By the time they take the dishes away, my narration has caught up to where I am in the story.
“So what do you think?”
“I like it. You have to tell me the rest of it.”
“Okay. Remind me when I finish.” I make to pick up the book again, but he stops me, his hand reaching out to hold mine. “Not right now,” he says. “Now I want to make love to you.”
“Out here?”
He grins. “Why not?”
I forget about the book, allowing him to pull me up to my feet and down onto his lap. Soon I’m lost in the taste of his lips, the smooth heat of his skin, and the urgency of his touch. We undress each other then make love right there on his chair with me straddling him, and the mild afternoon sun teasing our sweat-slicked bodies. The balustrade is high enough that I don’t have to worry about anyone seeing us, but I doubt that I would have cared.
Later, we get ready for a double date we have with Laurie and Brett. We’re going to an art gallery opening, and then to dinner. My mom calls while we’re getting ready.
“Sweetheart,” she coos in my ear.
“Hi, Mom.”
“How are you?”
“I’m great,” I pause. “How are you?”
She sighs. “Working. Planning the wedding. Are you ready for next week?”
“Yeah,” I nod, forgetting for a moment that she can’t see me.
“How’s Landon?”
I look over at where Landon is buttoning a light blue shirt. He looks gorgeous, the perfect epitome of sexy manhood. “He’s great,” I tell my mom.
“I’m thinking we should all have lunch on Sunday. It’s been a while since you all came over.”
“Oookay,” I reply. “No problem.”
“Will Landon be there?”
“I’ll ask him,” I catch Landon’s eyes and mouth the words, “Sunday afternoon, my parents?”
He nods.
“He’ll be there.”
She sighs. “Good. Laurie, Brett, and Dylan will be there too, and maybe Brett’s parents, they’re not sure yet.”
“How are you all getting along in the planning?”
“Very well,” she chuckles. “Jacie is holding everything together so well. She’s made two trips to Barbados in the past month. If we were younger, I’d envy her, but, oh well.”
We talk some more about the wedding, then my dad comes on to say hello, telling me that he can’t wait to see me on Sunday.
After the call, Landon walks over to zip up my dress. I tremble when his hands graze my skin, marveling at how he can make me want him even with that small touch.
He turns me around after I’m all zipped, his eyes meet mine, and then silently he pulls me into his arms, holding me close like that for a few seconds. I wrap my arms around him too, content in our closeness. Somehow, I know he’s thinking about last night, but I don’t say anything, allowing him to take comfort from my touch.
“Do you know what I was thinking,” he says. “That moment, when I saw the car coming toward me?”
I swallow and shake my head.