Page 114 of The Best Thing He Never Wanted

She turned back to him with a smile. “Don’t worry, it’s not cold out here.” She stepped onto the balcony, and he smiled to himself as she stood there letting the rain soak her.

“I haven’t lost my marbles completely, but I have to admit, the rain feels like an old friend.”

“From what I’ve seen of the weather in the UK, I can understand that. Didn’t think it’d be a friend you missed, though.”

“Oh, I don’t miss it.” She stepped back inside, pushing wet hair away from her face. “I only wanted to remember how it felt.”

He cocked an eyebrow.

She laughed. “It never felt like this. It’s lovely and warm out there. But sorry, I’ll get dressed and go make us coffee.”

“I can do it. You get dry.” He looked toward the balcony again. “Doesn’t look like we’ll be going for a walk this morning.”

She turned back to him, looking genuinely puzzled. “Why not?”

He looked out at the rain and then back at her. “You’re right. There’s no reason not to, is there?”

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, and she came to stand between them, resting her hands on his shoulders.

“If you don’t mind, then no. I don’t want to keep dwelling on it, Blane, but we don’t have long left. I want to enjoy every minute, and there’s no reason not to enjoy the rain.”

He rested his head against her chest and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “You’re right. There’s not.”

They only drank half their coffee before heading out. Bea was convinced the rain might stop and they’d miss their chance, although after he checked the weather, it looked as though they wouldn’t see the sun again until tomorrow.

The whole landscape looked different wet. The colors seemed darker and richer, and the scent of the flowers he’d gotten so used to was stronger too, rising from the damp earth and carrying on the warm breeze. He slid his hand into hers as they walked past the spot where Pericles had been parading around in her tablecloth the day before.

She looked up at him and laughed.

“I didn’t say a damn word.”

“I know, but I could hear you thinking it.”

“And what exactly can you hear me thinking?”

Her eyebrows drew together into a deep frown and she lowered her voice. “That fucking goat.”

He laughed. “Are you mocking me?”

“Would I do such a thing?”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her against his side. “Yeah, you would, and I love it.”

She curled her arm around his waist as they carried on walking. “I love it too.”

For one crazy second, he thought she was about to say something else. She didn’t, but the thought stayed with him for the rest of the walk. He kept wondering what he would have done if she had said the words he’d thought were coming, and worse, how much he wanted to hear them.

When they reached the highest point, Bea went up onto her tiptoes and peered toward the gap between the hills. He followed her gaze.

“You can’t even tell if there’s sea there today. It’s as gray as the sky.”

“It’s still there. I promise you.”

She slapped his arm and laughed.

“What?” he asked, feigning innocence. “You know I’m right. Just because it’s a gray day and you can’t see it from here doesn’t mean it isn’t still there.”

She met his gaze and held it for a moment.