Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye - Jacquelyn Middleton Page 0,155

“I’ll always put you first, Leia.”

“What have I done to deserve you?” Her mouth claimed his again and he let her in, the sweet strokes of her tongue and her wandering fingers raising more than his spirits.

Thirty-One

LEIA

Alone and cocooned in a cozy blanket on the edge of Tarquin’s bed, Leia looked up from her gratitude journal, a smile blooming on her face. This trip was exactly what I needed. The past six days had been filled with passionate sex, island hopping, and family bonding, and Leia had loved almost every minute. Kiki drama aside, the Balfours, Orkney, and Tarquin were firmly ensconced in her heart.

I’ll never forget Tarquin doing what Tyler never did: sticking up for me—for us. That sealed it. Tarquin Balfour IS my guy!

Picking up her pen, she wiggled her toes in front of the fire, its roaring blaze masking the blustery winds whistling through Rupert’s farm equipment outside. Tomorrow afternoon we’ll be back in London, back to real life, and I am SO ready! Humming happily to herself, she dove back into her journal entry.

November 27, I was grateful for:

1. this glimpse into Tarquin’s life. Everyone here has a funny Tarquin story, like the one where he was housecleaning drunk and naked after a night out! Such a neat freak! I swear, they love him almost as much as I do!

2. rockpooling on Birsay Beach with Tarquin & Ava, finding elusive ‘Groatie Buckies’. Other places call them cowrie shells, but the Orkney name is so freakin’ cute.

3. the ride on Tarquin’s boat— he named it Leia 5 years ago! — around the Bay of Kirkwall. After, we shopped (puffin goodies for Riley!) and I hugged Kirkwall’s ‘Big Tree’.

4. visiting the village of Balfour on the island of Shapinsay. Balfour Castle looks like something out of a fairy tale. His family doesn’t own it anymore, so we couldn’t go in.

5. Shan’s call. I’m off to Paris 2x next month to dress/style her for two industry events.

6. my past. It’s not the prettiest, but I wouldn’t be with Tarquin if my life had played out differently. For the first time in ages, I’m looking forward to the future.

She glanced up, finding her boyfriend, all messy hair, Clark Kent eyeglasses, and flirty dimples, leaning against the doorjamb, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice in his grip. Ooh, coming to save me again, naked Superman? Her appreciative gaze slipped down his happy trail. Hmm, I’m not the only one who wishes we were still in bed.

“Good morning, gorgeous.” Tarquin raised the glass. “I brought you some sustenance while you sketch. You know, if something urgent has come up, I can make breakfast while you work.”

How he can say that with a straight face… Leia smiled and closed the book. “Aw, thanks. It’s nothing work-related, though. Just my gratitude journal.”

“Oh, really? Is this a new thing?” He stepped over his discarded boxers and Henley, placing her glass on the bedside table just shy of his latest gift for her: a special Little Miss book celebrating Ginger Spice.

“I started it last Christmas. It was my therapist’s idea. I found it tough at first, finding things to be thankful for when I still felt broken and bruised, but writing down all the good stuff in my life helped me see things differently. It helped me focus on what I did have instead of what I didn’t.” As Leia zipped the journal closed, her eyes leisurely swept down Tarquin’s body and hovered over his erection, bobbing hello. Talk about a wake-up call. Every morning without fail, lucky me! She smiled brightly as her gaze flitted up, meeting his. “And it turns out I have a lot to be grateful for.”

“You and me both.” He scratched his temple. “So, do you ever write about me?”

“Sometimes…”

“Hmm, I must be doing something right, then!” He licked his lips as Leia slipped free from the blanket, naked except for a pair of lavender panties. “Do you write daily?”

“I try to.” Leia stretched, leaving the journal beside her juice. “But this is my first entry since late August.”

“Late August? What was—” His face fell. “Oh! High Line?”

With a nod, she flung open the duvet and shifted to Tarquin’s side of the bed, inviting him into her fort of blankets and pillows.

“So, you did miss me!” Tarquin slid in beside her, and Leia cocooned the sheets and duvet around his nakedness. He rolled onto his side, facing her, his bliss tipping toward concern. “But all jokes aside, why did you