law driving to see Zoey. Over the last two weeks, he’d kept his distance. Dawson understood she needed some time to come to terms with everything that had happened, but he didn’t enjoy being away from her. He needed her to know how he felt, but he’d yet to tell her out of fear his admission would frighten her. Hell, admitting it to himself was scary enough.
His heart beat wildly when he pulled into the driveway. Zoey sat on the top step, her fiery red hair blowing in the slight breeze coming off the ocean.
She stood to greet him as he stepped out of his truck. “Dawson.”
“Zoey,” he tugged her into his arms, wrapping her in a tight hold. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
She snuggled against him, inhaling his fresh scent. It was a mixture of wood and laundry detergent. “Want to take a walk with me?”
Dawson laced their fingers together, tugging her along the sidewalk that led down to the beach. Zoey paused, slipping her shoes off, and tossed them to the beach. Dawson followed suit and rolled his pant legs up.
“How have you been?”
“Lost.” Zoey glanced at the horizon.
“What do you mean, lost?”
“Everything that’s happened has my whole life flipped upside down. I don’t even know where to begin.”
“How about at the beginning? I know this is hard, but Zoey—you can start over. I’ll help you.”
She narrowed her eyes as she tilted her head and looked at him. “Why would you do that, Dawson?”
He spun her to face him. “Zoey, meeting you has been the single best thing to happen to me in a long time. And this stupid fire isn’t going to derail this relationship.”
“Relationship? Is that what we have?”
She held her breath, fear holding her hostage as she waited for his response.
“Yes… relationship. Look, Zoey. I planned on telling you on our date, but the fire fucked that up. I’m falling in love with you… and I don’t want to miss out on seeing what could become of us together.”
Zoey blinked her eyes. “You’re falling in love with me?”
“No…I mean yes—actually,” Dawson pressed a kiss to her lips, “I am in love with you, Zoey. And I realize it may be too soon for you, but I needed you to know how I felt.”
Zoey’s eyes misted with tears. Lost for words, all she could do was stare at him. Dawson had saved her life. Not just from the fire, but from a life of never being loved.
“I…,” she sucked in a breath, “I’m in love with you, too.” Her words carried along with the breeze as it whipped through her hair.
“What?” Dawson cupped her cheeks. “You love me too?”
She nodded, “Yes…now what?”
“Come home with me. Let me make you dinner. Spend the night with me, please.”
“I’ve never seen your place.”
“Because we never seemed to make it out of yours.” He laughed.
Zoey grumbled. “Well, that’s not a problem anymore.”
He gripped her chin. “Hey… none of that. We’ll put things back together. I promise.”
She sighed, her eyes closing. “You’re right. Let me go gather some things and let my mother know. She’ll worry if I just leave and not tell her.”
“I’d like to say hello, anyway.”
Zoey started toward the house, but Dawson halted her movement. He captured her lips in a searing kiss that sent fire straight to her core. Her womb clenched with need, her center burning for his touch.
“Now, we can go.”
Dawson and Zoey hurried up the pathway together. After speaking with her mother and giving her time to gather some clothes, Zoey watched the scenery as they drove towards Dawson’s.
“I live on the other side of town. When I moved here, I bought a little two-bedroom bungalow on the water. It’s like your mom’s… just not as big.”
“How did we never come here before?” Zoey’s eyes were wide with wonder as she took in the tiny home he called his. It was charming and had the most beautiful view of the water.
“It was on the to-do list.” He smiled, cutting off the engine. “Let me give you a tour.”
“Dawson… as much as I’d like a tour of the place,” She bit her bottom lip, “The only room I care about right now is your bedroom.”