Page 46 of The Heiress Bride
“Of course,” Alex answers, draping an arm over my shoulders, keeping me close to his side.
My sundress and cardigan don’t provide much coverage, and his fingers brand me through the fabric. I’ve wanted to be alone with them all day.
I wrap an arm around his waist, tucking my fingers through his belt loop, happily soaking in his heat.
We stroll across the porch, down the steps, and follow the path to the sand. I kick my sandals off by the gate, and we make our way out onto the beach. The sky is inky perfection, and the steady churn of waves settles everything inside me.
I slide my free hand against his abs because I can’t stop touching him. He’s real and warm and firm beneath my fingers.
The sand shifts beneath our feet as we walk along in easy silence. It’s been like this from the first. Simple.Compatible.
“I’m so happy for you, Alex.” My words are light, carried away on the breeze.
His hand squeezes my side as our hips brush. “Because?”
“I know opening your heart up is hard. And you did it twice. With me and now with Gabe.” There’s a pang inside my ribs. “That couldn’t have been easy.”
He’s silent for a long time. So long, I don’t think he intends to say anything, and I’m okay with that. He’s entitled to his thoughts and privacy. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Alex Hunt, it’s that he’ll speak when he’s ready. And he’ll always give you the truth.
We pass a dark blob, which I assume is a hunk of driftwood and continue on our way. Some of the houses are dark and shuttered. Others are bright beacons beyond the grass. Laughter and chit chat ring from several pool decks. Way down the beach, fireworks burst across the night sky.Pop. Pow. Boom.
“What do you think of Gabe’s idea? For us to take over Chanler & Cort?”
Alex stops, turning me toward him. My fingers slip from his belt loop and take up residence on his hip. Even in the dark, I feel the intensity of his gaze.
“Accepting things with Gabe was easy because he’s easy to love. But it was hard because changing agood thing is bound to be hard. It wouldn’t be worth it if it wasn’t.”
A soft moan passes my lips. Man, when he finally finds the words, he really picks good ones. I lick my lips and blink back a sheen of tears. “Well said.”
I guess I had a leg up where King is concerned. We’d wanted each other for a while. But still. Considering all the what-ifs was terrifying.
“I have you to thank for that,” he says.
My brows knit. “Me?”
“For showing me it’s possible—to open my heart wider.” He cups my cheek. “That it’s safe and well worth it. I’m not sure I would have found the courage without you.”
“Yeah, right,” I scoff. “You’re the bravest person I know.”
He hums and shakes his head.
I hug him and rub against his palm. “King told me how you leapt into action, checking in with contacts and making a plan to rescue me. No fear. All drive. How you jumped in that water like it wasn’t cold, dark, and full of sharks.”
The wind buffets my back, and I press in closer to him. I don’t know if I can adequately explain what he means to me. They all put something on the line for me that day. King, with our friendship and hiscomfort and well-being. Gabe with his freedom. And Alex with his life.
A single tear makes its way down my cheek, and I don’t bother swiping it away.
“Oh, Beauty.”
He lifts his other hand, wiping it away with his thumb before cupping my other cheek.
“I love you so much,” I whisper. I grab handfuls of his shirt, needing the anchor.
My breathing goes shallow as he bends his knees and then ducks his head to brush a soft kiss against my lips. Too soft. Painfully so. Heat and desire rise inside me, demanding more.
“I love you so much it scares me,” he admits softly, voice a tiny bit shaky.
His admission has me nodding in agreement. Tangled up in this man, I admit to myself just how scary, how wild, my desire is for them. Just how far I’d go for them. “Standing on the bow of that boat, staring down my mother?—”
