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“But are you a mockingbird?”
A man can’t be this perfect.
“I’ve never been so real in my life. You make it easy to be me.”
“Well, then… everyone is missing out.”
“Take me shopping,” he demands as he watches me tie my dress around my neck. I glance in the mirror and my hair is wilder than normal. Last night, Ryker wanted to have sex in the pool. I know what happens in those pools, so instead, I talked him into a midnight swim in the ocean.
I made sure there were no stingrays first.
After, I fell asleep with soaking wet hair. And now, I have crazy hair.
I glance up at him in the mirror while braiding my hair. “What are you buying?”
“I want to get my mom something before I leave.”
As sweet as that is, my lips pout. I don’t need a reminder of his departure. I kneel on the bed. “You’re going to miss this.” The words are out before I can stop them. At least they came out playful rather than needy.
His eyes rake over my body, and he swallows hard. This is what I’ll miss the most. The way he looks at me. Like I’m his next breath. “Whiskey, I definitely will.”
“Someday, when I come to the States, I’ll look you up.”
Damn it. Stop talking, Aspen.
He’s probably concocting an excuse already about not being available. I’m surprised when he flashes his signature grin. He tugs on my braid. “No matter what I’m doing, I’ll make time to see you.”
The ache building in my chest, sharpens, threatens. It’s ready to scar me forever.
I push out of his arms and slip on my dress. Shopping sounds like a needed distraction. “Okay, let’s go shopping. I need to stop by my bank first.”
“Why? I’ll buy you anything you want.”
“No, you won’t.” I throw his shorts at him. “That’s why I want to go to the bank. To return your money.” It doesn’t feel right keeping it when we’ve gotten so close. I never want the illusion that he bought me.
He stops pulling his shorts up mid-thighs and stares at me. “Aspen, absolutely not. I hired you for a job.” He pulls them up the rest of the way. They sit right below the waistband of his underwear. He snaps his fingers, pulling me out of my daze, catching me staring at the defined V of his lower belly. “Up here, Whiskey.”
“I give up. I can’t stop staring at you. And I’m not sorry.”
He chuckles once, but then his tone turns serious when he says, “Did you hear me? I’m not taking back the money.”
“Ryker—”
“No. The money’s yours. End of discussion.” His resolve isn’t to be argued with, so I let it go. At least my conscience feels better for trying.
Chapter Thirteen
Aspen
“I’m already having withdrawals and I’m still inside you,” he murmurs with rawness in his voice as he cradles me in his arms. My legs wrap around his narrow waist. “I’ve never had to say goodbye to perfection.” A mixture of desire and emotion from his words causes me to moan out loud.
The moon casts a glow behind him, a whisper of a breeze blanketing us in the darkness of his deck. Our bodies are slick from sweat as he’s making this a marathon versus a sprint. Slow and steady as he pulls out and slams into me again.
Our last night together.
Tears keep threatening, and I blink them back, knowing it’ll only make it worse. I let him in. Let him know my heart and now it’s cracking. The words maybe someday are on the tip of my tongue, but the words sour because they’re the same words I said to the other foreigners. This feels so different, yet he’s still leaving with no promises of tomorrow. But I don’t expect it this time, so why does this hurt so much more?
“Aspen.” Too caught up in my head, I hadn’t noticed he stopped. I peer up into his green eyes. “Don’t question what this is. You’ve left a lasting mark on my heart,” he murmurs, reading my mind.
