“I love you, too,” Noah said, meeting her lips in a fiercely tender kiss. The noise and activity around them melted away, and there was nothing but the feel of his arms around her, and her heart beat so fast with joy, Evie felt like she might burst.
Somebody cleared their throat nearby. She drew back. It was the chief. “We’re all set here, Montgomery,” he said, with a twinkle in his eyes. “If you want to take off.”
“Appreciate it,” Noah replied, still holding onto Evie tightly.
“And I heard you’ll be planning the next few festivals,” the chief added. “Glad to see your community spirit coming through.”
Evie laughed as Noah steered her away. “I forgot about that,” she said, smiling.
“You won’t again, since you’re my new assistant,” Noah replied with a smirk.
“I’m busy!” Evie protested, playful. “I have the inn to be dealing with. And—oh!” she exclaimed, suddenly remembering that she’d left Bunny hanging when she’d dashed out in the middle of her interview.
“What is it?” he asked.
“There’s a stern hotel critic back at the Beachcomber,” Evie said, wincing. “And she’s probably not happy with me right now.”
“I’ll drive you home,” Noah offered, but Evie shook her head. One review wouldn’t make or break her, and right then, the most important thing in her world was standing right there in front of her, looking impossibly sexy in his fire fighter’s uniform.
But he would look even better out of it.
“June will take care of her,” Evie said, leading him towards her car. “And besides … we’ve got a lot catching up to do.”
They made it back to Noah’s place—although Evie didn’t know how, when she wanted him so badly. It wasn’t just desire, although just one touch from him made her melt. It was more, this time, as he took her by the hand and led her upstairs.
It felt like a beginning.
Peeling off each other’s clothes, stumbling back into the shower—the hot water drenched them, beating down on their naked bodies as Evie ran her hands over him; her mouth; exploring every inch as if it was the first time.
Because in a way, it was. This time, her heart was open. This time, she knew the risk of loving him, and she was going to do it, regardless. When she kissed him, she felt free in a way she never had before. Braver. Stronger. Like this was the start of the rest of her life—with him. Noah kissed her back with just as much intensity, showing her with his body and his lips just how much she meant to him. And when they finally came together, their bodies joining in perfect friction, she didn’t hesitate. She didn’t try to keep control. She gave herself over completely to the moment—to Noah—because when they leapt off the edge together, she knew, they weren’t falling.
They were flying.
A few weeks later …
Evie woke to the sound of her alarm and sunlight pouring through the open drapes. She lay there a moment, listening to the now-familiar melody of mornings at the Beachcomber Inn: the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, the call of the gulls circling in search of their breakfast, and the rhythmic lullaby of Noah’s breathing, steady beside her in bed.
Would she ever get used to it? Evie hoped not. She never wanted to take this happiness for granted.
“Morning, sunshine,” Noah murmured, greeting her with a sleepy kiss. Evie smiled, snuggling back into his arms, so close that she could feel his heart beating against her chest.
“Good morning.” She beamed, reaching to push his mussed-up hair from his face. Sure, the guy could take her breath away when he was clean-shaven, dressed up for a date, but he was still heart-stoppingly handsome with stubble on his jaw and sleep in his eyes.
In fact, he pretty much melted her whatever the time of day.
Her alarm sounded again, and Evie kicked off the covers and leapt out of bed. As much as she loved lounging with Noah, there was no time to waste.
“Big day,” he said, watching her with a smile. “Are you nervous?”
“No,” Evie replied, grabbing her robe. Then she paused. “Yes. No. Maybe just a little.” It was the official grand opening of the inn, she was fully booked, and half the town was coming to celebrate. After so much planning and renovation, it was hard to believe that the big day had finally arrived.
Noah chuckled. “You’ll be great. Besides, it’s an easy crowd you’ll be having. Not like Bunny.”
Evie winced. Bunny had packed up and checked out before she even made it back to the inn that day, but even if it had cost her the chance of a rave review, Evie would have done it all over just the same way.
She had Noah back, and that was worth five stars, any day.
“I put on the invitations for people to drop by after one p.m.,” she said, running over her final to-do list. She’d figured a casual open house suited the B&B more than a fancy party, so they were throwing a big beach BBQ, with food and games for everyone. “And then the first guests will arrive in the afternoon and get to enjoy all the fun.” She paused, feeling a tremor of those nerves she’d been so certain she wouldn’t feel. “What happens if nobody shows up?”
“Then we’ll be eating cake and champagne for a week,” Noah replied with a grin.
“What if too many people come?” she asked, still worried. “I sent out two hundred invites! Not everybody has RSVPed, but if they all show up—”
“Then I’ll run to the store and buy more food,” Noah reassured her. “Relax, the hard part is over. Whatever happens now, we can handle it.”
We …
Evie felt a glow. She was still getting used to the fact she had a partner now—someone to lean on, and worry with, and quiz about his opinion on music selections for the record player in the lounge. Noah cared just as much about the success of the inn as she did. In fact, he’d been the one up late last night, insisting on stamping a hundred sets of stationery with the Beachcomber letterhead to have ready for the guests.
That is, until she’d slipped off her dress and beckoned him up to bed.
Now it was Noah’s turn to distract her, as his lips grazed the curve of her neck and his hands roamed under her robe. Evie gave a sigh of longing. “I have a million things to do,” she protested, even as she pulled him in for another kiss. This one deepened, until her knees were weak and Noah was pulling her back towards the bed.
“So?” he murmured, sliding her robe to the floor. “Make it a million and one …”
One hour—and definitely more than one new thing ticked off her list—Evie finally dragged herself out of Noah’s arms and headed up into Sweetbriar Cove. She wanted to pick up fresh flowers and a few final luxury touches for the rooms. Maybe it was a little much to place individual gift boxes of handmade chocolate truffles in every room, but she wanted her first guests to be blown away by every last detail.
“What do you think, roses or hydrangeas?” she asked, admiring the colorful displays in the florist shop. There were so many beautiful blooms, she didn’t know where to begin. “I need some big arrangements for the main rooms downstairs and then little bouquets for each room.”