There was just Murphy.
“I believe you know your own heart and mind. You made the decision that was right for you, and I gotta say I’m glad for it. Without that post, we might not have ever spoken beyond ‘Eight petit fours to go, please, ma’am’.?
?
I snorted and turned my head to speak over my shoulder. “You never ordered eight.”
He pretended to suck in his stomach. “Gotta act cool in front of the hot chick.”
“You think I’m hot?”
“No.”
I pretended to pout as he turned me toward him again and imprisoned me against the rail with his muscled arms caging me in on either side. “I think you’re the loveliest woman I’ve ever seen in this life or any other.”
I blinked at the sudden sting in my eyes. Damn wind. “Oh, is that all?”
“No. Not even close. You’re also smart and funny and make the best brownies I’ve ever tasted. I even like the peanut butter swirl ones now.”
“You didn’t used to?”
“Nope.”
“Hmm. Maybe it’s my magic new ingredient.” I leaned against his chest and grinned up at him.
He twirled my hair around his finger. “What’s that?”
Love.
I nearly said it. Nearly clued him in to the truth inside me.
Instead, I mumbled, “White chocolate chips,” and reached up to yank his head down to mine.
I kissed him hard and he kissed me back with matching desperation, his fingers streaking into my hair to cup the base of my head. I bit his lower lip and he made a hungry sound in his throat, one that echoed in my belly and directly south. Just the insistent rub of his tongue against mine had me reaching down to grasp his belt buckle in a firm grip that told him in no uncertain terms I wanted my hand around more than metal.
“I want you.” Shamelessly, I panted it into his mouth between kisses.
“Veronica, we’re outside.”
“I know. I feel the cold railing against my ass and your hard cock against my pussy. Well, not quite, since you’re the size of a damn giant compared to me, but that’s where I want it.”
“Jesus. Oh, Jesus.” He was swearing in a continuous stream now, and it was pretty damn funny as well as hot as hell.
I barely got out a giggle before he was seizing hold of my hand and tugging me up the pier, dodging pedestrians with his typical politeness if not his usual moderate speed.
“Sorry, excuse us, in a hurry, sorry, coming through!”
I hurried to keep up with him, my wrap dress whipping against my chilly legs in the breeze. Murphy had warmed me right up though.
Inside and out. Especially between my breasts in that spot no other man had touched before.
No one else.
“Where are we going?” I asked between choppy breaths, scarcely able to hold back my laughter. It filled me up inside, squeezing out everything else.
Maybe this was what joy felt like.
And falling in love.