Reckless Hearts (Oak Harbor #2)(66)

“Closure?”

“To move on,” Helena explains. She exhales, and her perfect posture slips, like she’s letting the act go for the first time. “It just . . . wasn’t working, it hadn’t been right for a long time. I tried to make everything perfect, but I still couldn’t make him happy.” She gives me a sad smile. “I pretended like I didn’t notice, I thought, if we could just push through . . . but he hated work, he hated this apartment, and soon enough, I knew, he’d wind up hating me too. I think that’s why I did what I did. So he couldn’t be the one to break it off first. Petty, I know,” she adds wryly. “I’m working on that with the therapist too.”

I stare at her, trying to take it in. Will was telling me the truth—their relationship had been crumbling, she cheated on him.

It really was over.

But I knew that all along. I’d never doubted his story, only the fact he could hide it from me.

“I’m . . . sorry,” I tell her, and right now, I really am. I can’t imagine what it would be like to love Will and still see him slipping away from me. “I’m sorry you both had to go through that.”

She gives me a regretful smile. “Not as sorry as I am. But, I’m glad he finally decided to come back and talk it through. There’s so much practical stuff to deal with: breaking the lease, and packing things up. Figuring out who gets what.” She looks around at the apartment sadly. “He says I can take everything. There’s really nothing he wants from our life together.”

I would almost feel pity for her, if she hadn’t cheated on the man I love.

Luckily, I don’t have to find an answer. There’s the sound of a key in the lock, and then the door opens. It’s Will, half-buried under a stack of packing boxes. He’s already set them down before he turns and sees me standing here. Our eyes lock.

And then there’s nothing in the world but the two of us again.

My heart stops. His face has been haunting me for weeks, but now he’s right here, vivid Technicolor and more perfect than anything I’ve seen. Every strand of that thick, dark hair, every inch of tanned skin. I want to hurl myself headlong into those searching hazel eyes and never come up for air.

Mine.

Every muscle in my body seems to cry it, and it takes all my self-control not to go throw my arms around him and kiss him with everything I have.

“Dee.” He says my name softly, a hopeful smile creasing across his lips. “You’re here.”

I nod. “I’m here.”

The space between us beats with a thousand unsaid words. My head is already spinning, and I can’t look away. I just drink him in, feeling like the center of my gravity has just returned, after weeks left spinning, off-balance and out of control.

There’s a delicate sound, Helena clearing her throat. “I’ll leave you two alone then.” She picks up her purse, and walks to the door, pausing by Will. “The movers will be here tonight,” she tells him. “And you have my new address, in case there are any more details . . .”

He nods. “Fine.”

“Well then.” Helena glances back at me. “Goodbye.”

She lets herself out, and the door closes behind her. Still, Will and I are frozen in place.

“I didn’t think I’d see you here,” he says, his voice sounding hoarse. There’s so much emotion in his eyes; I can’t tell what he’s thinking, I only know how it feels to be near him again.

So right, I could never leave him again.

“I didn’t think I’d come,” I admit quietly.

“But you’re here?” he says again, almost like he can’t believe it.

I nod.

“OK.” He exhales. “OK. Is Marcie back yet?”

I blink, thrown. “What?”

“Marcie. The business. I heard you landed Ash’s contract, that means she has to sell to you, right?” Will looks hopeful, and I can’t believe it. After everything, the first thing he thinks about is me. My career. My dreams.

I can’t hold back any longer. I cross the room and hurl myself into his arms, clinging on for dear life. Will stumbles back under the force of my embrace, and then he’s holding me tight, cradling me to his warm, solid body, surrounding me with his scent, his touch.

Claiming my lips for his own.

It’s incredible. Our mouths are desperate, hungry, fevered after so long apart. I kiss him greedily, losing myself in the sensation.

Nothing has ever felt so right.

His tongue slides deep into my mouth, tasting me, and I can’t get enough. He pushes me up against the wall, his body rock hard against mine, and I moan into his mouth, running my hands over the taut planes of his shoulders, arching up eagerly to mold myself to him.

Will drags his mouth away from mine, his hand cradling my face. “God, I missed you,” he groans, leaning to dip a trail of blazing kisses along my neck.

“I missed you too,” I reply, breathless. I’m aching for him, already so turned on I can barely stand.

But then I remember where we are. Their apartment. Right in the middle of his old life.

I pull back. “Will . . .” I manage to tear myself away from his sinful mouth. “We should talk.”

“Talk,” he repeats, eyes dark with lust. His hands slide over my hips, possessive. He yanks me closer. “Uh huh. Sure.”