Page 57 of Unforgettable

“Yeah,” I say, laughing.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Besides the resort and Landmark…and your family, what excites you?”

“Like hobbies?”

“Hobbies…passions.”

I will not think of him naked, I repeat a few times in my head.

“Okay, I’m afraid to even say it out loud, and I’ve tried to keep it all—” I press on my heart and look over at him. He stops walking and turns to face me.

“What?” he asks, all focus on me.

“I’m kind of obsessed with Lucia and Delgado. And now that a little time has passed with no one claiming them, I’m allowing myself to hope…which is absolutely terrifying because I could still lose them. And I just really…love them.” I finish in a whisper.

“You’ve lost a lot that you love, haven’t you?” he says it simply, without pity, but the compassion is still there.

“I guess I have,” I admit.

“It’s okay to let yourself love them. The odds are looking better and better that no one will claim them, but even if they did…would you regret this time with them?”

“No. But I’d be really, really sad.”

He smiles. “I would be too.”

He takes a step forward and then wraps his arms around me, hugging me. I lean my head against his solid chest and feel his warmth, and it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had. Peace courses through me, my chest filling with calm assurance that everything will be okay.

When we hear laughter in the distance, we break apart, looking toward his family. They’re almost to the lodge.

I rub my hands together, chilly now that I’m not against his heat.

“Let’s get you inside,” he says. “Although I love this. I don’t want you to stop talking to me.”

“I won’t,” I tell him.

“What do you like to do around here? Do you ever take time off?”

“Rarely. But I love to ski…hike. I love to visit my brothers and take my nephew ice skating. I love to sew…”

I hear his quick intake of breath and look over at him. He looks at me sheepishly.

“You have a real gift at sewing,” he says, his voice hoarse. “It’s hard to not sound like a fucking asshole whose head is only in the gutter while also confessing that Iama fucking asshole whose head is in the gutter about that pink lacy thing I saw you in…”

I laugh. “I’m not sure that made any sense.”

“I know. See? That pink thing knocked me senseless.”

I crack up and try to ignore the pulsing between my legs. I take a deep breath and try to play it cool. “I’ve been thinking about pursuing something with my lingerie,” I admit. “It would be such a different direction than how I saw myself spending my future, but maybe that’s okay.”

“I have an idea.” He sounds excited and starts talking faster. “There’s room for a little shop near the spa, that little alcove right before. The seating area there is unnecessary if we expand the lobby, and those rooms used for storage near there would be such a great space if we added windows. The storage could be added elsewhere—there are so many great options to making more effective use of space.”

We’ve almost reached the others, but I put my hand on his arm and stop him. “You’d be okay with that? Me opening a boutique in the resort?”

He looks at me as if he’s unsure if he’s overstepped, and I feel bad for the roller coaster I’ve put him on.

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