Chapter Nine
Billy held my hand as we walked along the lit path toward a gazebo perched on a cliff. The lavender farm sat high above the ocean with a few trails leading down to the rocky beach. It wasn’t anything I’d attempt at night, but the view from above was just as beautiful.
Tiny white lights spiraled around the posts of the gazebo and a bench sat in the center. I could see why Hildie’s property was so popular for weddings.
Not that I was thinking of marrying anyone any time soon. I hid a chuckle, astonished that the word wedding even popped in my head. It’s usually considered a bad word in my vocabulary.
“You’ve gotten quiet,” Billy said, leading me up the steps to the bench.
“I’m just kind of surprised.” I glanced at him, noticing how the tiny flecks of light bounced off his green eyes.
“Surprised?” He led me to the bench and we both took a seat.
A shiver ran through me, and he immediately pulled me closer to him. He seemed so aware of more than himself, so protective.
I slid my hand to his knee and looked into his eyes. “Yeah. Surprised.” I smiled. “I haven’t been on a date in years, and I’m surprised at how easy it is with you.”
He smiled and placed his hand over mine. “Doesn’t happen often, does it?”
“Try never.” I laughed.
“Not a big fan of the dating scene?” His eyes glimmered with laughter.
My eyes not-so-accidentally fell to his lips before I answered. “Not really. I pretty much do everything I can to get away from the possibility.”
“What made you finally say yes to a date with me?” He brought me in closer, and I placed my head on his shoulder, looking over the inky water down below. A few blinking lights bobbed in the distance as boats sailed away. “Is it really because I’m leaving town?”
Being pressed against him made my heart swell with confused emotion. The thought of him leaving was disappointing, but the thought of him staying terrified me more.
“I thought you were cute.” I sat back up and turned to face him. “And sweet…Any guy who’d still ask a girl out after encountering what you saw at the vet says a lot.”
His deep, low laughter filled the air, and I wanted to memorize the sound.
“I just don’t know exactly what it says,” I teased.
“Are you happy you said yes?” The intensity in his gaze only increased as his eyes fell to my lips. The unbelievable chemistry churning between us nearly froze me in place.
“Extremely,” I said softly.
Billy cupped my chin gently in his hand, and my breath quickened as he ran this thumb along my cheek. I fisted my hand into his jacket as our eyes connected, and I silently pleaded to be kissed. His gaze held a mix of longing and something more. Something I didn’t understand. Was it sadness? Confusion?
I slowly licked my bottom lip, and he sucked in his breath, dropping his gaze to my mouth once more. Knowing I could produce such a reaction in him turned me on even more, but he wasn’t rushing anything.
He slowly drew his other hand along my back, creating a chain reaction of desire. I’d never felt such a need to be kissed, and he managed to pull it out of me with nothing more than a few glances and a soft touch.
“You’ve really put a crimp in things, Tiffany,” he said. His eyes heavy-lidded with longing.
And before I could respond…
He kissed me.
The softness of his mouth against mine was intoxicating and I wanted more. I kissed him back and felt his lips part as his hands slid along my sides, resting on my hips. He took his time about it, not hurrying or demanding any more than I wanted to give.
But I wanted to give so much more. I let out a little whimper of pleasure as his kisses turned from soft and careful to full of need, challenging me to let go of my worries.
I twisted my fingers into his jacket and he pulled me in deeper, his hands still gripping my hips when I let my hand roam along his hard body. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to feel him next to me.
Another whimper escaped between our lips, and I pulled back, breaking our kiss and trying to catch my breath.
Billy opened his eyes and his heated gaze stayed on mine. I knew we both wanted more, but I felt the fear already pummeling through me. I didn’t want to become attached only to have him leave, or worse, I didn’t want to stop caring.
“I should probably get back to Lucky,” I whispered, our eyes still locked. “Not that I want to. I really don’t want to.”
Billy let out a low chuckle and slid his hands from my hips. “Lucky is one fortunate dog.”
“How do you figure?”
“He gets to spend the night with you.”
“I could say the same about Lady.”
Billy looped his hand through mine and helped me up from the bench.
“When are you leaving on your trip?” I asked as we slowly walked out of the gazebo and headed back onto the main pathway.
“Too soon.” He glanced at me. “I have a few business meetings I planned on the way. They can’t be changed.”
My chest tightened and I nodded. “It will be a lot of fun and Lady’s going to love it.”
He nodded, and I touched my lips, still feeling the tingly heat from where his lips had been minutes before.
“And when are you planning on getting back?” I asked.
“After the holidays.” He bit his bottom lip and drew a breath. “I was going to spend Christmas with some cousins down south and Stone was going to join us.”
“That will be fun.” I tried my hardest to sound upbeat even though hearing his plans only cemented the fact that this wasn’t going to go anywhere. I’d be long gone by the time he got back.
“And you said Lucky’s parents will be gone for three months?” he asked.
“Two months and three weeks now.” I smiled and his eyes stayed on mine. “I don’t know how I’m going to leave Lucky. That doesn’t usually happen, but I’m pretty attached.”
“To Lucky?”
I just continued to smile. “So when exactly are you leaving so I can mentally prepare to not be kissed like that again.”
“Eight days. About a week before Halloween.”
“That’s too bad. I’d planned on dressing up as a naughty nurse or something for you.”
He stopped dead in his tracks and pulled me into him. “There isn’t a reason in the world you still can’t do that for me.”
“I can think of a few.” I looped my arms around his neck and he drew me in for another kiss.
I pressed my body against his and my heart warmed from the inside out as I felt his hardness press against me. It had been so long since I’d produced that reaction in a man and to do so off of just a kiss made me want…
“Seems you two are hitting it off,” Chance’s voice rang through the air and I nearly tumbled out of Billy’s embrace.
I felt like a high school girl caught behind the bleachers. Granted, we were behind his restaurant on the way to the car, but still.
I quickly dabbed my lips while Billy shook his head.
“Thank you so much for such a delicious meal,” I told Chance. “I’ve never had halibut that amazing in my life.”
“I’m glad you liked it.” He made his way over to us when I noticed a bag in his hand. “This is actually for you two. I saw you wandering toward the gazebo and had hoped I could get it to you before you left. It’s our signature dessert.”
“Thanks, man.” Billy took the bag from Chance. “I’ve got to get Tiffany home to Lucky.”
“What was that?” Chance asked. “Tiffany’s going to get lucky?”
“He wishes,” I teased and Chance laughed as he turned around and made his way back around the building.
“There is no hiding on Hound Island.” Billy shook his head and slid his arm around my waist.
I liked being held by him. I liked being near him. I liked everything about him.
Probably because he was leaving town. That had to be it.
“We can’t let this dessert go to waste. You’ll have to come in and make nice with Lucky.”
“Does he smell any better?”
“I’ve given him two baths,” I informed him.
“That didn’t answer my question,” Billy teased.
“And there’s a reason for that.”
Billy laughed as he opened the car door for me and I slid inside. My mind was whirling a million-miles-a-minute. I’d expected to have a light, breezy dinner with Billy, not actually connect with him and want to find out more about him, and all I could think about was wanting to get to know more.
He climbed into the driver’s seat and glanced at me.
“You’re absolutely beautiful.”
“I think it’s because we’re in the dark,” I informed him. “In fact, I know it is.”
He let out a low groan. “You don’t have a clue what you do to me, do you?”
“Hopefully something good.” I smiled.
“Something real good.” He turned on the ignition and we headed out of the parking lot. I swore there were eyes watching us leave, maybe Chance or Hildie herself, but it made me silently chuckle.
The sexual tension in the car was so thick it made every breath I took and every glance I felt, heightened to a whole new level. The closer we got to home, the more worried I got about letting him in because I knew what I wanted to do with him. My heart was winning over my mind and that rarely ended well. I tried to think of anything to squash the thoughts zipping through my head and then it happened. The perfect cure.
Parents.
“My parents are about to celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary, and my sister and I are actually planning a little family reunion up at Silver Ridge Resort, so we’ll be heading up there for a day trip to check out the venue first.”
“Is that so?” he asked, slowing as we came to one of the few intersections on the island.
“Yeah. It sounds like we’re going up there the day before you leave.”
“Have you been before?” he asked.
I shook my head. “I’ve heard lots of amazing things about it.”
“It’s beautiful and you shouldn’t have any trouble with the roads this time of year, but you’ll definitely want to plan to have chains or a four-wheel drive in a couple months.”
“Are you worried about traveling the winter roads in that big beast you bought?”
“Not particularly.”
We pulled into the driveway, and I noticed my sister’s car was still in the driveway. Lucky’s nose was pressed to the living room window and my heart immediately swelled. Every so often I’d get a glimpse of his tail wagging back and forth behind him.
“Looks like my guardian waited up for me.”
“Are you talking about Lucky or your sister?” He laughed.
“Lucky, I think.”
Having my sister here would certainly make it easy not to get in trouble with Billy. My belly tumbled in disappointment. I kind of wanted to get in trouble with Billy tonight. I climbed out of the car and so did Billy. He grabbed the dessert from behind the driver’s seat and closed the door while I wondered if I’d suddenly be getting three forks to share the dessert.
“This turned into an amazing evening,” I told Billy as we walked up to the door.
“It really has. I hope we can do it again before I leave.”
“Me too.” And I meant it. “Let’s get inside and share whatever dessert Chance cooked up for us.”
Billy’s lip curled up slightly and all kinds of flutters rolled through my belly as I opened the door. I stepped inside and immediately spotted my sister sleeping in the recliner and so did Billy, who gently grabbed my wrist and pulled me back into him.
“I don’t want to wake your sister,” he whispered, his breath feathering my ear. “Share the dessert with her.”
I began to protest, but he put his finger up softly against my lips and pressed, shaking his head.
“Next time,” he murmured, pulling me in for one more kiss.
His lips touched mine, and I instantly wanted more, but he broke free before I even had a chance.
I set the dessert on the entry table and walked him back outside where he kissed me again, leaving me breathless and swirling with emotions I’d long since buried.
It wasn’t until his mouth parted from mine, and he jogged down the steps that I realized how much I wished he’d stay.
“Hey, you never told me about that woman you were kissing the other night.”
He spun around, smiling, and shook his head. “I thought you didn’t care?”