Page 59 of Unmoored

I wince. “I haven’t told the guys yet. But yeah, I have a job in the morning while the race is going on. I’m kind of regretting taking it. But it’s for a real good cause, apparently. It’s a big deal. That’s all I can say.”

Eden’s frown slowly deepens as he watches me.

I sigh, squeezing his hands as I look him in the eye. “I’m sorry,” I murmur softly. I can’t bear the idea he might be disappointed. “I could call him back and cancel it?—”

“No,” Eden shakes his head firmly. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m sad about it. But I trust your reasoning. I know I have to share you with the tide table,” he crookedly grins, and I groan. That’s not really helping my guilt at all.

Just as I’m thinking about cancelling anyway, Eden tilts his head again.

“It’s just… why can’t the party go ahead?”

“Huh?”

“There’s still my boat.” Eden shrugs. “We still haveaparty boat. Just not a double, mega party boat. And you can come join us when you’re done, can’t you?”

“I…” My voice trails off as I rearrange our hands, holding both of his in my grip. I don’t even know what to say. “Shit. Wow. I mean, only if you don’t mind. I really don’t want you to feel pressured to host, and meet people?—”

“Try stopping me,” Eden grins at me.

I laugh, finally letting go of his hands as the weight of the world lifts off my chest. “Wow. I mean, that’s really sweet of you, Eden.”

“Sure it is. I’ll call in that favour next time we’re in bed,” Eden winks at me. “But seriously, Murph… I want you to be able to count on me for more than a crisis. I want you to be able to count on meina crisis.”

I chuckle, letting out a breath as I reach up to run my thumb along Eden’s cheekbone. I shake my head slowly, just admiring him—and wondering what the hell happened when this one was made.

He’s sweet as anything, isn’t he? It makes me all the angrier that he hasn’t always been treated the way he deserves. But those days are over—and I’m determined not to be another man taking him for granted.

“Seriously, though. If you want me to cancel the job, just say the word. I’ll do it for you,” I insist. “I know I’m asking a lot of you. I don’t want you to meet all the guys by yourself if you’re even a little bit nervous about it.”

Eden blows a sigh between his lips. “Pfff. Nah. Are they as cool as you?”

I snort, and then I break into a little laugh. “Trust me—I’m the least cool one by far.”

“I doubt that,” Eden insists, which is very sweet and very wrong of him. “But that’s great. I’ll be fine, then. You do your thing, and I’ll hold down the fort. Island life is a team effort, right?”

Whoa. How the hell did he learn that so fast? For just a moment, I’m so touched that I can’t speak. My chest goes all tight as I try to swallow away the lump in my throat.

“Murph?”

“Nothing. I…” I clear my throat and shrug helplessly. “God. It’s just… I know what I want.”

“Uh huh?” Eden smiles up at me. “And are you ready to ask?”

I shake my head, and Eden flinches—hard.Shit.Instantly, my throat tightens again. I hate that I might have caused Eden even a second of self-doubt.

“Eden,” I tell him, soft but intense, as I reach out to grab one of his hands and squeeze tight. “It’s only because I don’t know how to say it yet, the way you deserve. But I promise you, I can feel it.”

Eden studies my eyes like he’s looking for something. Then, at last, he slowly relaxes and his smile creeps back. “So do I,” he murmurs. “If you can be patient with me… I can be patient with you, too.” He pulls a mournful face. “I’m just real bad at it, so I might take a while to learn.”

I laugh, bending my head to brush my lips against the back of his hand. “Don’t worry,” I promise. “I don’t intend to keep you waiting.”

“Good,” Eden murmurs, tilting his chin up like he’s asking for a kiss. He even scoots forward, almost planting his hand right in the middle of my plate.

I grunt, almost flinging it onto the bedside table to get it out of the way so I can gather Eden up against me, wrap him tightly in my arms, and kiss him until every doubt fades away.

I want us to be each other’s anchor.

That’s what I want. And I’m going to find a way to show and tell him that leaves him in no doubt whatsoever what he means to me. He deserves the world. And I might not be able to give him thewholeworld… but I can sure as hell give him my little slice of it.

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