She loved getting dressed up and going out on the town. Then again, she loved cozy nights on the couch with her legs draped over his, a book in her lap. There had to be more of that in their future, right?
As much as she tried to settle against the supple leather seat, she couldn't ignore the feeling that there time together was counting down. Somewhere out there, there was a giant hourglass with their name on it, grains running out.
She held in a sigh and stared out the window as it started to rain. Of course, it'd rain on date night. It's not like she was wearing her best heels.
“What's eating you?”
“Honestly, you. I hate the fact that we've reconnected, and your next job is in New Orleans. I had enough run ins with alligators when we were kids.”
“Are you still upset about that baby gator I let loose in your room?”
Sabrina smiled. “I wasn't upset, but I'm sure its momma was furious.” They'd been eleven that year and she'd made him take that poor creature back to the swamp and promise to never mess with wildlife again.
Being the great guy he was, and properly chastised, he'd promised and she was pretty sure he'd kept it. At least, that she knew about. Who knew what high school and college aged guys did when they got together and felt brave in a pack.
“Yeah. I've been thinking about that.”
Her head swiveled in his direction.
That was news to her. “You have?”
Her heart lifted.
He nodded.
“Well?”
She'd gotten the impression that he'd been happy as a clam with the way his life was going. He had a job he seemed to enjoy, even if his supervisor had been a dick-head. Plus, there was the travel. And he got to blow things up for a living and evidently that was the dream.
“I'm curious about Allen's project.”
“I hear a but...”
“That's the lesser known path.”
“Of course.”
“I don't know where I'd end up with that. What if it's Alaska?”
“I don't think a theme park would work out well in Alaska.”
“You know what I mean.”
He sounded legitimately frustrated, like he'd been lying awake at night thinking things through. While she hated to think of him suffering in silence, knowing he was thinking about a future and being torn made her want to do a touchdown dance.
“Yeah.”
She knew she had to tread carefully. If she wanted forever with him, she couldn't paint him into a corner. She couldn't beg him to stay and she didn't want him to feel tied down. No one wanted to feel like they didn't have options.
But she'd just unpacked her last box a week ago. She’d made friends. She had gym buddies, and a favorite grocery store. Layla, her business partner, lived here.
Silence hung between them and when they pulled up to a stop light, he reached for her hand. She gave him a squeeze and a smile.
He lifted her hand to his lips and brushed kisses over her knuckles.
“I love you.”
Her heart expanded in her chest. “Love you too.”
If only she could go back in time and tell her tortured teenaged self to hang on. Don’t give up hope. Everything you ever wanted, you’re going to get if you just stay true to yourself.
How many times had she looked at David, longing for him to look at her like a man should look at a woman?
Countless.
And now…here he was. Next to her, touching her, kissing her, and whispering the three words she’d always longed to hear.
She took a steadying breath and prayed that they’d come up with a solution to the distance problem.
“We’ll figure it out,” he promised, as if he’d read her mind.
The determination and sincerity etched on his handsome face made her a believer.
17
David glanced at his watch and did the math. The pilot would be announcing their descent any minute.
He'd never flown first class before; somehow it didn't compare to the back of the cargo planes he usually flew on.
He'd be lying if he said he wasn't excited about the meeting with Allen. While he'd always pictured himself working on an Allen Croft movie, a special project was just that. Special. He couldn't wait to hear what the director had in mind. He was a visionary, after all.
David gave Sabrina a gentle shake. She'd been up till four am finishing a project, so she could take today off to be with him. Plus, a trip to the beach seemed to entice her.
What would it take to make her stay with him full time?
She stretched against him and tipped her head back. The sweet smile she gave him took his breath away.
Magnificent. Enchanting. He was enthralled. He knew it. Whipped. Whatever you wanted to call it.
He was falling harder every day.
Part of him thought he'd never actually gotten over her the first time.
That'd explain the powerful connection he'd felt with her since the moment she'd bumped into him at Jill's Halloween party.
But there was that little thought taunting him in the back of his mind. He was a transient and her work was in Georgia.
Well, not really. She could technically work from anywhere. She'd packed a stack of some sort of card to address, in case they had any downtime this weekend.
He didn't plan to let her up for air if he could help it.
Right on cue, the pilot came over the intercom and asked everyone to buckle up for the landing in Miami.
“Sweet dreams?” he asked as she struggled with her seatbelt.
“Very.”
“Dream about me?” Man, he was a cheese-ball.
She grinned over at him and he felt a kick in the chest.
“You know it.”
“As soon as we land, we’ll make those dreams come true. All right?”
She leaned in close and lifted her lips to his ear. “Down boy.”
“Not a chance.”
She chuckled.
A driver picked them up and David was thankful to not have to fight
