Page 77 of At First Flight
It’s unfortunate that my brain tends to override what my body is already screaming for. I buzz with desire whenever Dean’s close. It’s like being next to a Tesla coil.
Maybe it’s time to hang up my lab coat and let my body take control for a while.
Chapter Sixteen – Dean
I’d always loved living among the bustling streets of Miami. Between the barely clad women strolling along the beaches and the skyline casting its shadows from the scorching sun, I had been content in the big city. That was until my best friend moved to a small town, and I felt its charm like a second skin.
Neither of those compares to Coral Bell Cove. A beautiful conglomeration of my two favorite settings.
“Are we there yet?” Oliver asks from his booster seat in the back of the SUV. I wrangled the keys off the hook this morning and left Lila the keys for my car. The one she’s terrified to even spare a glance at. I keep reminding her that it’s just a car whenever she worries about driving it. If she were to get in an accident, she’d be the only thing I worried about.
“Almost. You were just here the other day. Excited to visit again?”
I quickly learned that the kids were obsessed with the horses and Ms. Claire. I was also a fan of Ms. Claire and obsessed with her daughter.
“Yes!” the duo shouts, and I laugh along with them as the breeze floats across me from the open window.
The farm is already humming when we pull in. A tractor crawls across a stretch of field in the distance, dust kicking up behind it in swirls. Horses graze lazily behind the fence behind the house, tails flicking, heads low.
“Horsie!” Evelyn cries out, her small hand banging against the window. She bounces in her seat with the littlespace she has available. I haven’t seen her this excited since the birthday party.
I park near the barn where a slew of other cars resides and climb out, helping Oliver out of his seat and then Evelyn. The air smelled of hay and earth and the bit of dew from the summer morning. Peacefulness in a way I didn’t anticipate.
Coming to the farm wasn’t my original plan for the day, but after the moment with Lila last night, the thought crept in and rooted deep. I need to show her that this isn’t just a passing attraction or a fleeting moment. What I feel for her runs far deeper than that, and I want her to see it, to feel it.
As I stand there, looking out at the barn and the sprawling grounds of the farm, I can’t help but think about her. Her breathy sighs, the soft moans that still echo in my ears, the way she fits so perfectly against me, as though we were meant to be. I’m not a man who spends time reflecting on every little detail. Hell, most of the time, I’d rather just act than think too hard. But last night with Lila… it was different.
I should be thankful for the interruption, really. At the time, I wanted nothing more than to press her against that kitchen counter and finish what we started. But in hindsight, I realize the pause gave her the time she needed, the space to come to terms with whatever this is between us. And it gave me time to come to terms with it, too.
My feelings for her aren't something I can easily shake off. They’re not something I can ignore or brush aside. And I don’t want to. I want her to know that when I say I’m falling for her, I’m not doing it lightly. I’ve thought about this, about her, about us, and I know what I want. I want her by my side in every way.
When I left last night, I couldn’t stop thinking about how perfect she had been. The way she looked at me, her eyes soft, her lips so kissable. And her body. God, her body was all I could focus on. I didn’t just want her physically. I wanted to understand her and know her completely.
So I found myself gathering grants and opportunities for her, searching online for anything that could push her toward her goals. I figured that maybe this would be my way of showing her how much I care, even if she wasn’t ready to hear the words yet. Maybe giving her the freedom she needed to breathe, the time she needed to think… maybe that would show her how serious I am. How serious I’m becoming about her.
I left the folder on the kitchen table, hoping she’ll see it and understand that I’m not just looking to have her in my bed. I want to help her achieve everything she’s been working for, and I want to stand by her side while she does it.
The kids immediately spot Claire by the fence, holding out an apple for the horses, and head her way. I spot Lila’s brother near the barn, stacking crates into the back of a vintage truck. I’ve only met him at the family dinner, where he tried to play the protective brother role and put me in my place. Rowan Wright is a full-time farmer with a mug that doesn’t give much away.
Like recognizes like.
“Morning,” I call out as I cross the gravel.
He glances over his shoulder, squinting beneath the brim of his cowboy hat, and nods. “Morning.”
Gesturing toward the horses, I try to break the ice by saying, “Oliver and Evelyn were promised horses. My orders were firm.”
“Good bribe. Looks like Mom has it handled.”
“Yeah, they’re undeniably Team Ms. Claire. Want a hand?” I ask as he hefts another crate filled with strawberries into the truck.
Rowan pauses, then shrugs as he looks down at my work boots, scuffed from years of working on boats. “Sure, if you don’t mind a few more scratches on those boots.”
“I’ve had worse jobs. And despite what you may think, I didn’t wear them just to stand around and look pretty.”
“I’m not sure you want to know what I think,” he murmurs as he closes the tailgate.
I follow Rowan toward the shed. The sun still hangs low, but the air heats, and the humidity rises quickly. Grabbing a few empty crates, I fall in step beside him.
