“Why are you nervous?”
“I’m leaving Oak Falls, meeting your family and friends, and attending a formal event. This’ll be the most exciting thing I’ve done in years.”
He hauled her into a hard kiss. “This is going to be great. You’ll love my family. You know my mom, and my brothers are the best. My sisters will adore you and tease the hell out of me, and…” He took her in another toe-curling kiss, the air around them electrically charged. “I’m so frickin’ happy.”
They kissed again, both of them laughing.
“It’s going to be our greatest weekend yet. Or at least I hope so. We’ll be meeting my mom’s boyfriend, which is a little weird for me, but that won’t even matter. I’m so freaking happy you’re coming with me.”
“Me too! And after everything you told me about your mom, I’m glad she has someone in her life.”
“Yeah, I am too. It’s just weird thinking about my mom and a guy in the new stages of a relationship, like us.”
“Try catching your parents making out behind the barn at a jam session. That’s awkward.”
He laughed. “I knew I liked your parents. I’ll arrange your flight and meet you at the airport.”
“I’d rather drive, if you don’t mind. I’ve only flown twice before, and there was so little room at my feet for Reno, I felt bad for him. Some other passengers also gave me uncomfortable looks because of him, and that made me anxious. I don’t have to bring Reno to the event, but I need to have him with me when I travel. Driving would be less stressful for me.”
“That’s fine, and if you’d be more comfortable if he’s with you, we can bring him to the event. Whatever you need, we’ll make it happen. You’ve just made my night.”
“And you’ve not only made my night, but you made Hellie’s, too. Look.” She nodded toward Hellie sitting on the bench with a pile of paper hearts beside her and another in her lap, reading one in her hand.
Happiness vibrated around them as they enjoyed their perfect evening. A long while later, when Hellie made her way back toward the woods, her arms full of paper hearts, Dash and Amber lay on the blanket, gazing up at the starry sky, hands joined between them, hearts full of hope.
“I don’t think I’ve ever taken the time to look up at the stars.”
Amber could only see his profile as he stared up at the sky. Did he know she was falling harder for him even now? That she was going to miss him like crazy and count down the hours until they talked each night?
She looked up at the sky, thinking about him. He’d shared so much of himself, but she wanted to know more about where he thought he might be heading. “If you could sum up what you want in life in one or two sentences, how would you say it?”
He didn’t answer for a long moment, and she didn’t rush him, because she was mulling over her own answer. Their fingers were laced between them, and his thumb began brushing over her finger in a soothing rhythm.
“I’ve lived in a boiling pot of never-ending excitement and pressure, so I guess I’d like a lot less of that and a lot more of this.” He squeezed her hand. “Maybe a trip to Maui, lying in the hot sand with my wild thing in a bikini.” He pushed up on his elbow, smiling down at her. “How about it, sweetheart? Are you up for Maui after the book tour?”
“I don’t know. That’s an awfully long flight. Maybe you can send me pictures.”
“What fun would that be?” He leaned in for a kiss and tickled her ribs.
She squirmed. “Virginia Beach is right around the corner.”
“Virginia Beach?” He tickled her again, making her squeal with delight. “You deserve to see the world with your toddler-grinning guy.” He gave her another quick kiss, running his fingers through her hair. “To see the stars from special places.”
“But I like my safe little world.”
“I know you do. I like it, too.” He settled onto his back again. “Ready for another secret?”
“Always.”
“I’ve never wished upon a star with someone special, either.”
She turned her face to the side so she could see him and found him looking at her again, emotions brimming in his eyes. “I love that this is a first for both of us.”
“Me too. I don’t need to ask what you’re going to wish for.”
“Why is that?” she asked.
“Because I already know.” He gazed deeply into her eyes, so steady and sure, she couldn’t have looked away if she’d wanted to. “A man who thinks of you first thing in the morning and last thing at night, a magical proposal that tops your friends’, and a lifetime of looking deep enough into every moment to see the seeds of all of the wonderful things to come.”
She could do little more than stare at him.
He looked up at the sky again. “And if all that comes with a sexy, muscle-bound retired football player who grins like a toddler and has filthy fantasies about you, well, you’d be set for life, wouldn’t you?”
She laughed. “And you’re going to wish for the dirty fantasies, aren’t you?”
“You know it. Close your eyes, baby. It’s time to make our filthy fantasies—I mean romantic wishes—come true.”
She closed her eyes, and as their hands joined between them, she knew that even if she never got all those future wishes, she’d be happy with a lifetime of this.
Chapter Fourteen
“I’LL BE RIGHT back.” Amber popped to her feet for the fourth time in what felt like as many minutes early Saturday morning.
Dash grabbed the back of his T-shirt she was wearing, the one he’d worn last night when they’d had dinner with her family, and tugged her back down to the bed, wrapping his arms around her from behind. “What could you possibly need to do now?”
“I want to grab the large glass jar from the kitchen for the gift card raffle.” She’d come up with a great idea to have everyone who showed up for the signing enter to win a gift card by signing up for her newsletter.
“And why do you need to rush out of bed to do that? The signing isn’t until ten and it’s not even six yet.”
“So I don’t forget.”
“Babe, between your excitement over meeting my family, worrying over finding a dress for the fundraiser, and today’s book signing, you’ve barely slept the last two nights.” He was worried about her. Last night when they’d made love, she’d gotten teary-eyed, and when he’d asked about it, she’d brushed him off. He’d let it go, but he had a feeling all of this nervous energy might be partially due to his leaving. God knew he wasn’t thrilled about it.
“Can you blame a girl for being excited?”
“No. I’m glad you’re excited, but don’t jump out of bed. Stay with me. I promise to remember the glass jar.” He lowered her down to her back and moved over her. “You’ve gone over the details for today with a fine-tooth comb. There is nothing left to do but show up and sell books while I sign. What’s really going on?”
“I’m just nervous about your signing. This is a huge day for you. One you’ll remember forever, and tell your kids and your grandkids about. It’s your debut. The kickoff to your author life.” She was talking a mile a minute, her heart racing against his chest. “The pictures Hawk takes will be all over the internet, and I want everything to be perfect for you, for Shea, for Story Time.”