The Last One(93)

“I have been sad.” I shoved my sunglasses to the top of my head and looked out over the waves. “But I’m not wary, exactly. I’m just ... curious.”

He drew in a deep breath. “I drove down here because Ali says I’m an idiot. She says everyone can tell that I’m in love with you, but I’m the only one who can act on it. Who can tell you.” He stared into my eyes. “So that’s why I’m here. To tell you ... I love you, Meghan. I don’t want you to leave. Or more accurately, I want you to come back. I’ve been miserable without you.”

Tears pooled in my eyes. “Did Ali make you come down?”

He shook his head. “No. She only pointed out to me how unfair it was that I hadn’t been honest with you.” He shifted on the towel, and I could tell he was nervous. “I don’t want to pressure you. I just wanted you to know. So you can make an informed decision.”

I bit back the surge of joy that was rising in my chest. “Interestingly, I just had a conversation with my brother, during which time he informed me that I needed to tell you how I feel. He says I can’t be mad at you for not being open with me if I’m not telling you about my own feelings.” I glanced at Sam sideways. “Word is I haven’t been the happiest person since I got back here, either.”

A smile spread over Sam’s face. “I am always in favor of sisters listening to their brother’s advice. So you should probably tell me everything.”

I swallowed. “I broke our rule, Sam. I didn’t mean to, but I did. I fell in love with you, and I don’t want to leave you.”

Before the last word left my lips, Sam was on top of me, pressing me into the towel. His mouth angled over mine, and his tongue thrust between my lips. I hummed in pleasure as I matched his movements with my own, slipping my hands under his shirt to revel in those muscles I loved to touch.

“Don’t ever leave me again, okay?” He kissed down my neck, between my breasts. “And God, Meghan, look at this bathing suit.” He glanced up and down the beach. “What if guys saw you in this?”

I giggled, threading my hands through the hair in the back of his head. “Pretty sure they have. This is a beach, Sam. This is what we wear here.”

“Nope.” He shook his head and covered the exposed slope of my boob with his mouth. “These are for me only. Mine.” He held my chin between two fingers. “You understand? You’re mine. For always.”

I covered his hands with my own. “As long as you understand that it goes both ways.” I slid my hands down his body to grip his backside. “Mine. For always.”

Sam dropped his head against my shoulder and sighed into my hair. “It’s a deal.” He pushed up again and looked down at me, brushing a strand of hair from my cheek. “When can I take you home?”

I smiled. Home. I realized it didn’t matter where that was, because as long as Sam was there, I’d be content.

“I’d like you to meet my mom and Logan. Joseph ... oh, did you meet him already?”

Sam nodded. “Yeah, and his wife, too. Nice people.” He wrapped me in his arms, dragging me onto his lap. “And I’ll meet anyone you want, but I want to get you alone, too. If we sit out here like this too long, I’m going to embarrass you. Everything shows in these shorts.”

I trailed one hand down his stomach. “Everything? I like that idea. You can’t hide anything from me.”

“Never will.” He framed my face. “Meghan, I love you. I want forever with you. I hope forever can be on the farm in Georgia, but if that doesn’t work for you, I’ll figure out something else. But you come first. Before the farm, before Ali and Bridget. It’s you and me.”

I leaned in to kiss his lips. “You are my forever, Sam. I can’t imagine living anywhere else but on the farm, with your sister and Bridge, but like you said, the where doesn’t matter. It’s you.” I smiled and laced our fingers together. “You’re the catch I won’t toss back.”

He growled low in his throat. “Better not. Because I’ll come back for you every time.”

I looked up into his face, so filled with love, and I stroked his jaw. “I think I knew from the first time I opened my eyes and looked up at you. It felt like coming home.”

He grinned down at me. “I didn’t tell you the whole truth, you know. About that first night. I did hear what you said. You looked at me, touched my face and said, ‘Oh, it’s you.’ Like you already knew me.”

I held him tight and whispered into his ear. “It is you, Sam. It’ll always be you.”