Page 121 of Yes No Maybe

“So will the tides,” he breathes against my neck, smiling. “Cresting high tide will be… orgasmic… I mean, cataclysmic.”

I laugh again as we strip out of our damp clothes, and he lays me down. Maybe it’s the dorky wordplay that does it, but I knowthisis it.He’sit. He’s my forever romance.

Forty-One

Rowan

Atdaybreak,weemergeto see the full extent of the damage. We stand at the edge of my driveway, mouths agape. My garage and porch are crushed like a can underfoot. My VW Bug is dented, and the windshield cracked—easy fixes. But Jack’s house looks like a slice has been carved from it, leaving his office demolished and the upstairs exposed.

“Damn,” he breathes out as we stare at the devastation.

“I know you said it doesn’t matter, but I’m sorry anyway. I should’ve listened about the tree.”

“Rowan, no apologies necessary. Anyway, the tree was hit by lightning.” He points out charred sections where the tree split. “So, I wasn’t entirely correct about what would bring it down.”

“Hmm, just like inJane Eyre—the lightning split the tree to foreshadow the ruin of Jane and Rochester’s relationship.”

“No chance of that with us. I promise I don’t have another wife locked in my attic like Rochester did,” he jokes.

I chuckle. “If you did, she would’ve escaped last night.”

He mock-laughs and runs his hand across his forehead. “Whew. So long, Bertha.”

“Yoohoo!” Rose’s voice draws us back to the subject at hand. “Coffee, anyone?”

My hand shoots up.

She carries a fat thermos, and Vernon holds mugs hooked around his index finger. Tom and Marcy appear, offering donuts from a pink box.

“Well, Jack, you were looking for a new project,” Tom says.

He perks up. “I know. I can’t wait to get my insurance guy down here. There’s a new contractor I want to try. I saw on social media how she restored an old farmhouse, turned it into a café, and converted a barn into a home—amazing stuff.” He turns to me with sudden excitement. “Who do you have for insurance?”

I tell him, and he slaps his hands together. “Perfect. Same as mine.”

After sipping my coffee, I look quizzically at him. “Do you always get so excited about insurance?”

Marcy snort-laughs. “Nothing makes Jack happier than dealing with insurance adjustors, contractors, or house projects.”

“Almost nothing.” He grins at me.

Ed’s golf cart skids to a stop at the road. Renita eyes the damage from the passenger seat. “Holy Toledo! I can’t believe no one’s hurt!”

Ed steps out, adjusting his pants by the belt as he takes in the destruction. “It’s the only significant damage in our neck of the woods, but it’s a real doozy. It’ll take months to put it back together again.”

“You’re welcome to our guest room, Jack,” Renita coos.

“Our basement’s free,” Marcy chimes in. “And we’re closer.”

“Nonsense. Jack’ll bunk with us,” Vernon says.

“He’s staying with me.” My overly loud declaration brings all eyes to me. “Moving in. Permanently. Or for as long as it takes. I mean, if that’s okay. If you want to… it’s the least I can do.”

He flashes an amused grin at my sudden discomfort. “You heard it here first, folks. Rowan Mackey just asked me to move in with her. Sounds serious.”

I match his daring smile. “Itisserious. And not just because you’re homeless.” I push into his arms and kiss him. A long, sexy kiss that shouldn’t be seen by the neighbors, which makes him laugh and blush at once.

“Damn, Rowan. I can’t say no to that. We’re moving in together.”

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