“I’ve been pushing aside all thought of being with someone else since Giselle, but I can’t push it aside any longer. I want you in my life. However it happens. We work. We can grow together.”
“I want to believe you,” Maya said evenly. “Very much. But I’m going back to the States soon. Are you sure you want to wait?”
His face dropped but she saw him school himself as his deep blue eyes focused on hers. “I would like to say yes. Because I want to be with you. But I guess I’d need to know that you wanted me to wait. If you’re uncertain about us, then there wouldn’t be any point.”
“And what if I were to stop travelling now? To stay in town and start on something new?”
“That would be great.” He flashed that broad smile again. He pushed a small box into her hands and sat down next to her.
She opened it and found a long silver chain with three charms looped onto to its length. A tiny surfboard, a miniature pair of working silver scissors and, she fingered the last and realized it wasn’t a charm, it was a key. Looking up at him quizzically she waited for him to tell her what it was.
“It’s a key to my apartment. For when you’re here. For when you’re done with all this and want to do the settle down thing that’s on your list. If you still think that’s what will make you happy.”
IF it made her happy? Maya tried to push the flutterflies out of the way so she could concentrate on what was going on in her head not her heart, but it was no use, everything was out of control. The heat of a blush, the thrilling explosion of her chest, a smile that threatened to split her face all conspired to show just how happy she really was. Her body betrayed her entirely, completely, beautifully. She bit her lip. “I’m not used to this.”
“To men telling you they’re in love with you?”
Her jaw dropped. Again. This time so hard it almost hit her knees on the way down to the floor.
“Did you not pick that part up? Or did I just say something wrong? Maya, I’m dying here. Give a guy a hint of what you’re thinking.”
“You love me?”
He nodded, his eyes soft, his mouth twitching in a half smile.
The flutterflies burst up into her throat and swooped out around the room. He loved her. She gulped. “Oh thank god.” She gushed. “But how? When did you decide that?”
The smile won out. “About the time I cut the back out of your dress and your outrage almost made your eyes pop out of your head.” Then he steadied. “If you don’t feel the same way it’s okay. I’m a big boy, I can take it.”
How could he sit there, being so warm, and open and loving? Her teacher, tailor and temptation. He didn’t fit her plan in the way she’d thought she needed, and yet, standing in front of her, was the man every part of her wanted.
She clutched the necklace in one hand and threw herself at him, her arms reaching for his neck. Pulling his head down to hers she let her glee and relief out in a long deep kiss. His tongue sought hers and like swooping through an ocean wave, curled and twisted her up into a turmoil of passion. Hang on. She forced herself to pull back and put her hands to his chest to give herself a modicum of space and control. “Say it again.”
His arms broke her barrier and crushed her warm against his chest, his gaze saying everything his words had promised. “Say that I loved cutting you out of that dress and watching the way your back curved against the fabric? Say that watching you flirt with that kid killed me and thrilled me in the same instant? Say that making love to you is the sweetest, hottest, most perfect thing I’ve ever done?”
How could he melt every thought of what her future should be just like that? Could he really love her? A man like him? She narrowed her eyes at him and tried for a frown. “Tell me you fit with me. That my plan was a waste of time.”
“I’ll never say that.”
Maya tried to pull away but he held her close. “Your plan might not have turned out quite the way you expected, but it brought me to you. So I’ll never knock your plan. I love you Maya Taylor.”
She looked at him from under her lashes. “I love you too.”
“About time. You sure know how to keep a man guessing, don’t you?”
She batted at his arm, wanting to be reassured that he was real. “I don’t know what comes next but we can start from right here can’t we?”
“We absolutely can.” Then he grinned. “So if you really do love me. I have a plan of my own. A right now plan”
“A right now plan?” she asked.
Dominic pushed her back onto the sofa bed. “I guess it’s more like a parable than a plan really.”
Maya smiled. “And how’s that?”
“Well it includes a lot more lessons and way less talk. You okay with that?”
“I think I’m about ready to let go of planning for a while and live a little.”
“Sounds perfect.” As his lips came down over hers Maya couldn’t agree more. Plan or no plan, this was perfect.
Enjoy Maya’s story? Want more? Grab the first in the Hot Tide series now:
Another Shot with Summer
He broke her heart like a cheap surfboard…can he win her back?
After an accident stole his surfing career, Ashton Evans has a chance to reinvent his life by photographing the leaders of the World Surfing League. The problem? Summer Roberts is his first client.
Now the woman he can’t forget is spending long, hot Indonesian days in front of his lens. In a bikini. And worse, she’s steaming up his nights.
But no matter how tempting Summer is, Ashton must keep his hands to himself. For the sake of her career, Summer is pretending she’s still in a relationship with someone else.
Being seen with Ashton could blow her chance at making it onto the World Surfing League leader board for good. But with their attraction as unstoppable as one of the giant ocean waves that rule their lives, will they be tumbled under by it? Or will Ashton finally get his second shot with Summer?
Get ready for a wet, hot ride.
Grab it now
And next in the Hot Tide Series is Brooke’s story:
Wrong Brother for Brooke.
If he is the wrong brother, then why does this feel so right?
When a woman slithers into his hot tub, Kainui Keahi thanks the Kahuna gods for providing the mermaid of his dreams. But when it becomes clear it was his brother she was looking for, not him, he does the honorable thing and sits on his hands while she flees. The woman is impetuous, driven, and all kinds of wrong for him. But he can't shake the feeling her body is meant to be his.
Brooke doesn't have time to be embarrassed about a misplaced fondle in the dark. She's headed for World Surfing League glory, her eyes focused on winning the surfing competition. Until she dislocates her shoulder.
Kainui is assigned as her physiotherapist and Brooke struggles to accept he'll get her skin under his hands once more. But when Kainui whisks her away from the competition and shows her a different side of Indonesia, their doctor/patient relationship is in danger of becoming something deeper, and hotter. Perhaps Brooke got the right brother after all...
Preorder now
About Michele De Winton
Michele loves sunshine, chardonnay, (preferably together), chocolate, beaches, trees, great vegetarian food, steamy writing and happy endings. She’s been known to be an all-round arty type, dancing and producing theatre around the globe so it's no wonder that her first romance had a little sparkle of the stage tucked into its pages.
Being a writer was not what she was supposed to be when she ‘grew up' but then neither was being a dancer. Her poor parents. They thought that when she toddled off to law school they'd bred a responsible, useful adult and instead they got a performer and word junkie. Sometimes her performing past jumps into the dress up box and requires attention. But most of the time she’s content to stay in her PJs. All day. She writes surrounded by the whisper of trees from her home in New Zealand and with only intermittent interruptions from her two young sons and husband.
(Okay more like regular interruptions, but dreaming is free.)
You can check out her other work or get in touch at www.micheledewinton.com
Thanks so much for reading! To find out more about Michele and other work ranging from Motorcycle Crews and Big City Billionaires to Dream Destination Romantic Comedy, follow Michele on Facebook, Instagram or twitter or sign up to her newsletter for updates, giveaways and bonus reads.
Making over Maya (Hot Tide Book 2) Page 18
