“You sure I can’t get you a croissant or something?”
Aldo waves his hand across my face and asks again, “Helloooo … earth to Sabine, you want something to eat? You look like shit. When’s the last time you slept?”
My eyes drift to his. “No, I’m okay. Actually, I need to get back to work.”
He looks annoyed, throws his arms up in the air, and says too loudly, “You’re a fucking recluse. All you do is work to avoid feeling anything, Sabine! You haven’t been out with us in months and if you don’t get your act together and patch things up with Roark soon, I’m gonna take a flight up there and do it for you, ’cause your moping is fucking up all our good vibes! And believe me, what I just said is what all of us are thinking.”
I frown at him, knowing he’s right and silently hoping that it’s not too late for what I have in mind. My actions caused him to walk out of my life, and I need to fix it, but I have to be prepared. Who could blame him if he’s moved on to someone else by now?
“Well?”
I shrug and lean in, practically hissing, “Well what, Aldo? Christ, can you please just let me handle this?”
“Screw that! You could’ve invited him to live with you, Sabine. Ever think of that possibility?”
“No, that wouldn’t be fair. He just started a new life there, and it was exactly what he needed after all the hell he’s been through. His semi wouldn’t even fit on my street! Please, Aldo, trust me to make my own decisions; I assure you that I have it covered. Can we change up the topic?”
He shakes his head, mumbling something about women being headstrong. Leaning back, he balances the chair on two legs, fingers twined around the back of his neck and says, “Ben’s having a cookout tonight at seven. We’re all hoping you’ll show.”
Finally … Something other than Roark.
Even the mention of his name feels like a hot brand on my heart.
Before I can answer, the chair drops forward and he leans around me to look out the wide picture window of the café. Eyes gleaming, he exclaims, “Whoa! Take a look at those massive dogs.”
I twist around to see what’s gotten him so excited. All the air leaves my lungs in a rushing whoosh as I stare in shock. Not fifteen feet away, leashed to a bench, are Gauge and Flynn, tongues hanging out, happily allowing anyone who passes by to pet them.
Before I have a chance to look for him, that smooth, familiar voice that has infiltrated my thoughts for months now floats down to me through the crowded café, “Hello Sabine.”
I swivel back around and stare up into his face, that magnificent face that sets my body on fire with one glance.
Aldo leaps to his feet, grinning. Offering Roark a firm handshake, he says, “Holy shit! Good to see you again, man. You in town long?”
Roark smiles confidently. “Yeah, actually I am, Aldo. Meeting with a realtor later today to hopefully find a new house over on the Gallatin River.”
My jaw drops as Aldo slaps Roark on the back. “No fucking shit! That’s awesome, brother. You’re gonna love it here. Gonna make it my mission to show you around. Damn, you’ll have to come over to Ben’s tonight to celebrate. Gotta run. You two obviously have a lot of catching up to do so I’ll leave you to it. Later, Roark. See you tonight, Sabine.”
He pins me with a ‘told you so’ sly grin and disappears through the crowded café before I can tell him goodbye.
I’m still trying to process what’s happening when Roark pulls out a chair. “Mind if I sit with you?”
I stumble across my words, sounding awkward and nervous. “No, of course not. Here, please.”
I’m hoping beyond hope that this is it, the turning point, my shot at repairing the damage.
He leans across the small black table, reaching for my hand. Giving it a tight squeeze, he says quietly, “Missed you bad, baby. Just came from your shop. Your friend Trisha sent me here.”
My body is humming with excitement as I gush, “Roark … oh God, it’s so good to see you. I didn’t know if we’d ever see each other again. Especially after how things went ….”
His eyes are blazing with what I read as joy and desire as he tells me, “Hey … I did. And I just needed time to figure out how to make it so those gorgeous eyes of yours stare just like that across from me in bed each and every morning. I got your voicemail last night when I was on the way here. Not gonna lie, shocked the hell outta me. Took everything I had not to call you right back, but I wanted to surprise you in person. It wasn’t right of me to ask you to drop everything you’ve worked for to start a new life in Alaska. Now, enough of the sentimental bullshit … you wanna come with me to check out some listings? It’s the house I hope you’ll live in with me someday soon.”
I can’t hold back the laughter. My shoulders are shaking as I ask through the giggles, “This is so surreal. Do you want to know why I called you after so many months, Roark?”
He looks confused. “Why?”
“Because I realized that life is about give and take, and that is especially true with love. My work, my life, all of it is lacking and empty without you in it, so I took the initiative and hired another assistant in hopes that your offer still stands. I could live part of the year with you in Alaska and maybe when your schedule is really hectic, I could run my business from Bozeman and spend time with my family. I’ve made huge strides in my therapy and only go as needed now. I want a future for us, and I’m willing to do my part to make that happen. That’s why I called.”
He looks shocked at first, not saying anything. Long seconds pass before he says softly, “You’d do that for me?”
I lean across so only he can hear me whisper, “My heart can’t function without you.”
“Sabine?”
“Yes?”
“Get your fine ass in my lap … now, angel.”
Passion explodes inside me as I practically leap out of my chair to throw my arms around him, kissing him with everything I have.
He could care less that we’re surrounded by people. He grabs me possessively as his lips take charge, drawing out the kiss. Then, nuzzling my cheek, he murmurs, “You’re everything to me. Would’ve been here sooner but as usual, work has had me going non-stop, that and the house was on the market. Just sold it a week ago. The boys and I packed up and here we are, ready to chase our dreams. So there’s no need for you to go anywhere now. Still, you should keep your new assistant ’cause I got a feeling my girl’s bound and determined to set the eBay world on fire.”
I whisper into his ear, “Roark, I knew I was in love with you from that first morning we cooked pancakes together. That love has only intensified since we’ve been apart. I just never thought we’d be so lucky to have it work out between us. I never wanted you to give up your dreams of living in Alaska.”
He kisses my cheek, ignoring the smiles from the nearby customers as he stares into my eyes. “My dreams, my hope for the future, are right here, Sabine.”
I snuggle into that delicious heat, breathing in his scent, the one I’ve longed for desperately these past lonely months.
Finally he asks, “Can you get some free time the first of August?”
“I think so. For how long?”
“A week, maybe a few days longer.”
“I’ll make it happen. Why?”
Looking like an excited kid on Christmas morning, he rushes to say, “I’m taking us to Tahiti.”
My breath catches, and before I can form a response, he leans in, cupping the back of my neck and pulling me in for a soft, lazy kiss that leaves me with that crazy feeling of intoxication I’ve missed so terribly. He stops only to whisper against my lips, “Always thought of going there, and there’s no place on earth I’d rather kick back and admire your gorgeous body in a bikini. So, is that a definite ‘yes,’ my sweet angel? If so, I’m booking everything tonight … hopefully buck-ass naked with you in bed.”
I glance around, mortified that people around us have heard him before whispering, “You realize that you are completely crazy, right?”
“Yup, been told that countless times. So, you haven’t answered me. Will you be my sexy Tahitian princess?”
I press my forehead to his. My heart is in full gallop as I tell him, “I’d follow you anywhere; you’re that magnetic.”
“That’s real good, sweetheart, ’cause I’m on a mission to make sure you’re always smiling that radiant smile of yours. Missed it real bad, baby.”
The endearing look in his eyes tells me that he means the tender statement with every fiber of his being.
Tilting my head, I press my lips against his, silently telling him how incredibly special he is. The kiss begins to turn heated, slick tongues sneaking out to probe and explore. Finally we both reluctantly pull away.
His breathing is uneven as he asks, “So, how ’bout it? Ready to go house hunting with me, Sabine?”
I grab hold of his hand and slide off his lap, exclaiming, “Absolutely. And you know what?”
“Tell me, gorgeous.”
“It’s a perfect day for it.”