Mid Life Love (Mid Life Love #1)(72)

“Is that a problem?”

“No...It’s just different for me...”

“Me too.” He sat next to me and smoothed my hair with his hands.

I find that hard to believe...

“How is it different for you? You didn’t have endless sex with any of the other sixteen women?”

“No.”

“I thought you said you didn’t lie. I refuse to believe that you didn’t indulge or enjoy—”

“Claire,” he said, letting out an exasperated sigh, “you’re completely incomparable to any woman I’ve ever dated. Period.”

“I—”

He pressed his fingers against my lips. “I don’t like to compare past relationships, but since I know you’ll keep thinking about it if I don’t...” He looked into my eyes. “I did enjoy having sex with the women of my past—I liked it. Really liked it. But I honestly could’ve done without it because it was never memorable. It never made me feel anything. It’s not like that with you. I love having sex with you, and I personally don’t think we have enough. But that’s not the only reason why this is different for me...In my past relationships, I never thought about any of them the way I think about you. You’d be surprised how often you cross my mind...Do I need to say more or is that answer good enough for now?”

“For now.” I smiled and he gave me a kiss.

“Are you going to finish your grocery shopping now?” He held my shirt up so I could slip my arms through it.

“No. I can’t go back in there...”

“Why not?”

“Because everyone will know that I just had sex.”

“How?”

“I’m pretty sure the sweat and the male cologne on my skin will give it away.”

“So?”

“So, I’m not going in there.” I rolled my eyes as he helped me into my pants.

“Would it help if I went in with you?”

“Um, no.”

“Because we’re in public, right?” He shook his head and handed me his phone. “I’ll have Greg get your stuff and deliver it to your place tonight. Type everything you need, specific brands if you have preferences.”

I typed everything that was in my cart and a few extra things I’d forgotten about. I pulled out my credit card and handed it to him once he was on the phone.

“Greg? Yes.” He eyed the card suspiciously and handed it back to me. “I just sent you a list of things that Miss Gracen needs for tonight. Make sure it’s done as soon as possible. Thank you.”

“You don’t have to pay for—” My sentence was cut off once he leaned forward and kissed me.

“Stop it.” He smiled. “I want to take you somewhere.”

“Now?”

“Yes. Now. Give me your keys. I’ll drive.”

I opened my eyes and realized I was lying on the hood of my car. It was unusually warm outside and the wind was soft and gentle.

I turned on my side and saw Jonathan smiling at me.

“Did you get enough rest?” He leaned over and kissed my cheek.

“How long was I asleep?”

“Not that long.”

“Oh... Any reason why we’re lying on the hood of my car?”

“I don’t think you can fully appreciate the view from the front seat.”

I turned my head and saw that we were at a clearing on the ocean. We were parked on the edge of a private dock that overlooked a grassy mountain range—low enough to feel the soft sprays of the sea.

There was a shoreline a few feet behind us, with a row of wooden villas that were slightly secluded by overgrown trees.

Where are we? I’ve never seen this side of—

“Tell me something that I don’t know about you.” He moved closer and held my hand.

“I think I might be attracted to you...”

“Something that I don’t know.” He smiled. “I knew that the first day we met.”

“You’re so full of yourself...I wanted to be an actress when I was growing up.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I was in every play in high school and I was in drama clubs all over the city. I just knew that that was what I was going to be...My classmates even voted me ‘Most Likely to be Famous’ in the yearbook.”

“Why didn’t you pursue that when you went to college?”

The flag charms on my necklace suddenly felt heavy and my heart began to ache. I could feel a lump rising up my throat but I pushed it back down.

“I...” I couldn’t talk about that. Not today. Not ever. “I just didn’t have the heart for it anymore...Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

“I used to be fat.”

I burst into laughter. “I don’t believe you!”

“It’s true. I don’t know how it was possible since I starved for half my childhood, but I was chubby up until my first semester of college...Then I was forced to change.”

“Why?”

He put his arm around my shoulders. “I really needed a third job because the hours I was getting at the car wash and the coffee shop weren’t cutting it...The one place that was always looking for new talent told me they’d take me on if I lost weight and got in shape.”