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“Ugh,” I scoffed. “Don’t boost his ego.”

But I had to admit, it thrilled me to no end that they got along so well. As the day went on and the sun started to set over the ocean, it physically hurt me to pull them apart. I didn’t want to return to a place where I couldn’t have this. If it wasn’t for Ryan going back to work, I would have suggested that we stay a few more days.

With a promise to return soon, Dad saw us out the door and I walked Ryan around to the passenger’s side of the truck. “I am capable of opening my own door,” he laughed.

“I know.”

I’d had an overwhelming urge to kiss him for hours, and I wasn’t waiting any longer. Instead of opening it for him, I pinned him against it, cupping his neck in my hands and crushing my mouth to his. Humming, he covered my hand with his. As he pulled away, I lightly sank my teeth into his bottom lip.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“You’re just incredible, you know that?” Instead of an answer, Ryan looked bashfully at his feet. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Not being scared to ask about my mom. I haven’t seen my dad smile like that in a long time.”

“Well, I needed to know more about the amazing woman that created my even more amazing boyfriend.”

“I don’t think I’m ready to go back to a place where I can’t be that,” I admitted, quietly, so as not to interrupt the intimacy of the moment.

“I know. But at least we have a place we can escape to if we ever need it. We have nights, and weekends… We can do this. It’s only until we figure out our next move. I think this has caught us both by surprise. I mean… I know I didn’t expect to fall in love so quickly.”

My head snapped up. “What did you just say?”

Even in the faint moonlight, that flush crept up Ryan’s cheeks, peeking around the hand he’d clapped over his mouth. “S-s-something I didn’t intend to say yet.”

I bit my lip trying to think about how to respond. Did I love Ryan? I couldn’t deny that I felt… something. A lot of something; something that had my heart ready to burst right out of my chest—the heart that wholly belonged to him; that much I knew. “I⁠—”

He stopped me with a brief shake of his head. “You don’t have to say anything. It’s too soon. I know. I didn’t mean to let that slip. I’m sorry.”

Before I could respond, Ryan opened the door and climbed into the truck. I took my time walking around to the driver’s side and, outside of Ryan’s view, I took in a deep, shuddering breath.

Hearing that word leave his mouth made the realization hit me like a freight train.

I was in love with him.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Two weeks later, I was finally cleared to go back to work. It was almost unheard of for me to take so much time off. Getting up early and preparing for the day felt strange now. Ryan had managed to sneak away for the night, and slept soundly as I trudged out of bed to shower. He only stirred when I turned on a small lamp next to the bed to get dressed.

“Go back to sleep,” I told him. “It’s still dark out.”

“Which means the baby’s probably been up for hours.” Ryan sat up and rubbed his eyes. The blanket slipped down to his hips, giving me a tease of what he had on underneath—which was nothing. “I should probably get back to make the boys breakfast.”

“Yeah, you should before I tear that blanket off you and make us both late. Did you not learn your lesson about getting in bed naked?”

I leaned over the mattress, hauling him in for a passionate kiss.

“If you want me to have the energy to find clothes after what you did with that mouth of yours last night, you’ll have to start going easy on me,” he whispered.

Mouth curling into a satisfied grin, I didn’t dare hide the flush over my cheeks. In the doorway, I stopped to give him another onceover. I couldn’t believe that there was a time where someone else was in that bed. Sexed up and wearing my mark on his shoulder, Ryan fit the picture so much better. “I’ll see you tonight?”

Ryan nodded, and I hastened out the door before he could get up and make me change my mind. He’d been late more than once because of my lack of self control.

We had a system down. We never left the house less than half an hour apart. While no one could really find my house unless they were looking for it, plenty of people in town did know how to look for it, and I didn’t want to take any chances. I was comfortable enough in myself, but I couldn’t risk Ryan getting hurt again.

Sawyer Huxley was relentless.