Page 150 of Knockin' Boats
He exhaled noisily. “I had this idea to expand Swallow Adventures to include water-sport tours.”
“That’s a great idea. You’d be so good at that.”
“Yeah, but Hudson doesn’t want to just add the tours. He wants me to become a partner in the business. Take over when he retires.”
“Sawyer, that’s great!” I paused when he didn’t smile. “Isn’t it?”
“Maybe.” He huffed. “It’s all theoretical, and we’ve got enough on our plate right now. Rick?—”
“Is my problem,” I said. “I don’t want it to hold you back from pursuing something you want.”
“I don’t know if I want it. Buying into a business, owning it, is different than just working there.”
“Yeah, it’s better!” I said. “Running my food boat is so amazing, Sawyer. I know that everything I do, it comes from me. It’s my vision. I get to do things my way. There’s nothing like that.”
“You love it,” Sawyer said softly. “But that doesn’t mean it’s for me. I really don’t know if I want to take the risk of putting all of myself into something without a guarantee that it’ll succeed.”
“You’re afraid of losing everything like your mom. I get it. But Sawyer, you’d be amazing at it. You wouldn’t fail.”
“You don’t know that for sure.” He started walking again, and I fell in beside him.
“Sometimes we have to take a leap of faith to get what we really want. Did you know it would work out with me when you kissed me?”
“Of course not. But it was kiss you or strangle you.”
I laughed. “Well, what about when we started having sex?”
“I don’t know,” he muttered. “My hormones took over.”
“Or,” I pressed as I followed him across his little yard and up the steps to his trailer. “Maybe you decided the risk was worth it? That even if there were no guarantees, you wanted it enough to try.”
Sawyer looked pensive as I shut the door behind me. “Maybe.”
I stepped in close, wound my arms around his waist, and kissed his neck. “I’m really glad you took a chance on me.”
He pulled me closer. “Me too. Can we…” He drew a quick breath. “I’m not shutting you out, I promise. But can we not talk about this anymore?”
“Sure. I didn’t mean to pry the words out of you. I was just worried because…”
“Because of how things went with us in the past,” Sawyer said. “I know. But we’re not those same guys anymore, Ash. Imight clam up a little when I’m conflicted, but I’m not going to push you away.”
“And I’m not going to let you,” I said with a teasing smile. “Obviously.”
Sawyer smiled. “Obviously.”
“But thanks for reassuring me. I just don’t want to lose you ever again.”
He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “You won’t. We’re in this together. I promise.”
“Then let’s go to bed,” I said. “I was promised cuddles.”
His lips curved into a smile against my skin. “Yes, you were. And I always keep my promises.”
CHAPTER 32
Sawyer
The smell of coffee and quiet voices hummed through my camper. I yawned and stretched luxuriously, unfurling from my curled position like a pill bug.
