Lighthouse Way (Huckleberry Bay 1)

“June and I will help, too.”

“Zeke and I can help, as well. We’re right downstairs.”

“Any extra hands will help.” She smiles and then leans over to kiss my shoulder. “Thanks for all of it, Wolfe. I know this isn’t ideal for you, and you must be struggling with it, but we all appreciate you. And I’m especially glad you’re here.”

I sigh and kiss the top of her head.

“I’m glad I’m here, too. If the fucking headaches would stop, I’d be even happier.”

“Are they getting bad again? I thought they’d slowed down.”

“It’s random.” I shrug. “And when they decide to pop up, they just suck.”

She stills. “If they stop, you’ll leave and go back to racing.”

Not long ago, I would have immediately agreed. But now, after everything that’s happened, I’m not so sure.

“That’s not going to happen,” I reply and link my fingers with hers. “I will never be given the green light to drive professionally again. I had a traumatic brain injury, which means that career is done—even if the headaches stop.”

“I didn’t mean that to sound selfish.”

“No, it’s okay. I like knowing that you enjoy having me here.”

I tip her chin up and kiss her, and the ache I’ve felt for her over the past two weeks starts to ease just a little.

“I missed you, too,” she says at last. “And from now on, if I don’t hear from you, I’ll call you myself.”

“Anytime, sweetheart. Day or night. I’m at your disposal.”

“Oh, I like that.”

I laugh and pull out the cheesecake. “Now, we have to discuss something serious.”

She opens the container and takes a bite of the dessert and says, “What?”

“Well, with Sarah moving out tomorrow and everyone settled in where they’re supposed to be, I’d like to spend time with you tomorrow evening. Just you and me.”

“I’d like that,” she says. “I’d like that very much.”

“Me, too.”

“In fact, you can help me look through some of the stuff from the barn attic,” she adds. “And we can talk about, you know, our feelings.”

“Sure. We can do that.” I run my tongue over my teeth. “But then I plan to fuck you until you can’t remember your name.”

She chokes on the cheesecake, reaches for her lemonade, sips, then laughs.

“Well, okay, then. We can do that, too.”

“Good. Because while I was fine waiting for a little while, I’m dying to be inside you.”

I kiss her temple.

“So much for not interested,” she says with a smirk. “Why do women overthink everything?”

“Because I was stupid and didn’t reach out to you. Two weeks is a long damn time. I really do apologize. It won’t happen again.”

“No. It won’t. Because I’ll come and find you if I have to. Not in a scary stalker kind of way. But you know what I mean.”

“You are the best part of my life right now, Luna Winchester. You can bet that I won’t be far away at any given time—also not in a stalker way.”

Those sweet lips hold their soft smile as she peers up at me with those stunning whiskey-brown eyes.

“I’m really glad you came over here today.”

“Is it because of the cheesecake?”

“That and because I always feel better when I talk with you.”

With those sweet words, something in me settles into place.

Even sex doesn’t feel quite as intimate.

“Me, too.” I kiss her forehead and then her nose. “Me, too.”

And with her hands on either side of my face, I kiss her lips again, softly. So softly, it makes my skin hum.

And I know, down to my bones, that I’ve found my home.

Chapter Eight

Luna

Today went better—and faster—than expected. I don’t know why I thought that moving Sarah into her new apartment would take all day, given that she doesn’t have much to speak of in terms of furniture. And it’s just a little apartment. It’s adorable, and I can’t wait to see what she does with it.

So, with Sarah getting settled in her brand-new digs, I have a couple of hours to myself before Wolfe comes over for dinner.

With my diary in hand, I walk out to the gazebo to enjoy one of the last days of summer while I jot down some thoughts. There isn’t much wind to speak of, and it’s a picture-perfect day on the cliffs.

I need to take advantage of days like this because the wet season will be here before I know it.

I take a deep breath and grin as a bald eagle soars overhead, looking for his lunch.

Opening my journal, I turn to the first clean page and start writing.

* * *

Sarah’s home! Hurting something fierce, but she’s home. We moved her into her new apartment today, and she was like a kid on Christmas morning. She actually kicked us all out so she could nest for the rest of the day.

Wolfe’s also back in town, and if all goes as I think it will, he’ll be in my bed very soon. He’s also hurting after losing his career in a freak accident, but he’s doing some nesting of his own with a new business and renovations to his property right next to mine. It’s so good to have him here! I didn’t realize how much I’d missed him until I saw him again. He’s not the boy I once knew, but the man he’s become is definitely something to write about.