Page 50 of Heart Set on You

It feels like a future with Miles is possible. Like just maybe, Miles and I could really make this work. I take another sip and Miles does the same, then he rests his mug on the ground. “Kiss me,” he says, his voice low and wanton.

I lean over and kiss him, and it tastes like hope and promise and maybe even the beginning of falling in love. We come together in the warmth of the June summer night, under the stars.

“I want you,“ I beg, a little embarrassed by the need in my voice. With just a kiss from him, I’m so turned on.

“You have me. I’m yours. I’m not going anywhere.”

With a shiver down my spine, I kiss him again. Miles loves to be kissed. The way he kisses me back feels like everything I’ve ever wanted and everything I didn’t know I needed. It feels like what we have is real and ours and never-ending. Now, I just have to figure out a way to hold onto it.

* * *

The next morning, we stop by a baby boutique to look for a shower gift for Ellie. Miles chooses a ridiculously expensive stroller that he offers to give Ellie from the two of us. But I decline, opting to get her my own gift. A beautiful stroller blanket caught my eye when I first entered the store, so I have the saleswoman wrap it up for me.

After lunch, Miles takes me to Bloom to see Ellie. Bloom is the flower shop she and Olivia own together. It’s their first location; the second one is in Cape May, where Olivia and Parker moved for his work not too long ago.

“It’s so pretty,” I say, walking through the door. A bell chimes over the door and Ellie pokes her head out from underneath a large wooden worktable.

“Did we catch you at a bad time?” Miles jokes. “Please tell me my brother isn’t under that table.”

She rolls her eyes. “Pullease. Do you think we are a bunch of horny exhibitionists? I dropped a peony and having a stomach the size of a small planet makes it really flipping difficult to pick it up.”

Miles chuckles, walking over to the table. “Here Ells, let me help you.”

“It’s fine now. I got it, but thanks, bro.”

Once she’s back to standing, we hug and it already feels like we’re old friends. She leans a hip against the table and rubs her lower back with her hand.

“I think you’ve gotten bigger than the last time I saw you. How are you feeling?”

“Like a house! And I can’t drink, or eat most sushi, and they say a baby can hear everything from inside the womb so I’m kind of worried our baby’s first word is going to be fuck,” she groans. “Also, Liam and I watched a birth video at my prenatal class last night and I’m pretty sure he’s never going to have sex with me again after witnessing that.”

I try to contain my laughter, without much success. Miles drags a chair over and orders her off of her feet.

“How much longer do you have to go?” I ask her.

“Two more months. Honestly, I can’t wait to meet this baby. Liam might be even more excited than me.”

“It still blows my mind that Liam is the first to give my parents a grandchild,” Miles says. “You’ve turned my serious, brood of a brother into a softie. I don’t know how you did it.”

“I have my ways, Miles. If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”

Ellie is way too much fun. She has the best sense of humor and she doesn’t take herself too seriously. She always has an interesting story to tell, and a witty comeback ready. She’s someone I could easily be friends with – someone I would miss if things didn’t work out with Miles.

It worries me that I’m getting attached to his family already. I told myself in the beginning that I’d keep a safe distance, but that promise went out the window a while ago. I can’t assume that Miles wants this relationship to work as much as I do, and I definitely can’t make him fall in love with me. I can only hope he feels the same.

That afternoon, we wander around downtown Reed Point, window-shopping and checking out cute boutiques and coffee shops before meeting his family for dinner. Miles booked us all a table at an upscale restaurant on the edge of the ocean. It’s a perfect summer night, and when we arrive the warm, golden glow from the setting sun casts rays across the dining room.

“Welcome to Catch 22,” the hostess says before taking us to our table, where Miles’ entire family is sitting waiting for us. Drawing in a long breath, I follow Miles, my hand tucked possessively in his. They’re seated at a round table – Parker and Olivia, Liam and Ellie, his parents and his sister Jules. As soon as she sees us coming, his mom pushes from her seat, striding towards us, pulling her son into a warm embrace and then turning to face me. She clasps her hands together when she sees me, her face beaming as though I’m the First Lady who just stopped by for coffee.

“I’m Miles’ mom, Grace,” she introduces herself. “I’m so happy to meet you, Rylee. Now, I hope you don’t mind, but I’m a hugger.” Her slim arms wrap around me in a warm embrace. I like her already. She’s elegant, dressed in a cream suit with a soft pink lace camisole, her dark hair neatly styled in a bob at her shoulders. She’s wearing a stunning diamond collar necklace and has a diamond on her ring finger the size of a golf ball. I can see where her boys get their good looks.

“Oh my, she’s beautiful,” Grace says to Miles, and I feel my cheeks heat at the compliment. I look sideways at Miles, self-consciously smoothing the long, pale blue-and-white floral sundress I’d decided on for tonight. She takes his face in her hands and kisses his cheek, and it feels like suddenly the entire room is bursting with love. “And gosh, how I’ve missed you. You look so handsome, Miles. And happy.”

“I am, Mom,” he says, glancing at me.

When she lets go of Miles, his dad is next, pulling him into a man-hug, clapping him on his shoulder. He then turns his attention to me. “You must be Rylee. Michael Bennett, Miles’ dad. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he says, holding out his hand for me to shake. He reminds me so much of Miles. He’s tall and broad and handsome, and it’s immediately obvious that the Bennett boys inherited their charm from their father.

We make our way around the table. The Bennetts and their significant others are huggers, so it takes a while, but they make me feel right at home. When we finally take our seats, Miles introduces me to his sister Jules, who is sitting to my right.

---