Page 17 of Unmoored

“And mythirdfavourite kind of Greek column—oh! We’re back where we started.” Eden beams up at me. “Was that the whole tour?”

Damn it.

We’ve walked all the way around Sunrise Island, but I’m not ready for this date to be over. Eden’s been chattering away, telling me how he feels about damn near everything in the world. Even when he’s obviously trying to provoke me, I like how he fills the silence. It makes a real nice change in my quiet life.

“Not yet.” I have an idea. I offer Eden my arm like I’m taking him to prom. “There’s one more place left to see.”

Eden giggles as he wraps both hands around my arm, falling into step beside me. “Oh? Do tell. Is it inside your home, or outside?” The innuendo is hard to miss.

“Outside.” Eden pretends to be shocked, and I poke him gently in the ribs. “Stop it. It’s just a pretty view.”

It’s much more than that. Brothers’ Cove is where my best friends and I bring anything that matters, from people to problems to celebrations. But hopefully Eden will find that out for himself, in time.

“I’ll accept that consolation prize.” Eden winks up at me. “Pretty views are the way to an artist’s heart.”

“And mine,” I tell Eden, my voice laden with meaning as I let my gaze linger on him, studying his long eyelashes and sculpted cheekbones.

“Oh,” he breathes out softly. Then he beams at me, his eyes fixed on mine. It feels almost like I could just lean down and...

“Oof!”

Shit. Eden’s stumbled in a pothole, and he’s lurching face-forward.

“Whoa.” My reflexes are automatic—by the time I realize what’s happened, I’ve caught his other arm as he squeaks and clutches me. “Careful there,” I add, steadying him. “The potholes can get real bad by this time of year. Especially if you’re clumsy.”

Eden’s surprise fades, and he snorts. “That was your fault.”

“Was it?” As we set off again, I wrap my arm around his shoulders… just to make sure.

“Mmhmm.” Eden sassily grins up at me. “You’ve been staring into my eyes all afternoon. It’s very distracting.”

He’s not wrong. Edenhasbeen doing most of the talking, and I’ve been doing most of the staring. But putting it that way makes me sound like a real weirdo.

“They’re stillyourfeet,” I point out. “And your eyes. You can move them where you want.”

Eden bats his lashes, walking even closer to me—so close he’s almost pressed right up against my side, his steps falling into sync with mine. “No, I can’t. Anyway, I was bound to swoon sooner or later.”

I raise my eyebrow. “You call that swooning?”

“Yes. Therefore, it’s all your fault.”

I give up. However ridiculous his arguments, I can’t help but react to him. Especially when he sidles up close like this, and makes the words disappear right off my tongue.

Not that I’m a words guy, really. I’m a physical guy. And Eden’s body is warm and firm. He’s tucked perfectly against me, his breath tickling my neck.

I can almost feel it now. I want to slide my arm down a few inches, hold him tightly around his shoulder blades. My other arm can go around his waist. That way, I can crush him against my chest and hold him in place as I lean down?—

Fuuuck.

I gulp, searching for a distraction. “That’s my mailbox!” I point it out, my voice suddenly booming. “And everyone on this side of the island. It’s a big, shared… you know, community… mailbox…” I cut myself off as Eden gives me a wicked grin, and my cheeks heat up like fire.

Fuck me, I’m trying to explain Canada Post. Who’s chattering now?

“Mmm,” Eden innocently hums. “So that’s where you walk to pick up all your love letters.”

I shake my head. Obviously, there’s only one way to win with him. “Yes,” I tell him, deadpan. “I got these biceps from the crushing weight. Just stacks and stacks of love letters, every day. You should see the mailman.”

For once, instead of a sultry giggle, Eden’s laughing in this boisterous, crashing wave of noise… and I’m spellbound.

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