Falling Fast (Falling Fast #1) - Tina Wainscott Page 0,59

tomorrow.”

She walked to the French doors and called Cody’s name. The kid trudged back to the deck, dragging his feet and making trails in the sand. Raleigh helped carry a couple of boxes to her truck, bid them farewell, and headed back inside.

Mia was still out on the beach, bent over to study something in the sand. The sunset was an orange-and-pink backdrop, and he pulled out his phone and snapped a couple of pictures. This time he would capture her and keep her close in the only ways he could. In his phone. In his memories. And in his heart.

Heat stirred in his belly. They had all night. No parents, no regrets. Just the two of them and a lot of time to make up for.

Chapter 11

Mia had gotten the hint. Rose wanted to talk to Raleigh alone. Given the woman’s earlier warning, Mia suspected that she was trying to talk him out of doing anything rash. Reckless. And she had a point, of course. Crossing that line would be reckless.

But as she looked up to see Raleigh stepping off the deck she knew she was willing to pay the price. The warm hues of the setting sun washed over the planes of his cheeks and the red shades in his hair as he crossed the beach toward her. His jeans were tight, feet bare, faded black T-shirt stretched across the contours of his chest. She had to take a deep breath to ease the tightness in her belly.

Mia tilted her head. “Did she warn you off on us going…there?”

He scooped up the Frisbee and sent it sailing toward the deck, his blue eyes on her the whole time. “How did you know?”

“She did the same to me a few days ago. She doesn’t want you hurt.” She brushed her hair from her eyes. “I don’t want you hurt, either.”

He came to a stop in front of her. “I’ve been hurting ever since the crash. Nothing’s going to change that.”

“Hurting because of guilt?”

“From losing you.” He stepped even closer, his hands sliding down her sides to anchor at her hips. “I remember every moment we were together. Every smile. Every kiss. Every touch. I’ve run it all through my mind a million times, like one of those guys in the movies who sit in an empty theater and watch the eight-millimeter film over and over.”

Her eyes welled up. “I do that, too. I thought I was crazy.”

“Then we’re both crazy. I could ask if you’re sure you want to go down this path. I could ask you to think about it—really think about it—and consider the consequences. But I know it doesn’t matter. The car’s in drive. Our foot’s on the gas pedal. And we’re about to go full throttle.”

She came up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her mouth to his. “Zero to sixty.”

He picked her up so that she was now looking down at him. “It might well be that. I’ve had hot going through my veins for well over a week now. Not to mention that it’s been a while since…well, anything.”

Was it evil to relish the thought that he hadn’t made love to anyone recently? Probably, but Mia owned it. “I know the feeling. I haven’t been with anyone since the angry military guy, as you call him.”

He let her slide down his body, and she could feel that it was still in peak condition…all over.

When they were face-to-face, he said, “I haven’t actually made love with anyone. Except you.” Then he swept her up in his arms and carried her back to the house.

Her heart thundered, and her hands grew damp where they clasped around his neck. Like the first time, as they were about to cross the line then. Her first time.

Safe. Good. Right.

Even as a virgin, she’d felt all of those. Along with scared, crazy excited, and breathless with wonder.

He kept her in his arms as he opened the door and stepped into the cottage, closing it behind him.

She tightened her hold as he carried her down the hall. “I’m staying in the guest room. I felt funny taking Grandma’s room. I’d feel even funnier…well, you know.”

Raleigh stepped into the room with the luggage still open and clothing draped all over. He laid her on the rumpled sheets, coming down with her. His mouth captured hers, the kiss quickly heating. When he finally pulled away, he kissed her chin, her nose, then along the arch of her