling AirPods from his ears.“There’s a cute breakfast cafe in the hotel. Hungry?”

“Starving.”Especially considering I fell asleep before the room service came last night.

Breakfast wasn’t the only thing I was hungry for, but first thing in the morning didn’t feel like the right time to continue our conversation from last night.

It also didn’t feel like time when we explored the town together after breakfast or met with a few local vendors Jordan might consider partnering with if he secures this contract with Mitchell McGraff. And it wasn’t the time as his truck chugged up the mountain pass to Mitchell’s land, which is gorgeous in its own right. We’re so far up that our cell phone reception is spotty, surrounded by trees and wild flowers.

It’s been good to have the time to reflect though. Because it was a hit to my pride when he stopped my kiss last night. It took a lot for me to reach out—and then he stopped me.

I understand why, but it’s taken me a while to know what I want to say to him. To be sure.

Unfortunately, we haven’t had two minutes to ourselves since arriving early this afternoon. After checking in, Mitchell took us around his property, telling us all about how he’d inherited the land from his grandfather and cut down just enough trees to create a clearing for twelve tents. They’re smaller than I imagined, but cozy, each with a queen-sized bed with a rustic luxury frame, a small bathroom with a rainfall shower, and a completely clear dome overhead. The front of our tent is also see-through, but a curtain can be tugged closed for privacy. A series of paved walkways connects the tents, and the resort features a hot tub, pool, kids’ playground, and dining dome where Mitchell brings in a five-star chef to create truly gourmet meals.

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