The Summer of Us (Mission Cove #1) - Melanie Moreland Page 0,83

love bites I had left on her neck. Her hair was wild, her cheeks and neck pink from the scruff on my face. She looked well and truly fucked and no doubt, so did I. I certainly felt it. I was sure my ass was covered in bruises from the rocks.

Michael blinked, looked at Abby with a grin, and stood. “I, ah, should be going.”

I refused to feel ashamed, although I didn’t want Sunny embarrassed. But as usual, she surprised me.

“Oh, sit down, Michael. It’s not as if I didn’t see you making out with Abby this morning while you were supposed to be cleaning the supply room.”

He gaped at her. “I was helping her reach something on the shelf.”

Sunny snorted as she poured us each a cup of coffee and reached for a plate of cookies. “What was her mouth reaching for? Your tongue?”

I barked out a laugh and sat down, pulling Sunny to my lap. I wrapped my arm around her, holding her close. “Your mouth looks a bit swollen, Mike. Allergies acting up?”

Abby chuckled and pulled on Michael’s hand. “We’re all adults here, Michael. Relax.”

He shook his head and sat.

“Everything okay with the store?”

“Yes. Martha canceled everything. Business as usual again tomorrow.” He cleared his throat. “Thank you for, um, anything you did.”

I shook my head. “I did nothing but talk. I think our deputy mayor realized she had made an error.”

“Well, I still appreciate it.”

“No thanks needed.”

We sipped our coffee, and they chatted. Talked about the baking to be done for the weekend, plans for a barbecue maybe on Sunday—all normal, everyday things most people would take for granted. I loved listening to it. Being part of it.

I let the conversation drift away as I thought about what I’d said to Sunny earlier. I meant it. I was going to marry her—and soon. We had lost enough years, given up enough happiness already. I wanted my life with her to start now.

I simply had to figure out the how-to’s.

The touch of her hand on my cheek startled me, and my eyes flew open. I blinked, confused.

“Where are Abby and Michael?”

She smiled, stroking my hair. “They left about ten minutes ago. You fell asleep.”

“Holy shit.”

“You’re exhausted, Linc. Abby is going to have supper with Michael and his kids. We’re going upstairs, and we can have a shower. I’ll make you something to eat and you’re going to bed.”

“You’re coming with me.” It wasn’t a question.

She smiled softly. “Yes. I will come with you. I have a busy few days ahead of me.”

I stood, swinging her up in my arms and heading to the kitchen and the stairway.

“I’m gonna help.”

“Can you bake at all?”

“No, but I am an awesome quality control person. Nothing but perfection will leave the kitchen, Sunny. You have my word.”

She laid her head on my shoulder. “I would expect nothing less from you.”

I dropped a kiss to her head. “Good.”

I woke late into the night, Sunny tucked beside me, her head next to mine on my pillow. I watched her slumber, lost to her dreams. She looked peaceful and content, and a part of me hoped I was there with her.

Carefully, I slipped from the bed, making sure she was covered, then headed out to the kitchen, grabbing a drink of water and snagging a handful of the cookies from the jar on the counter. I wandered to the window, staring out on the silent town. For the first time in my life, I felt no anger or bitterness. I felt nothing but the peace of the town at rest.

I glanced at the clock. It was two a.m., but given the fact that we had fallen asleep early in the evening, I knew I wouldn’t be going back to sleep anytime soon. My mind was awake and active now.

An idea I had been thinking about was taking hold, and the more I thought about it, the more I liked it.

I had been serious earlier when I told Sunny I would marry her—and quickly. I was determined to start our life together sooner rather than later.

Logistics was one of the problems we were going to have to address. I knew how she felt about her bakery. The people she cared about here. The simple life a small town allowed her.

At the moment, my world centered around Toronto. I also knew Sunny would suffer terribly there—away from the water and everything familiar, and although I had no desire to move back to Mission Cove, there were