Page 89 of Heart Set on You

“Miles is visiting soon.” I leave it at that.

“You should bring him around here more. Introduce us to him.” She sips from her drink while Taylor stands awkwardly beside her.

I nod but stay silent. They don’t want to hear what I really want to say.

When they finally return to their own table, I am left thinking about what it must be like to be Miles. To never know if people like you for the person you are or just because you’re a celebrity. My encounter with Brenna felt a little like that. It left a bad taste in my mouth.

When I’m paying my bill about an hour later, Miles texts, asking me how my night went. I stare at the screen, a jumble of emotions welling up inside me. Love, desire, longing, frustration. Most of all, I just want to see the man who makes my life sweeter.

Miles is happiness to me. And I miss him fiercely.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Miles

“Today’s the day,” I say as soon as she picks up the phone. “It feels like Christmas in July, Ryls!”

It’s 8 a.m. in Los Angeles, which is 10 a.m. in Tennessee. It’s been weeks since Georgia booked my flight to Deer Lake and I’ve been counting down the days ever since. I’m flying to Rylee first, for one day, before flying to Reed Point for my buddy’s birthday.

I find a chair near my terminal gate and set down my duffle bag on the floor beside me. On instinct, I tug the brim of my ballcap down a little lower over my face.

“Why do you sound like you’re out of breath? Are you feeling okay? Are you sick?” Rylee asks, concern in her voice.

“I’m fine, baby. Stop worrying about me. I just huffed it to my gate. We’re boarding in five minutes, but I wanted to call you before I lost cell service.”

I can hear the smile in her voice. “I can’t believe I get to see you today.”

“Believe it, Ry. I’m so fucking exciting,” I say, listening to the flight attendant over the microphone announce they’re boarding for first class. “But I gotta run, I’m boarding now. I’ll see you soon, baby.”

Hours later, I’m walking through the terminal doors when I spot her standing by the curb. She’s wearing a pale-yellow sundress, cowboy boots and the biggest fucking smile. And she’s mine.

I jog to her, flipping my hat backwards, dropping my bag at my feet. Rylee takes my chin in her hands, then leans in and kisses me. I take it a step further, deepening the kiss, my hand cradling the back of her neck. The second our lips touch, it’s fireworks. Every nerve ending in my body lights up from the energy crackling between us.

She’s in my arms.

I can breathe again.

We linger there on the curb. When I break the kiss, I drag my nose along her neck, inhaling her coconut scent. She smells so damn good.

“I missed these lips,” I say, running my thumb along her bottom lip when we break apart. She tastes like peppermint from her toothpaste and her skin smells like the beach. I want my hands all over her, I want to make her remember why we’re too good together.

The corners of her mouth float up and her cheeks are flushed, a light pink hue that matches the lip gloss she’s wearing. “Come on, city boy. I wanna take you home. I want you to remind me what I’ve been missing,” Rylee murmurs against my mouth before kissing me.

I can definitely do that. “Where are your grandparents?” I ask her.

“At a church luncheon.” She winks, taking my hand and leading me to her car. “Perfect timing.”

“Fuck.” I groan, following close behind, feeling a little dizzy.

After what felt like the longest drive of my life, we are pulling into her gravel driveway. We both jump out of the car and I follow her into the old house. “How much time do we have?” I ask her, walking her backwards towards the hallway, slipping the straps of her sundress off her shoulders, pulling her hips into me.

“About an hour.”

“Then we better make the most of it.”

Taking her hand, I jog up the stairs to her bedroom, closing the door behind us. I push her up against the wooden door. “You are so goddamned beautiful, Rylee. I finally feel right being back in your arms.”

“Me too. It’s you that makes my life whole. I feel an emptiness when you’re gone that nothing else can fill.” She’s kissing me as she says it. “It’s only you, Miles,” kiss “who makes me” kiss “feel complete.”

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