Page 25 of Starting Back
“I did want to get to know you today, but I can’t keep my lips off you.”
He smiled, his mouth still wet from our kiss.
“I’m not complaining, but okay, what else do you want to know?” I wrapped my arms around his neck, my back arching off the sand a few inches on instinct to stay as close to him as possible.
“What’s your last name? Only fair since you know mine.”
I leaned my head back on the sand, the eager sheen in his golden eyes squeezing my chest.
“Webber. I was considering going back to Russo, my maiden name, but I don’t want my girls to feel weird.”
He brushed the hair off my forehead, regarding me with such rapt attention, I didn’t know whether to squirm or melt into the towel.
“Italian?”
“Yes. Although my father and my brother are the ones with the rich olive skin that always tans so well. My mother and I are fair and get connect-the-dot freckle tans.”
“I definitely notice the freckles.” He skimmed his finger along my collarbone where a large cluster of freckles had already bloomed after only a day in the sun.
“Chloe gets freckle tans too. She’s my eldest. She worries about me, more than any other girl her age should about her mother, but I haven’t been able to make her stop. Emma is still little.” I circled my finger around the dimple hiding in his stubbled cheek. “Her only concern when it comes to me is where I hide the cookies and candy.”
A tiny smile lifted his lips before he rolled off me and leaned on his side.
“I don’t know why I brought them up just now.”
“Your face lights up whenever you mention your kids. You miss them, and it’s okay to talk about them to me. In fact, that’s why I took you out today. I want to know you.”
“You want stories of a moody teenager and a kindergartner?” I sat up on my elbows. “You’re a heat-induced mirage, aren’t you? Like, you can’t be real.”
“I assure you I am.” He leaned in and kissed the corner of my mouth.
“What about you? I know Reyes is a Spanish last name, but where is your family from?”
“The Dominican Republic. Well, my father is—was. He was born there and came to the United States when he was five. My mother was born in Washington Heights in Manhattan, where they grew up together.”
“That’s sweet that they grew up together.”
He nodded as he turned his gaze toward the ocean. I caught his quick correction from present to past tense when he spoke about his father, but he didn’t seem like he wanted to elaborate, and I didn’t want to push.
“Hey, are you okay?” I scratched my fingers along the short hair at the back of his neck.
“Yes, I’m fine.” He peeled my hand away from his neck and pressed a kiss to my wrist. “I have a cooler in the back with water. You seem to make me forget everything.” He narrowed his eyes at me before standing and heading for the truck.
I resolved to forget his rapid change of subject and surveyed the mostly empty beach, a few umbrellas dotting the sand in the distance. As I rolled up to sit, my phone buzzed in my purse.
Nicole:So he’s a decorated firefighter, tons of pictures of ceremonies and with kids. His social media is private, but he doesn’t look like he’s full of himself in his profile picture. Still a total smokeshow, though. I hope you’re too busy being naked and satisfied to read this now, but I am so excited for you!
“Everything okay?” Leo asked as he sat down next to me and handed me a cold bottle of water.
“Yes, just Nicole checking on me.”
“I’m guessing she gave Google a good workout.” He raised a brow as he took a long pull.
“She did. She found pictures of awards, kids, and a hot but not douchey profile picture.”
“Nice to know. That was the exact look I was going for.”
I chuckled at his wink.
