George: He might not be Greek, but he’s a magnate, right?
“For how long? How long ’til you get restless up here?” She tapped his temple. “You’re going to want to start up something sometime soon. You’re a busy, creative guy, that’s the way you roll.”
“So we’ll figure something out. So long as we end up somewhere with a good university and museum course for you, right?”
She stared up at him. He’d remembered that flyaway comment about what she really wanted to do? She had been so wrong and so stupidly chicken.
“Your blatant sexuality makes it hard for me to think,” she choked, trying to joke.
“So don’t think. Not about this. Go with your gut. What does your instinct tell you to do? Make the snap decision. It won’t be the wrong one.”
Yeah, he already knew her answer. Maybe the fact she’d locked her arms around his waist clued him in. She wasn’t running away this time. She wasn’t letting him go either.
“So, you went it alone,” he said. “Was it everything you’d hoped it would be? Or would it be better with a little salt and pepper?”
“You want to be the spice in my life?”
He shook his head. “You’re the spice I need in mine.”
She sent him a disbelieving look. Her—spicy?
“You’re the passionate, gutsy, fearless woman unafraid to walk down a beach shooting whoever with soda, unafraid to ask for what she wants from me in bed, unafraid to stand up for what she thinks she needs, unafraid to laugh and I do love it when you laugh. But more than that.” He looped his arms just as tightly around her. “You’re that fiercely loyal person who’d sacrifice something she wanted to protect a friend, you’re the person who loves her family and doesn’t want to let them down. And that’s something I never had. I want that loyalty and love directed for me. I want it from you. Please don’t deny me.”
“I’m sorry.” Her fingers clenched on him. She’d not seen it that way—that she had something to give to him—certainly not that much. And she’d hurt him in walking away.
“I’m not. I think we both needed the time and the space to understand what this is. We go together Bec, like—”
“Peaches and cream?”
“Exactly.” He chuckled. “Trust me. But more than that, trust yourself.”
She closed her eyes and leaned in close—taking the leap and finding herself safe in his arms. Safe enough to soar.
“We can do anything, you and I,” he whispered into her hair. “I’ll only support you.”
But she knew he’d do more than that. He’d help her stretch her own boundaries—not settle for less. He’d encourage her to aim for skill and knowledge, not let chance rule.
She rested her head on his chest, listened to the solid slam of his heartbeat. “How on earth did you find me?” Thank heavens he’d found her.
“Your cousins,” he answered, a hint of laughter in his low whisper. “They have a GPS tracking thing on your phone.”
Becca closed her eyes. “Oh, my freaking—”
“They love you. I believe they also track each other, so don’t take it too hard.”
Becca shook her head, her laugh a little watery. “You know, I also have this really reliable set of travel guide books on my phone.”
“The Wolfe guides, right? I’ve heard they’re the last word in independent travel.”
“Want to pick a destination with me?”
“There’s nothing I’d like better. Except…”
Startled, she lifted her head and looked at him. He was smiling that gorgeous, wicked, loving smile.
“Right this second all I want is to get out of my skirt and into yours.”
Laughing, Becca pushed him away and reached for her phone. “Then allow me to find us the nearest hotel…”
Becca checked her texts, rolled her eyes and hit reply to all three cousins:
Quit with the advice, I’m having a holiday fling 4eva. Try 2 beat that, boys!
THE END
