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We spend the next twenty minutes in the shower together, then get dressed and pack our bags with our swimsuits, sunblock and a change of clothes. I watch Livy buzz around the room, singing along to a country song she has playing from her cell phone. She amazes me. Not only is she breathtaking, but she is also kind and compassionate and honest. The best part of all is that I can be myself around her. The fact that I’m a Bennett isn’t a big deal to her. She’s never wanted me for my money, unlike other women who look at me with dollar signs in their eyes.
“I’m ready,” she says, catching me watching her. “You too?”
“I’m always ready.”
“You’re insatiable, Parker.”
“Maybe, but just admit it: you can’t get enough of me.” This gets a laugh out of her as we head to the doorway to grab our things.
We head to the dock. The sun is already shining and there isn’t a cloud in the light blue sky.
My mind wanders momentarily to last night. Livy fell asleep with her head on my chest long before I finally succumbed to sleep, my thoughts consumed with Hunter. It all makes sense now. I finally know the real reason Livy broke up with me. It feels like I’ve been sucker punched, knowing my best friend was the cause of all that heartbreak. It’s no secret Hunter can be an ass when he wants to be, but what he said to Livy is on another level of low. It’s vile. I’m not sure I will ever be able to move past this with him. I shake my head, needing to forget about that bullshit and enjoy the day with my girl.
I focus on the ocean, so calm that the peninsula is like a sheet of glass. There is the faintest breeze in the air. I inhale the ocean air and admire the view from the dock.
We load up the boat. Livy effortlessly unties the lines and pushes us away from the dock. She climbs in as I guide us away from our slip. It’s sexy as hell watching her navigate her way around the boat in her cut off shorts and bare feet. I don’t have to ask her for help. She takes control, removing the buoys and ropes once we’ve cleared the boat house. She knows where to be and what to do. I set up the stereo and turn on a country music station for Livy. She hands me my coffee and I flip my ball cap backwards so I can steal a quick kiss.
“Where are we heading to? Do you know your way around here?”
“I do. You won’t have to worry about getting lost at sea. Scout’s honour!” I say, raising a hand.
Livy laughs. “If you are trying to make me believe you were ever a Boy Scout, I’m not buying it.”
“You wound me. I am a good, Catholic momma’s boy. I was made for that shit.”
“Um, good Boy Scouts don’t have gutter mouths.”
“I didn’t hear you complain about my mouth last night when I...”
“Parker, you are impossible!” Livy swats me on my shoulder and her cheeks brighten three shades pinker.
“I’m going to take us to a bay about twenty-five minutes from here where we can anchor and go for a swim.”
“Sounds perfect.”
We glide into the calm waters of the bay and Livy takes the wheel so I can check the anchor. It’s a sunny day, the air hot and humid. There are other ski boats and sail boats anchored, boaters lounging on floaties and sunbathing on their decks. Once I’m happy with the anchor, we decide to have breakfast before taking a dip. We change into our swimsuits and lay on the sun bed that covers the bow of the boat. Livy is killing me in a pale blue bikini, her face tipped to the sun and her hair splayed out all around her.
“You’re going to be the death of me in that suit, you know.”
“Would you rather I take it off?” She side-eyes me with a smirk. This girl is really going to kill me.
“I plan on taking it off you myself at some point today.”
“I hope you are a man of your word, Mr. Bennett.” A coy smile pulls at her lips and I reach for her hip, pulling her into my side.
“That I can guarantee, Miss Madden.” Hooking my finger under her chin, I tip her face to mine and kiss her, deep and slow, hoping she knows from this one kiss what I really want to say to her.
Livy sits up and wraps her hair in a bun on top of her head with an elastic she has around her wrist. “I have an idea!”
“Should I be scared?”
“No silly. There’s so much more I want to know about you. We have years and years of catching up we need to do. Let’s play a game! 21 Questions. I used to play it in college, it’s a great way to get to know people. It will be fun, I promise. Game?”
She looks so damn cute I can’t say no. I’m not sure how it happened so fast, but I’m absolutely in love with her. She’s the type of girl you take home to your parents, the girl you want to take on expensive vacations just to see her face light up, to bring flowers every week just to see her smile. With a woman like Livy, you spend the rest of your life making sure she knows how much you love her. And maybe have a handful of babies along the way.
“Game! You go first, babe.”
“Okay, question number one. Snow or sun on a vacation and where?”
