Chapter 30
River
I tipped my head back, letting the sun warm my face. My muscles screamed from the yard work we’d been doing all day, and the scent of steaks on the grill filled the air.
“I can’t believe it’s finally spring,” I said, opening one eye to look at West. He smirked at me, bringing his soda up to his lips. He was covered in dirt, except for his hands. He’d washed those to make us lunch.
“But feeling like summer?” He wiped the sweat from his brow. It was a balmy 78 degrees, and there wasn’t much shade in the backyard, which was exactly why we’d been planting fruit trees.
I picked up my sweating glass of ice tea and took a long sip as I stared at West manning the grill. “Technically, there’s only three weeks until it is summer.”
He chuckled. “Funny that we had a snowstorm less than that amount of time ago.”
“Ah, New England,” I replied, standing and go up behind him. I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my cheek against his toned back. “Yet there’s nowhere else I’d want to be.”
He turned, moving his arm over me and bringing me to his side. His head dipped down, and my toes curled as he kissed me. He pulled away, hand still cupping my cheek. “But it’s not like you’ve been a ton of other places.”
I pouted. “I’m sorry I’m not a world traveler like you.”
“We can change that.” He wiggled his brows. “How many weeks of vacation do you have?”
“Four.”
His eyes lit up. “Where should we go first? Cali? Canada? Australia?”
I chewed my lip. “Ireland.”
West nodded. “We can arrange for that.”
“Have you been there?” I asked, and he scratched his neck. “Well, where haven’t you been?”
His shoulders lifted and he flipped the steak. “Why does that matter?”
“I’d like it to be a first for both of us,” replied.
“List off a few places you’d like to visit.” West’s hand slipped into my back pocket.
I looked up at the crystal blue sky before meeting his eyes. “Stonehenge.”
“I haven’t been there,” West replied. “Although, I’ve been to England enough times. Where else?”
My eyes widened. “Penguins.”
“Penguins?” West’s voice showed his amusement. “Anartica is cold. I was thinking somewhere a little warmer…where fewer layers are required.”
I laughed. “There’s penguins other places. I was thinking South Africa.”
“That could be fun.” West nodded. “There are some awesome reefs there.”
I shook my head, and he laughed.
“Why not?” he asked.
“Sharks, West.” I used my arms to signal their size. “Sharks. Big giant man-eating sharks.”
“Ah, yes I forgot you have a fear of the ocean,” he said, smirking down at me.
I crossed my arms, stepping away. “No. I’m scared of being eaten alive.”
West stepped forward, putting his hands on either side of my face. “I will never let anything eat you alive.”
I quirked a brow, biting my lip as thoughts crossed my mind.
“Ha.” West’s head tipped back. “You’re dirty.”
Howls from over where we’d planted the new trees caught my attention, and the idea of traveling sunk hard in my stomach. “What about the pups?”
“The guys love dogs,” he replied, narrowing his eyes on me. “We’re traveling, and that’s that.”
I huffed, but my face hurt from smiling so much. “If you demand it.”
West slapped my ass, eyes playful. “Oh, I demand it.”
His cell phone rang on the patio table, and I made my way over to get it.
“Las Vegas?” I said, holding it out to him.
His forehead creased with lines as he took it and nodded to the grill. “You got this?”
I chewed my cheek before shrugging, and he laughed as he headed towards the house where it was quiet. The dogs were making quite the scene over the new trees and plants. Somehow, I managed not to burn the steaks while West handled the call. I placed them on the table, tented with foil, to rest and sat down to absorb some more of the amazing sun. The winter hadn’t been too bad, but I still had a hate-hate relationship with snow and ice. I figured I always would after what happened. My mind drifted to Bobby. I hadn’t dreamed of him in months, and even though they were just figments of my imagination, I missed those conversations. My chest tightened, and I closed my eyes. Bobby’s cologne seemed to drift over me, and I inhaled, the ache in my heart loosening with the scent. My cheek warmed with a touch — his touch and my eyes snapped open.
I was in the backyard, and not in a dream. My heart hammered in my chest; I could still feel the space between Bobby’s fingers where the warmth wasn’t as strong.
West came out of the house rubbing his neck with his face ashen. He sat down across from me, blankly staring at the food spread out between us. It took me a moment to find my voice from the shock of Bobby’s all too realistic touch and West looking as if he was the one who’d felt a ghost.
“You okay?” I asked, my voice squeaking.
West’s head snapped up, his eyes unfocused. He cleared his throat.
“Oh, yeah. Yeah.”
I blinked at him, and he finally seemed to see me.
His jaw clenched. “Another show opportunity.”
“And?” I tilted my head, reaching across for his hand.
His eyes followed, and a smile lifted his lips. He wove his fingers between mine, relaxing. “And I said no. We’re starting filming for the next season of the regular show in two weeks, and this one would take place right after, for another three months.”
“You wouldn’t get a break, huh?” I asked, guilt tightening in my stomach. He shook his head. “We can always vacation next year. The penguins can wait.”
West’s thumb circled over the top of my hand. “It’s a traveling tattoo competition.”
“Oh.” I tried to swallow, but my throat seemed to be closing up. He’d be traveling without me. There was no way I could get off work for that long, and I didn’t think I’d want to either.
His eyes came up from our hands. “Before, I would’ve done it in a heartbeat.”
“But?”
“But before I was also trying to run away. I don’t want to run away anymore, Riv. I’m not going to. I’m done working my life away and burying myself in the next tattoo,” he said, and I stood, my body naturally propelled towards him. He pulled me into his lap, and his hands slipped up to my face as I leaned my forehead against his. “The penguins can’t wait.”
“Neither can I,” I replied, leaning down and kissing him. West’s hands moved down to the small of my back, and I turned, wrapping my legs on either side of him.
He stood, lifting me with him and his mouth traced its way down my chin and to my ear, “Can the steaks wait?”
I answered him by turning my face, so our lips met again. My hands moved underneath his shirt, lifting it over his head as he reached the sliding door. He shoved it shut with his foot before maneuvering to the couch as I pulled my shirt over my head and his hands undid the clasp of my bra.
Our skin met as West laid me back on the cushions. Through kisses and searching hands, the remaining clothes separating us came off. I arched into his body as his mouth moved down my skin, and his lips parted as he whispered my name. Tingles flashed over my body as he managed to lift me off the couch onto him and I moaned, unable to hold it in. His lips came back to mine, and I could feel him smiling as we moved to the bedroom. The new position sent my toes curling with each step he took, and we never made it to the bed.