I’m not used to late nights, and having so many of them are catching up to me.

Some evenings, Corey and I just sit up and talk. He tells me stories of his childhood, and I tell him what life was like for me.

His life sounds like so much more fun.

Right now, all I want to do is sleep.

I’m just drifting off when I feel the bed sink. Warm breath floats over my neck, and I smile at the lips that are right behind it.

But something’s wrong.

The tickle doesn’t come. I’m used to Corey’s beard against my skin. Sometimes it’s soft; other times, it’s scratchy. But it’s not there.

Ash.

I spring off the bed. My eyes struggle to focus at first.

“Con?”

Corey. I let out a loud breath of relief. What on earth has he done? My unkempt, bearded mountain man is clean-shaven and his hair’s tidy.

“Corey?”

He chuckles. “I thought it was about time I tidied up. Lily and Adam’s wedding is coming up, and …” He reaches for my hand.. “I know the beard was a bit scratchy sometimes.” His gaze shoots down between my legs, and the heat rises in my cheeks at the thought of what he means.

“You look so weird.”

“It’s still me. Come here and I’ll prove it.”

Before I know it, I’m on the bed and his lips are on mine. His tongue probes my mouth with gentle, tentative moves. It’s like he’s being shy with me when he knows me better than anyone.

“I love kissing you,” he murmurs, dropping his head to my neck. I sigh as he nips at my skin. “I’ll grow the beard back after Adam and Lily’s wedding if you want me to.”

“Yes, please.”

His throaty chuckle sets my heart alight. I know now more than ever that this is where I’m meant to be: in Corey’s arms, in Corey’s bed.

“I even like it when it’s scratchy,” I whisper.

Corey rolls onto his back, pulling me with him so I end up lying on top of him. “Do you now?” He waggles his eyebrows. “Wanna try it when it’s not?”

Despite my tiredness, I laugh. “Sure. Why not?”

We nap most of the afternoon..

When I wake again, the air is full of food smells, and I open my eyes to find a large paper package next to me.

“Hey,” I say. “I didn’t hear you leave.”

“Hey,” Corey says. He sits on the bed and opens the package. “I got a few things. There are fish, chips, scallops, and there’s a bag with some donuts.”

My mouth waters at the smell. “So, what did you get for you?”

He laughs. “There’s plenty there. Are you hungry or something?”

“I think I could eat a horse and the rider.”

Corey leans over, pressing his lips to mine. “Only if I’m the rider.”

I lick my lips. “You cheated. How many chips did you eat?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He picks up a chip and gives me a wink.

“You taste of salt.”

He chuckles. “Fine. You caught me. I might have had a few. But there are heaps. I promise.”

“Better be.” I poke my tongue at him.

My stomach grumbles.

“Wow, you really are hungry.”

“Told you.” I pick up a chip and moan as I slide it between my lips. Nothing has ever tasted this good. It’s a delicious mix of potato, fat and salt.

“You’re so dirty, Constance.”

“I’m only eating a chip.”

“Want some sauce? I should go and get the sauce.”

“Hmmm, sounds good.”

“This is gonna be a really long night if you eat them all the way you ate that last one,” he says as he leaves the room.

I laugh as I pick up another chip.

This is heaven.

I go from being hungry to being bloated in the space of about fifteen minutes.

Lying back on the bed, I rub my stomach.

“Better?” Corey teases.

“Much. I’m ready for a nap now.”

He chuckles. “I’ll go and get rid of the rubbish and be right back.”

Moments later, he returns, pulling his shirt over his head. I smile, placing my palm on his chest as he climbs into bed.

“Still sleepy?” he asks.

“After all that food? I could sleep for a week.”

“Was that the first time you’ve had fish and chips? From the shop, I mean.”

I shrug. “Possibly. I have memories of us going to town and to the cove when I was little, but they’re not quite that detailed.”

“I’m trying to think of everything we can do that you’ve never done before.”

I pull him over for a kiss, then stroke his face. “Why?”

“I want you to be happy, and I want to make the most of the time we have together.”

My heart stops. Does he expect this to end? “What do you mean?”

“I mean that you haven’t seen the world yet. You’ve moved less than a kilometre from where you’ve lived your whole life. You left the community behind, and there’s so much out there for you to see.”

I blink back tears. “Do you want me to go?”

A look of horror crosses his face. “No. Shit no. But I’m not so naive that I expect you’ll be here twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere.”

“That’s what you say now." Corey lets out a sigh. “I’ve seen enough of the world that I am happy. I was born in the States, came here as a kid, and I’ve travelled the length of New Zealand. It’s enough for me.”

“Why can’t this town be enough for me?”

He smiles. “Maybe it is. You’re so much younger than me, though. There’s a whole world out there waiting for you to experience it. I won’t be the one to hold you back.”

I sniff. “You’d let me go.”

Corey runs his index finger down the side of my face. “I’m just saying if you want to explore, I’ll be right here.”

I swallow. “I was born on this mountain, and I’ll die on this mountain. The only question is where.”

His eyes search mine. “Constance …”

“I’m right where I need to be, Corey. If I wanted to be out exploring the world, I would be.” I reach up and palm his cheek. “I don’t want to be anywhere else but here.”

His face is so smooth, and I smile at the change he’s made for me. For me. I didn’t ask him to shave, but that he did it says a lot.

I trace my hand down over his smooth chin and up the other side of his face.

“I’m not sure if I like this.”

He chuckles. “Lily said the same thing.”

“You showed Lily?”

“I was in town getting it done. Figured I’d drop in and see how the wedding preparation was going.”

She saw him first.

I have no doubt Lily’s in love with Adam and not Corey, but my thoughts are tinged with jealousy.

“You could never play poker.” He says it so gently. “There’s nothing to be jealous about. I didn’t go there to show her what I’d done. I dropped in to see my brother.” He turns his head, planting a kiss on my palm. “And then I came straight home to you.”

I catch his gaze as he looks at me, and for the longest moment, we just stare at one another.

Corey licks his lips. “Look, I don’t know what to call this thing between us yet, but I do know that you are who I want to be with. This is the clearest my path has ever been. And if you stay, I’ll give you everything I can.”

“I just want you.”

“You have me. You have all of me.” He’s so sincere, and my heart swells at the earnest expression on his face. If I know anything, it’s that Corey’s honest with me.

And that’s why I love this man so much.