"I love you too."
He rolled off me, sitting on the edge of the sofa. "Are you going to stay here in Philadelphia?"
"Only until the two new apartment buildings are ready to go."
"You have two new buildings?"
I nodded. "This time, I bought them myself. Got a loan and everything, without any help from my parents. I'm sure knowing I'm the daughter of Peter Severins and Sheryl Kanda Severins didn't hurt, though."
He laid a hand on my thigh. "You get more amazing every day. How long will you need to stick around here?"
Now that he was here, sitting naked beside me, I had trouble remembering why I needed to stay in Philly. I had employees---lots of smart people who could handle anything that came up. I could work on the marketing plan from anywhere.
"Actually," I said, sitting up, "there's no reason to wait."
"What are you saying?"
"Let's go home, Ollie. Tonight."
He grinned. "Seriously? I don't know if we can get a flight out tonight. Your mom arranged for me to fly here, but the return flight isn't until morning."
"Can't wait that long. I don't care if we ride the bus all the way to Oregon." I wrapped my arms around him. "Just take me home."
He kissed me, long and slow and hot.
"You know," I said when we finally separated our mouths, "I bet my mom and dad can help us get a flight ASAP. They know people."
"How's it going with your mom?"
"We had another talk, and I told her I want us to start fresh instead of focusing on the past. She agreed."
"Glad you two made peace."
I couldn't stop myself from admiring his body, which I hadn't seen in person for two weeks. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming here?"
"Your mom called me this morning and said I should get my ass to Philly. She booked and paid for my flight." He glanced at our naked bodies. "Think we better get dressed if we're going home tonight. Airlines still frown on nude travel."
"Promise me one thing."
"Whatever you want."
"Never, ever wear clothes unless you absolutely have to."
Ollie chuckled. "You got it."
Chapter Thirty
Ollie
Life was perfect. I had my girl, my best friend, and an amazing group of guests who had become like family to me. Mara and I had gotten home early yesterday morning---predawn early---and slept so late we had breakfast for lunch. After that, we had excused ourselves to spend time alone. Eve and Val didn't mind me taking a few days off. They were happy for me and Mara, and they knew better than anyone what a reunion meant.
Lots of sex. Lots and lots and lots of it.
But today, we were kicking back on the lawn with the other guests. Damian had gone home only long enough to quit his job and move his stuff here. I'd suggested to Eve and Val that Damian would make a great concierge for our expanding resort. They agreed but insisted Damian take today off and start his job tomorrow.
Like I said, life was perfect.
Mara and I were sharing a chaise, with me naked and her clothed. Well, since she wore tiny shorts and a bikini top, "clothed" was a relative term. God, I loved her body. I loved her, period.
"I'm ready for a walk," she said, getting up to stretch her lithe body.
"Yeah, sounds good." I got up too. "Better get some shoes."
She unzipped her shorts and pushed them over her hips, along with her bikini bottoms. They fell to her ankles. She kicked them aside and stripped off her bikini top. Stretching again, she said, "Mm, that's better."
I gaped at her.
Damian raised one brow and smirked.
While he was looking at Mara. Naked Mara. My naked girlfriend.
"Hey!" I said, smacking Damian's arm. "Quit gawking at my girl."
"Chill, Ollie," he said. "If you get bent out of shape every time a guy looks at Mara, you'll need serious therapy. Like, today." He glanced at Mara again. "Especially if she's becoming a naturist."
Mara nodded. "I am."
Pretty sure my eyes bulged like a cartoon character's.
She walked up to me and settled her palms on my chest. "Relax, Ollie. It doesn't matter how many guys look at me because I'm only looking at you."
"You really want to be a naturist?"
"I do. We both have to stay clothed while we're doing our jobs, but the rest of the time..." Her lips curved into a sexy smile. "I'll be au naturel."
"Mara's got a job here?" Damian said.
"Oh yeah," I told him. "Didn't you hear? She's our new marketing specialist. And she's also an entrepreneur in her own right, since she owns three apartment complexes."
"Damn, you really lucked out. Didn't you, Ollie?"
"I sure did."
Mara slipped her hand into mine. "So did I."
We ambled down the nature trail hand in hand.
Before I knew it, a month went by. Mara and Damian settled into their new jobs and excelled at them. I'd never doubted they would. Damian being...Damian, he couldn't resist bringing some of his Rom sensibilities to the resort. When he suggested he could offer our guests palm readings, I wasn't sure about it. I mean, that seemed awfully carnivalesque for a family-friendly place. But Eve and Val both loved the idea.
And of course, Damian ran with it. He convinced Val that he needed a special place to do his palm readings, and Val agreed. With Val's backing, Damian bought a freaking gypsy wagon, the kind that was usually pulled around by horses. And oh yeah, Damian suggested we offer horseback nature tours too. Eve and Mara loved that idea, but it meant we needed more employees to clean up the literal shit the horses left behind.
The gypsy wagon sat parked by the guest house, on the opposite side from the lawn, where all new guests would see it. The wagon had a blue, barrel-shaped roof and ornate decorations inside and out. The interior featured a small table with a gold tablecloth and lots of fringe hanging from it. Damian dressed up like a gypsy too, in
