Page 48 of Heart Set on You

He turns me in his arms, so my back is pressed against his chest. His soft lips brush over my neck, leaving goosebumps in their wake. My nervous anticipation at the thought of meeting Miles’ parents fades away when his lips find the back of my neck again.

“Relax,” he whispers against my skin. “You’re going to love my family and they’re going to love you.”

I listen to the sounds of people moving around outside his trailer, my heart rate starting to settle down with his strong arms around me. “So, tell me about Reed Point and what I should expect.”

“Ah, Reed Point is beautiful. If you like the ocean and beaches and great restaurants, you’ll love it. We have wineries and breweries, and at night we like to go down to the beach for a bonfire. I’m sure we can stay at my family’s beach house, which is about 10 minutes from my parents’ place.”

I’m instantly relieved to find out we will have our own space. Being with Miles, far away from the distractions of work and his crazy schedule, it sounds like the ultimate fantasy. Just the two of us in a small house on a beach overlooking the ocean.

“That all sounds wonderful. I’m going to go home and start packing tonight,” I tease.

“Well, it’s still a couple of weeks away, but who am I to tell you what to do?” he says with a shrug. “I’ll have Georgia book your ticket. All you’ll need to do is be ready to go.”

“Just let me know what I owe you for the ticket and I can e-transfer you.”

“It’s on me. I invited you. Please let me handle it.”

He digs his phone from his pocket, and I watch his fingers happily tap the screen. A wrinkle forms in the space between his eyebrows. It’s his concentration face and it’s the cutest thing. “What are you doing?”

“I’m texting Georgia to book our flights before you change your mind. I’ve asked her to make sure they’re non-transferable and non-refundable.”

I laugh. “Don’t worry, I’m coming.”

Miles looks up at me through his lashes with heat in his eyes, “Oh, you’ll be doing that too.”

And then he kisses me again

Chapter Nineteen

Rylee

Two weeks later, we arrive in Reed Point just after dinner time, both of us tired after a long week on set followed by a long flight. We pick up our rental car and Miles drives us into town and then down towards the beach.

The beach house is nestled at the end of the street and even though it’s dark, I can tell that the coastal style home is beautiful.

It’s confirmed when we walk inside. The small home is all blues and whites, with shiplap walls and gauzy curtains leading out to a deck overlooking the ocean. Someone has been here to turn on the lights for us and stock the kitchen with coffee beans and freshly baked cookies. A beautiful vase of peonies sits on the kitchen counter.

“My mom messaged me last night,” Miles tells me. “She came over to put a few things in the fridge for us and change the bed linens.”

“How sweet of her. Your mom is a saint.”

After putting our things in the bedroom, we shower, rinsing off the long day of travel. Or maybe that’s just the excuse we make to get each other’s clothes off. Either way, it works for me. We take turns under the spray of hot water. I lather soap over his shoulders and his broad back then turn him around and soap his pecs, his delicious abs and his arms. When it’s his turn, he takes his time with my hair, then his hands tour my body. Closing my eyes, I inhale the grapefruit-scented soap and enjoy the closeness of him.

We towel off, both of us feeling refreshed after the shower. By the time I get to the kitchen, having changed into a sports bra and a pair of sleep shorts that leave very little to the imagination, Miles is already busy at the stove.

“What are you up to?” I ask, resting my hand on his warm shoulder and kissing his neck. He’s wearing a pair of gym shorts and no shirt, and I feel his bicep flex as he stirs.

“Mmm,” he says. “I’m making us hot chocolates.”

“Hot chocolates?”

“Yes. Do you not like hot chocolate? Doesn’t everybody like hot chocolate?” He turns and leans towards me for a kiss. Happy to. My lips connect with his and even though it’s a gentle, relatively chaste kiss, it manages to invade every one of my senses. I take a couple of steps back, putting a little distance between us, to stop myself from blurting out how strongly I feel for him.

I’m falling for you and I’m not sure I’ll ever stop. It’s at the tip of my tongue. But I can’t tell him how strongly I feel for him. It’s too soon.

“I guess I didn’t take you for a hot chocolate kinda guy.”

“Now you know. But only if it has lots of whip cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.” He dips his finger into the warm liquid and puts it in his mouth, then pulls it back out with a popping sound.

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