Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(102)

She turned in my arms and faced me. “I’m exactly where I want to be, with the person I want to be with. I’d say we’re living the best way possible.”

I leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. “I couldn’t agree more. How about we live even better by sneaking out the back door and heading home, where I can get you naked in front of the fire?”

“I like the sound of that.”

“Do you need to go say goodbye to your dad?” I asked.

She glanced over her shoulder and then looked back at me and smiled. “Nope. I think they’re all going to be fine. Tonight, I’m only going to worry about you, Hugh Reynolds.”

Well, you don’t have to tell me twice. I grabbed her and flipped her over my shoulder, settling my hand over her ass as she burst out in a fit of giggles.

“So much for being inconspicuous!” she shouted. “Goodbye. Happy Thanksgiving. We’re heading home.”

I held one hand over my head and waved, and I heard the room erupt in laughter, but I didn’t even turn around and say goodbye.

I ran right out the back door toward my house, with my hand slipped beneath her skirt and her laughter filling the air around me.

She was right—this was the best kind of living.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.





epilogue





Lila





Hugh and I were hosting a graduation dinner for Georgia, as we’d all been in the city for her ceremony this morning. She’d driven back to Cottonwood Cove with us because her car was in the shop, and we’d spent the rest of the day setting up for her party.

I hurried to our room to change into my dark skinny jeans, cream sweater, and tall brown boots that came past my knee. Georgia and I had gone shopping together in the city a few weeks ago, and I’d fallen in love with these boots. It was cold now as we were in mid-December, and we’d just gotten our first snow fall. There wasn’t a lot on the ground, but it had definitely stuck, and with the floor-to-ceiling windows in the house, it looked like a winter wonderland outside. I had the fireplaces going in the family room and the living room, and we’d put up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. The house was festive, and I had candles burning, so the whole place smelled like pine.

Hugh had run to Reynolds’ with his brothers to pick up the food, and I wasn’t sure what was taking so long, but when those three got together, you never knew. Brinkley had just gotten here, and she was filling me in on this football player who was refusing to meet with her.

“Some of these guys are just so full of themselves,” she said, reaching for her wine glass. “And it’s so male dominated with reporters that you have to be pushy.”

“Well, we know you’re good at that.” Georgia laughed. “You will not be pushed around by a bunch of cocky dudes.”

I chuckled, and Brinkley nodded, turning her attention to her younger sister. “Damn straight. So, tell us about this interview you have next week.”

“It’s sort of embarrassing, considering I just graduated from college, but the art gallery pay is just so low that I couldn’t afford to work there and live in the city. So, the school set me up with an interview with that publishing company, Lancaster Press. They moved here from the city not that long ago.”

“Yes. Lots of companies are leaving the hustle and bustle of the city and moving their hubs to more residential areas. The cost of rent is much lower, and it helps the economy for these smaller towns because it offers lots of new jobs to the residents. The Lancasters bought the whole building downtown, so they have a ton of space, and I heard that some people still commute from the city, but they hired a lot of people that live here, as well,” I said. I was obviously intrigued as I studied finance and watched the market closely. With Hugh wanting to open a new place in the city, there was a lot to consider financially.

“Oh, yeah. I heard the dude that runs it, Maddox Lancaster, is in his late-twenties and is a broody, hot playboy.” Brinkley waggled her brows.

“How do you possibly know this?” Georgia asked.

“I’m a reporter. It’s my job to know things. And I’d hear about him when he lived in the city. Super rich family and drop-dead gorgeous, so everybody wanted to get their claws in the guy. The Lancasters are like the first family of San Francisco. But he’s always photographed with different socialites at events, and I’ve yet to see him in a relationship. But his private life has been kept very… private.”

“Well, it is called a private life for a reason.” I chuckled. “And my brother said he recently bought that big spec house that he built last year. That place is massive.”

“Great. A rich, cocky playboy. This ought to be lots of fun.” Georgia rolled her eyes.

“So, what does the job entail?” I asked.

“Apparently, the guy needs a full-time administrative assistant because he’s so important.” Georgia reached for her wine glass. “And I need a job because I’m pretty broke. I don’t want to be shacking up with you and Hugh forever. You need your privacy.”

Georgia was moving into the casita.

“Don’t be silly. We’re both looking forward to having you here.”

“I just hope I get this job because everything else pays pretty crappy, and I don’t need a lecture from Cage. He’s trying to get me to come work at the front desk at his office. I do not need to be working for my brother.”