Page 83 of In Every Chapter

We stayed like that for a long time. Swaying. Holding each other. Soaking in the moment.

“About those stars,” I whispered at last, my feet starting to ache. Maybe we’d even see the Milky Way.

Greyson chuckled and scooped me up in his arms, cradling me against his chest.

“Grey!” I squealed, clinging to him like a barnacle.

“I’m not going to drop you,” he groused. “Have some faith.”

“Oh, I do,” I teased. “Your muscles are very impressive.” I patted his shoulders and triceps appreciatively.

Greyson lifted me over the side of the truck and set me on the blanket in the truck bed. “What am I going to do with you, woman?”

“Kiss me.”

He blinked at me, and I blinked right back. I hadn’t expected the words to just fall right out there, but I’d had kissing on the brain all day, so maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Greyson was silent as he hefted himself into the truck bed, settling into a seated position beside me. “You sure you want that?” he asked quietly. He respected me enough that night to see my indecision and wait until I was certain. Now I had no qualms.

“Yeah,” I whispered. “Show me what you got, Marine.”

That was all the invitation Greyson needed. In a flash, his lips were on mine, soft and insistent.

My heart swelled as I clung to him, pressing closer and leaning into him. Running my hands over his shoulders. Tugging the hair at his nape.

Greyson groaned, shifting to pull me even closer, his hands hot through the fabric of my sundress. The man knew how to kiss. Each caress was reverent. A heady blend of demanding, tender, and a promise.

I was safe. Cherished. Valued.

Kissing him was like coming home to safe harbour. A safe place to land. It was a story, a dance, a delicious line of poetry. It was ours.

He kissed up my jaw to behind my ear, and I melted with a sigh. His proud chuckle rumbled through me, under my hands. Once he returned to my neck, I was feeling light enough to float away.

“Grey,” I whispered, touching his chest.

“Yes, love?” His dear face hung over me, taking me in with sweet vulnerability. I had never felt so cherished. And when had I lain down? My bones had one job—remain firm—and apparently they were no match for my husband’s kissing skills. No complaints here.

“Would you hold me? For just a little while?”

The heat in his eyes tempered into a slow, steady ember. He shifted, tucking me against his side, holding me so close his steady pulse beat under my ear. “Forever, my love.”

And we watched the stars come out to dance.

Chapter thirty-five

Paisley

I never imagined how convenient it would be for a girl to marry a millionaire. But Stephanie sure found a keeper in Nash.

Even though Stephanie was a planner at heart, Nash had spearheaded most of the dress-shopping arrangements so she could relax. He flew Charmain Russo Addams (aka Nana), Ivy Carson, and Hailey into town for the dress shopping and offered to fly Juliet and me in, too.

But I hated flying. I’d done it before. I’d even dreamed about it one night. And I had no desire to do it again. Just the thought had me cold and clammy. Besides, Juliet was in no mood for turbulence. So we drove—or more correctly, Myles drove us, since he had the time with it being the offseason. Greyson would have come, too, but the shop was busier than usual and he couldn’t get away.

I’d always promised myself I wouldn’t be one of those clingy girlfriends (or wife, I guess in my case). But this was the first time since the accident I’d gone anywhere outside of Serenity Springs without Greyson, and I felt like I was missing a part of myself.

We’d fallen into an easy rhythm of living. The kettle was boiled every morning when I woke up. We chatted over breakfast, and he dropped me off at work. I’d persuaded him to serenade me with the guitar a few times. He left me love notes, too. Tucked in my lunch box or on my bathroom mirror. Simple things like: Thinking of you today. Or date night promises like: line dancing at Downto’n. Or simply, I love you.

He’d made me promises and kept them. He’d taken care of me gently. Messed up a few times but kept showing up.