of his hair hang over his forehead. I can feel his penetrating gaze roaming up and down my body. I rest my hand over my stomach protectively, trying to quell the sudden bout of nerves.
“Is this okay?” I ask, referring to my outfit.
The pale green of his eyes deepens. “You’re perfect.”
I feel heat rise to my cheeks, and it makes me smile. “So are you.”
A smirk steals over his features, and I feel the effects of it in my chest. “Can I go with you guys, Daddy?”
Endymion crosses the room and pulls Luna into his arms. “Remember what we talked about? We can’t give Mommy her surprise if we don’t do everything according to plan.”
She pouts. “I don’t like surprises, and I don’t like plans.”
His brows shoot up. “Oh, really?”
“Fine. I do, but this surprise isn’t fun.”
He rolls his eyes playfully. “It will be. I promise.”
After we both say goodbye to Luna, leaving her with Endymion’s sister and her little cousin, he drives us through town. Every time he turns down a certain street, I think I know where we’re going, but then, when he keeps going, I realize I’m wrong. Part of me thinks he’s just driving in random circles now to throw me off. It isn’t until he takes the route toward Mr. Jackson’s property that my heart skips a few beats.
Old man Jackson owns the hardware store back in town and this property. He’s always been a quiet man who mostly keeps to himself. It’s been said he owns a lot of property in Dunsmuir that dates back to past generations. One of the properties is this two-story cabin he built for his wife years ago. It’s beautiful, with a wraparound balcony up top that gives you a sprawling view of the waterfall below. Hell, when you stand outside, you can hear the echo, feel the mist, and smell the freshness in the air. It’s heaven.
“Mr. Jackson’s place?” I ask, as End takes my hand in his, leading the way up the steps to the log cabin.
I don’t know how he’s managed to get Mr. Jackson to agree to let us come inside here. The inside is beautifully decorated and refurbished. It’s woodsy and male, with hints of color thrown in here and there that surely belong to his wife.
When End leads the way up the staircase, and we reach the top floor balcony, I jerk to a halt, taking it all in. There are little lights hanging from the back French doors to the columns of the balcony and a table with white linen and sunflowers in the center. There are two place settings in front of two chairs that face the waterfall my father used to take me to see as a child.
“How did you manage this?”
End shrugs, his gaze glued to mine. It’s almost like he doesn’t want to look away. I know that feeling all too well. “I asked Mr. Jackson for a favor.”
My eyes sweep across everything, from the table setting to the beautiful waterfall in the background. “This is beautiful, End.”
“I wanted to give you something beautiful. You deserve it.”
My heart thumps steadily in my chest, and my stomach dips wildly. Closing the distance between us, I cup his cheek, running my fingers over his stubble. “You’ve already done that. You’ve given me Luna. You’ve given me love.”
Heat flashes in his eyes, and then he’s kissing me. His kiss is hot and anything but chaste. I feel it tugging deep in my loins and taking my breath away.
When he pulls away, he swipes his thumb across my lower lip and jerks his head toward the table. “If we don’t sit now, I’ll end up fucking you and ruining this.”
I laugh as he helps me lower myself into the chair. He takes the seat across from me, and my eyes are drawn to the sunflowers. They are the perfect touch. They’re like having Luna here with us. They tug at all the emotional strings inside me. Sitting at a white table with linen and china on top, he lifts the domes covering our food, and I grin. Our meal isn’t anything special, but the fact that he put this much effort into this speaks volumes. It’s steak and potatoes with a side of asparagus. I find it’s the best meal I’ve ever had, and it’s because he made it for me.
I’m unable to keep my eyes off the waterfall. The way the warm orange, pink, and purple hues from the sunset glint