“Very good, Miss Cooper. You continue to impress me.”
He stopped moving, and Emily’s heart sputtered as he bent his head, brushing his lips against hers. A tease of a kiss. Never enough. But Emily knew from the moment he’d first kissed her, she’d never get her fill of him.
“You know I’m going to dance with you to this song at our wedding one day. That is, if you’d have me?”
Emily swallowed, her breathing increasing. As her hair whipped around in the light summer breeze, a tear slipped down her cheek. One year. One full circle had been drawn around their lives, and although they’d been tested in every way possible, they were still together. “I could never not have you, Gavin. Never,” she whispered, falling more in love with him than she’d ever thought possible.
As Louis Armstrong belted out soulful melodies about casting magic spells, Gavin cast his on Emily, as he always did. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her slowly, deeply. Emily’s heart dropped, knowing one year ago tonight on this very balcony, beers, memories, and tears were shared. Little did she know then, a stolen moment, a sweatshirt, many bottle caps, and few layers peeled back later, her life would never be the same.
And she thanked God for every minute it wasn’t.
“How the heck did you talk him into going out on the boat?” Olivia smeared a heavy dose of suntan lotion across her chest. “You seriously have that man whipped. He adamantly declines the fishing trip every year.”
Emily coated her legs with suntan lotion. “I didn’t talk him into it. Colton did.” She placed the bottle on the wrought-iron table and adjusted the umbrella above her. Sighing, she shook her head and lay back in her poolside chair. “I’m curious to see how sick he’s going to be when he gets back. He insisted the water was calm enough. Now look at it.”
Olivia nodded. “Oh, he’ll be hugging the toilet, I guarantee it. He thinks because he stuck that stupid sea sick thing behind his ear, he’s covered. Not a chance. I’m surprised he doesn’t heave after swimming in the pool.”
Both women laughed. Fallon returned from inside the house and handed Emily a glass of lemonade.
“Thank you,” Emily said.
“You’re welcome. What are you two laughing about?” Fallon questioned, getting comfortable in a chair.
“Gavin and the way he’s, without a doubt, going to be making love to the many toilet bowls in his house when the guys get back.” Olivia nodded knowingly, a wicked smirk twisting her lips. “Emily’s definitely playing nurse tonight.”
Emily’s gaze drifted out to the choppy waters of the Atlantic. As she watched the waves crash against the shore, she wondered if Gavin was okay. She also wondered if he’d agreed to go on the trip in another attempt to keep his mind off the test results. Due any day, his nerves were becoming shot by the second. He and Emily weren’t the only ones nervous, though. When his parents had arrived this morning for his Fourth of July party, Emily could see the worry in their eyes. She could see it in everyone. From Fallon, to Trevor, Olivia, Melanie, and Colton, everyone around them looked uneasy when she really paid attention.
“Olivia,” Jude called from the pool. Slicking his sandy brown hair away from his forehead, he smirked. “If you don’t get in with me, I’m getting out and coming to get ya.”
Olivia shot him a look. “And if you do, your body will never feel the tip of my paint brush again.” She kinked her head to the side. “And I’ll never allow a certain tip of your body to feel mine ever again.”
Emily watched as he pondered Olivia’s threats. However, his deliberation didn’t last too long. He climbed from the pool and darted toward Olivia. Within seconds, he had her hauled over his shoulder, dangling her kicking, screaming body over the pool. Emily took a laughing breath, and Olivia took an unwanted swim when Jude dropped her into the water. Loving that Olivia seemed to have met her match in Jude, Emily and Fallon giggled as they observed her spit water.
“Jude Hamilton!” Olivia sputtered as he jumped in with her. Pulling her into his arms, he hooted a laugh. “I’m so going to kick your fucking ass all over the place for this.”
Jude swung his attention over to Emily and Fallon. “What do the two best friends think? I’m wondering if she needs a good dunk for that one.”
“Do it!” Fallon chirped, tipping her wine cooler to her mouth.
“Crap off, Fallon,” Olivia squealed, attempting to wiggle from Jude’s hold.
Emily held her hands up in surrender. “I’m staying out of this one.”
“Thank you, fr—”
Emily assumed Olivia’s last word was going to be “friend” however, Jude dunked her, cutting her off. Emily tore her attention from the dunking battle when she saw Gavin and the gang of fishermen making their way across the yard. After tying her sarong around her unflattering waistline, Emily moved quickly but carefully across the water-soaked slate tiles. She couldn’t help but frown when she saw Gavin’s expression. Yeah, her man looked less than healthy.
Kissing his lips, she curled her arms around his waist. “No good?”
Gavin ran a tired hand over his sunburnt cheeks. “I’ve been better. But I need you to tell me why was it again I didn’t listen to you about not going?”
Emily smiled. “That’s because you wanted to look cool in front of the guys.”
A hint of a grin appeared on Gavin’s mouth. “Ah, yes. Me and my coolness. Do me a favor and chain me to the fence next year when they rib on me for not going.”