Page 44 of A Touch of Heaven

I sit up, pulling the last remaining pillow behind my back as I breathe heavily, trying to get it to steady.

“So, I was thinking, how about we spend the day together? Just me and you?” I ask.

“Like a date?” He smirks.

“Yeah…like a date, asshole. Don’t make me change my mind.”

He grabs my wrists, pulls me into his lap, and smiles, brushing the hair from my face.

“I would love to go on a date with you, Tink.”

His fingers cup my jaw, bringing me toward him to kiss me softly, so sweetly. Before he smiles, “So, what should we do?”

I sigh in contentment as he rests the palms of my hands against his chest. “Well, I was thinking we could rent jet skis? Head out to the water? There’s a little dock about ten minutes from here, and then I thought I could pack us a lunch? We could have a little picnic, just the two of us on the beach?”

He beams so sweetly and genuinely at me. “You really are perfect, baby. It sounds like a dream come true. Let’s do it. I’ll meet you downstairs in thirty?”

I nod, kissing him on the cheek before kissing him on the lips.

“Mmm, what was that for?”

“Just because I wanted to… What a girl can’t kiss her guy without needing a reason?”

I climb off his lap and head to my room, but he stops me just before I leave.

“Brooke?”

I turn to look at him. “Yeah?”

“Thank you…thank you for taking a chance on me.”

“No, Nate, thank you for giving me another chance to discover what we could be.” He nods, giving me a smile that starts to heal my heart as if that knife wasn’t there anymore.

I head back to my room, close the door softly behind me, and lean my head against it as I realize I still have goosebumps from him being on top of me like that. Fuck, I’ve never had chills like that before.Except with Chase, that little voice says as I think back to our first night on the porch.

How was that only a few days ago?

It feels like so much has changed since then.

I flip the shower on, letting the warm water run over my body, silencing that little voice that calls to Chase, and start thinking about my date. I know I could love him that way. I mean, my body clearly knows it as I remember how needy I sounded on that bed.

I quickly get dressed in a little baby pink bikini that goes well with my golden tan, throwing on a pair of denim shorts and a little white lace kaftan before heading down to the kitchen to pack our lunch for the day.

I’m singing along to a song blasting from my phone when I feel his arms go around me, and I instantly lean back into him, letting his scent surround me as he kisses my neck.

“Tink, you’re seriously teasing me with what you’re wearing right now. A guy only has so much restraint.”

I giggle, turning into his arms.

“Well, I keep asking you to take me to bed, but you keep saying no. Plus, we’re going on a jet ski, babe. I have to be in a bikini.”

I laugh, pushing him back, grabbing two bottles of water and Coke from the fridge and placing them in the cooler with the food I made up for us. He grabs the cooler off the counter before wrapping his arm around me, pulling me in, and kissing the top of my head.

This is what I need. I need this type of love, safe, warm, not something that burns me alive and only leaves me in ashes, no matter how much I crave it.

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

NATE

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