Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“It might be mutual.” I chuckled and let Nolan have the last shrimp. “Mom said to check the fridge when we get home if you’re unhappy with the dessert selection here.”
“Pie?” Nolan sat up a little straighter. He grabbed the leather-bound dessert menu from behind the wine list. “Oooh, how about we share a dessert here, then have a midnight pie raid?”
“Deal.” I’d let him have three desserts if that was what he wanted. In fact, I let him choose both entrées based on what he wanted to sample. I’d eaten here a handful of times over the years, and the food really was first-class, especially the fish and fresh produce, and Nolan kept making orgasmic noises as he tried everything. After much deliberation, he’d picked the crusted ahi and the local lobster curry. I let him have more of the lobster while I went straight for the decadent coconut rice. And of course, Nolan had to get pics of the food, another reminder he was still in vacation mode.
Finally, Nolan looked up from his food orgy to notice the last of the winter sun slipping away. His expression softened further, the setting sun making his eyes gleam.
“Wow, this view really is spectacular.”
“It is.” I meant Nolan, of course, but he was delightfully oblivious to my appreciation.
Shortly after the sunset concluded, a small quartet of local musicians featuring guitar and ukelele started playing instrumental music with a Hawaiian vibe near the restaurant’s expansive patio. Some couples left their tables in favor of dancing, including a pair of women with matching wedding rings.
“Oh, there’s dancing.”
“You don’t have to look so wistful.” I chuckled, having already resigned myself to being roped into dancing. Nolan upped the ante by adding a deliberate pout and soft eyes. “Or try the puppy-dog eyes.”
“No?” Nolan looked down at his food. “I mean, this music is harder to dance to than some of my playlists.”
“It is not.” I shook my head at him before holding out a hand. “Come on, we can dance.”
Once we were on the patio, and I was leading us in something that might resemble dancing, Nolan made a noise that was a combination of purr and long exhale.
“Did you just happy sigh like a laundry detergent commercial?” I teased him.
“Maybe?” Cheeks turning pink, Nolan shrugged his slim shoulders. “Okay, yeah. But I am happy.”
“I know.” I pulled him closer, savoring our nearness and the way his hand fit so perfectly in mine. “It’s cute. And me too.”
We danced a few songs, then shared a fancy dessert of sponge cake layered with mango and papaya cream fillings. My mom’s generous gift card covered the bill, and we lingered a bit longer, listening to the music and enjoying the breeze rolling in off the ocean.
“What do you say we see if we can beat the boys and my folks home and do a little stargazing from the hammock on my balcony?”
“I love that idea.” Nolan gave another of his patented happy sighs, and we returned to my parents’ place and Barney, who was almost as excited as Nolan. After settling the dog, we headed to the balcony off my upstairs room.
“Alone.” Nolan grinned at me, clearly loving the empty house feel as much as I did. “I feel like I’m eighteen and sneaking someone in, hoping the parents don’t find out.”
“Oh, my mother always found out.” I rolled my eyes at the parade of memories before flipping off the bedroom and balcony lights for privacy and a better chance of seeing stars. “And teased me later.”
“It’s nice how much she cares.” Nolan sucked his lower lip in, eyes turning more distant.
I pulled him to me before he could lose himself in thoughts of his own family.
“It is.” I started undoing his buttons. “And you’re overdressed for stargazing.”
“Am I?” Nolan gave a regal sniff as he glanced over the cotton rope hammock taking up the corner of the balcony. “Does your hammock have a dress code?”
“Yep. No attire at all is requested.” I continued on his buttons until I could push his shirt off before making quick work of his shorts.
“You too,” Nolan commanded, yanking at my new sweater. Once we were naked, he cast a critical eye on the hammock. “How does one get in that without flipping off the balcony?”
“Carefully.” It was actually far easier than it looked, especially since it was a loose weave and double-width, but we didn’t need Nolan launching himself onto the tile floor. “And let me go first. That way, I can catch you.”
“You do keep me grounded.” Nolan gave a smile so fond my chest pinched.
“Are you calling me deadweight?” I teased to avoid getting swamped by emotions.
“More like my anchor.” Nolan patted my cheek. Damn, how I wished I could be that for him all the time, the anchor keeping him steady. Far from wanting to trap him or weigh him down, I wanted to be the sort of belay system I relied upon in climbing, the anchors and ropes Nolan could count on and draw courage from to climb to new heights.