THE NEXT MORNING Jenna lay on her side watching Pete’s chest rise and fall as he slept in her bed. She’d been watching him since before the sun came up, partially because she was still in shock that he was finally in her bed and partially because she couldn’t fathom a time when they weren’t together. They were so in sync with each other’s thoughts and desires. Not only in the bedroom, but even at the barbecue last night. It was like Pete instinctively knew when she was chilly, and he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. When she was talking to Bella and Amy about her mother arriving in two days for a visit, he’d rubbed her shoulders, as if he knew the conversation was stressful for her. She’d never felt so comfortable with anyone, or with herself.
She cuddled up against his warmth, trying to move quietly so as not to wake Joey, who was sleeping on a doggie bed that Pete had brought with them. Pete was wearing only a pair of black boxer briefs, with the sheets bunched up around his hips. Jenna took full advantage, drinking in every inch of him while he was unaware. His shoulders and chest looked enormous as he lay on his back with his heels hanging off the end of the bed. She’d always known her cottage was small, but last night they’d begun making love in the living room and had to move into the bedroom for lack of space. He somehow magnified how small three hundred and fifty square feet really was.
He draped an arm over her back and pulled her against him. “How long are you going to stare at me?”
“Your eyes have been closed. How could you possibly know I was staring at you?”
“Babe, I can feel the heat of your stare almost as sharply as I can feel the heat of your body.” He kissed her and pulled her on top of him. “That’s better.”
“How am I supposed to stalk you if you can tell when I’m doing it?”
“Stalk me?” He arched a brow, and he looked so sexy all sleepy she could barely stand it.
She kissed his chest. “Yeah, sneak peeks at you, take my fill of all these glorious muscles.” She moved farther down his stomach and kissed the ripples of his abs. “And all this pleasure.”
AFTER PETE AND Jenna showered together, Jenna made coffee and toast while Pete scrambled eggs. The radio was on in the bedroom, and Jenna danced as she moved around the kitchen, humming as she spread Luscious Leanna’s watermelon jam on the toast. Jenna tried to bump his hip with hers, but their height difference was too great. She nearly gave him a charley horse. He pulled her into a hug and laughed.
“Are you always this chipper in the morning?” He’d wanted to spend the day with Jenna, but he worried about smothering her.
“Most of the time, but I think this is the Pete afterglow.” She pressed her hands to his waist and kissed his solar plexus, then pushed away to retrieve mugs and plates from the cabinets. She smiled up at him with so much warmth in her eyes that smothering didn’t seem like it would be an issue.
Last night he’d seen the worry in her eyes, and he’d heard it in her voice when she was talking about her mother coming to visit. Despite what he knew must be eating her up inside, she was humming and smiling like her life was peachy. Her mother was arriving tomorrow, and he wanted nothing more than to take her mind off of it for a while.
“I have a great idea. How about if we spend the day in Martha’s Vineyard? I can reschedule the boat repair I have scheduled, and you said you weren’t planning much today anyway.”
Jenna turned with wide eyes. “Believe it or not, I’ve never been to Martha’s Vineyard.”
“I know. That’s why I asked.”
“You know?”
“Just because we weren’t dating doesn’t mean I didn’t pay attention to the things you did and said.”
“See? Just one more reason I’m drawn to you like fish to water. I’d love to go, but are you sure you can delay a boat repair? That sounds pretty important.”
Her hair was still wet from their shower. He moved a few strands that were clinging to her chest over her shoulder and tucked her hair behind her ear.
“You’re important, and we have a lot of years to make up for. I need to clean the pool here—it is Tuesday, after all—but then I’ll clear my schedule and we can go.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her again.
“Can we bring Joey?”
She and Pete had taken Joey for a walk earlier, after they’d finally pried themselves from each other’s arms and gotten up for the day. He loved that she thought of his adorable pup. “We can, but if you’d rather not, I’m sure I can wrangle someone to keep an eye on her.”
Jenna crouched beside Joey and petted her head. “Aw, poor Joey. Look at her. She doesn’t want to be pawned off on someone else.” She kissed the pup’s nose. “Do you, Joey? You want to come with us and spend the day in the sun, walking around, sniffing strangers and being too cute for words.” Jenna tilted Joey’s face up toward Pete. “Tell him, Joey. Tell Daddy you want to come with us.”
As if on cue, Joey barked.
Pete lifted Jenna to her feet and kissed her. “Nothing would make me happier than spending the entire day with my two best girls.” Pete didn’t tell her that tonight was the annual Illumination Night on Martha’s Vineyard, a night where all the lights in a neighborhood called the Campground were turned off and paper lanterns lit the streets and cottages. He knew Jenna would be blown away by the magical evening, and he couldn’t wait to experience it with her.
Almost four hours later, after a forty-five-minute drive to Woods Hole and a ferry ride that took equally as long to reach the Vineyard, they parked Pete’s truck and meandered through the crowded streets and quaint shops. Like many Cape towns, the shops were mostly shingle sided, and they were decorated with an island feel. Most boasted aged wooden floors, and some had narrow staircases that led up to a second floor. No matter what the store, Jenna wanted to explore every inch. Pete wasn’t a big shopper, and he didn’t care for crowds, but as they walked hand in hand beneath the summer sun, moving in and out of stores at Jenna’s whim with Joey trotting happily by their side, he realized that it didn’t matter where they were or what they were doing. Being with Jenna felt good.
Her eyes lit up as she inspected everything from knickknacks to kitchen items. He took pleasure in the little things that were unique to Jenna—the way she squeezed his hand when she saw something she loved and how she slipped one finger into the waistband of his shorts and pressed her other hand to his abs when she wanted his attention. It felt like they’d been a couple forever, and he wished they had.