around her tightly. I could feel her chest heave up and down as her breathing picked up. I held her like this, for what seemed like an hour, at least. I simply listened to her breathing and felt the warmth of her small frame against mine. She relaxed my nerves, and I stopped thinking about the pressures of my family.
“Let’s take a walk,” I suggested, clasping her hand. She said nothing and followed my lead.
Breezes from the harbor greeted us as I opened the door to exit onto the deck. The wind blew Jill’s tousled waves straight into her face and she scrambled to pull a tie from the pocket of her jacket in order to fasten her hair. I tried to hide a grin as I watched her control those waves.
Once that was settled, I took her hand in mine and walked her around the deck. The view of the harbor was exquisite. The sun was out, casting a sparkle on the water. This was perfect weather for sailing and the boats were out on the water. I was more enraptured with the view beside me, however. I watched Jillian take it all in. The smile was on her face again, and her eyes lit up as she watched the boats out on the water. It’s amazing what a bit of majestic scenery can do. Jillian was again at ease, and the light was in her eyes. I missed that. I missed her - more than words can justifiably describe.
“Do you ever take your boat out on the water, or do you keep it docked all the time?” She asked with a smile, casting me a sideways glance.
I laughed, and turned to her. “I haven’t taken it out on the water yet. I didn’t want you to feel trapped on a boat with me, in the middle of the water.”
Jillian blushed and bent her head.
“We can take it out onto the water if you like, or we can keep it docked. It’s entirely up to you.” I was doing everything I could manage to put Piper’s advice into practice.
Jillian looked out onto the water just as a seagull flew over our heads. She sucked on that lower lip, deep in thought.
“Maybe later.”
I nodded, but then she giggled softly as she grasped the polished wooden railing of the deck.
Without having to ask her, she smiled again as she pulled a loose strand of hair from her face.
“I just remembered the time you took us sailing. That was so much fun.”
Hell, I’d forgotten all about that. It was only once, on a boat I’d borrowed from Jax. I had taken the Pryors out sailing, because Mrs. Pryor had mentioned she’d never gone. Those were better days.
“You almost fell overboard. I still don’t understand how you managed that.” I teased Jillian and she laughed loudly.
“I almost lost my glasses too!” She turned to look up at me, and squinted in the late afternoon sun. The humor from that memory was written all over her face.
“That will teach you to lean too far over the edge of the boat.” Unless I’m bending you over .
“Yeah, thank goodness you were there to catch me.” She wouldn’t stop smiling. I was thoroughly enjoying this relaxed, lighthearted moment. I didn’t want to dwell on how much I had taken her for granted. I watched her breathe in deeply as she spoke. “I love it out here.”
“I’ll take you anytime you like,” I offered.
An expression of conflict crossed Jillian’s face, but it was fleeting. A blustery wind met our faces, and I extended my hand. “Let’s go back inside.”
She clasped my hand and followed me inside. I watched Jillian look around the interior once I closed the door. She hugged her arms, unsure of what to do or say. I felt my resolve slipping. I was piss-poor at this romance fluff, but I was trying for Jillian. Without thinking things through, I made an impulsive decision.
Taking her face in my hands, I kissed her deeply. It was a single, desperate kiss- but she didn’t push me away. It only encouraged me further, and I pulled her body against mine. My nose nestled against the nape of her neck, and I felt
“Let’s take a walk,” I suggested, clasping her hand. She said nothing and followed my lead.
Breezes from the harbor greeted us as I opened the door to exit onto the deck. The wind blew Jill’s tousled waves straight into her face and she scrambled to pull a tie from the pocket of her jacket in order to fasten her hair. I tried to hide a grin as I watched her control those waves.
Once that was settled, I took her hand in mine and walked her around the deck. The view of the harbor was exquisite. The sun was out, casting a sparkle on the water. This was perfect weather for sailing and the boats were out on the water. I was more enraptured with the view beside me, however. I watched Jillian take it all in. The smile was on her face again, and her eyes lit up as she watched the boats out on the water. It’s amazing what a bit of majestic scenery can do. Jillian was again at ease, and the light was in her eyes. I missed that. I missed her - more than words can justifiably describe.
“Do you ever take your boat out on the water, or do you keep it docked all the time?” She asked with a smile, casting me a sideways glance.
I laughed, and turned to her. “I haven’t taken it out on the water yet. I didn’t want you to feel trapped on a boat with me, in the middle of the water.”
Jillian blushed and bent her head.
“We can take it out onto the water if you like, or we can keep it docked. It’s entirely up to you.” I was doing everything I could manage to put Piper’s advice into practice.
Jillian looked out onto the water just as a seagull flew over our heads. She sucked on that lower lip, deep in thought.
“Maybe later.”
I nodded, but then she giggled softly as she grasped the polished wooden railing of the deck.
Without having to ask her, she smiled again as she pulled a loose strand of hair from her face.
“I just remembered the time you took us sailing. That was so much fun.”
Hell, I’d forgotten all about that. It was only once, on a boat I’d borrowed from Jax. I had taken the Pryors out sailing, because Mrs. Pryor had mentioned she’d never gone. Those were better days.
“You almost fell overboard. I still don’t understand how you managed that.” I teased Jillian and she laughed loudly.
“I almost lost my glasses too!” She turned to look up at me, and squinted in the late afternoon sun. The humor from that memory was written all over her face.
“That will teach you to lean too far over the edge of the boat.” Unless I’m bending you over .
“Yeah, thank goodness you were there to catch me.” She wouldn’t stop smiling. I was thoroughly enjoying this relaxed, lighthearted moment. I didn’t want to dwell on how much I had taken her for granted. I watched her breathe in deeply as she spoke. “I love it out here.”
“I’ll take you anytime you like,” I offered.
An expression of conflict crossed Jillian’s face, but it was fleeting. A blustery wind met our faces, and I extended my hand. “Let’s go back inside.”
She clasped my hand and followed me inside. I watched Jillian look around the interior once I closed the door. She hugged her arms, unsure of what to do or say. I felt my resolve slipping. I was piss-poor at this romance fluff, but I was trying for Jillian. Without thinking things through, I made an impulsive decision.
Taking her face in my hands, I kissed her deeply. It was a single, desperate kiss- but she didn’t push me away. It only encouraged me further, and I pulled her body against mine. My nose nestled against the nape of her neck, and I felt
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