Beautiful Ties (22 page)

I must have taken at least fifty pictures as something new always caught my gaze. While walking around, I told Jason more about our family plans for Sunday and how we were going to be playing water volleyball. I also informed him that Pearl would be joining us. He thought it was a great idea, and I was elated that he agreed.

Jason and I spotted the main strip and continued to head north down the street, ambling along with our hands twined together. A row of shops appeared on our left, and I tugged Jason toward them. My shopaholic mind quickly consumed my thoughts.

“Where are we going?” Jason laughed, following my lead.

“Shopping!” I beamed excitedly, gesturing in the direction of the beach shop.

“Oh no,” he stated teasingly, quirking a brow my way. “That sounds like it has disaster written all over it. Just remember, we came here on a bike with only two saddlebags, so you’re limited.”

“Don’t worry, I only have a few things in mind,” I replied as we entered the building. “I’d like to find Pearl a cute outfit to wear to my parents’ house and maybe a souvenir.”

“Uh-huh.” He chortled as we entered the building. “I have a feeling that list will keep getting longer with every second we’re in here.”

“Probably,” I murmured, getting distracted as my gaze took in the inside of the store.

It was packed wall-to-wall with clothing and goodies. I was in awe, dreamily looking around.

“Let’s shop,” I nearly squealed, yanking him farther into the aisle.

Jason followed me around as I made quick selections. I found the most adorable pink flowered sundress and a white two-piece bathing suit for Pearl. I really didn’t know her size or style. I only knew her favorite color, so I hoped she would like it. Still in the youth section, I grabbed a purple T-shirt that read,
Sand Harbor
, on the front. I paired it with a pretty pair of blue jean shorts that had ruffled white lace along the bottom edge. I wandered over to the jewelry section and chose two metal charm bracelets for Pearl and a necklace for myself. They were too cute to resist.

I moved on to the women’s area and selected an eye-catching silver-and-black cotton summer dress for myself. I even lucked out when I discovered a pair of sandals that matched the dress flawlessly. I grinned inwardly, loving it when an outfit came together so well.

Jason was standing to my left, rummaging through a rack of women’s swimsuits. He lifted a black bikini off the rack and turned, slightly jiggling it at me. His eyes shimmered suggestively.

“This one definitely has my vote,” he said huskily. A huge grin was plastered on his face. He glanced back at the material, eyeing it. Then, before I could speak, he said, “Yep, I can picture exactly how your round ass will fill these bottoms out.” He pulled his lower lip into his mouth.

I felt my cheeks heat at his forwardness, and I instantly scanned the store. I let out a relieved sigh when I found no one was paying any attention to us. I regarded the black bikini in his hands. It had a halter-top that dipped to a V in the front, and the bottoms had two small silver loops that rested over each hipbone. He had great taste.

“Well, since it is cute, and it’s stamped with Jason’s ass approval, I’ll get it,” I said, extending my hand for the apparel.

Jason playfully lifted his hand just out of my reach. “Damn right, it’s ass approved.” He winked and bent forward to place a chaste kiss on my lips. He briefly sucked on my lower lip, and then he drew back, handing me the bathing suit.

My breathing was slightly labored as I made eye contact with him. Those sky-blue eyes of his twinkled devilishly.

“Now, it’s time for me to go and find myself a pair of trunks for this volleyball match you speak of,” he added, walking off.

And just like that, the man had left me hanging with only one kiss.

Damn him.

Hands full, I hustled after him. “Oh no,” I stated good-naturedly. “If you get to choose what bathing suit I wear, then you better believe that I’m picking yours, too,” I retorted.

Jason glanced over his shoulder at me. “All right, but if you make me look like a dork, I have the right to refuse,” he scoffed, entering the men’s area.

I paused a few inches in front of him, so I could see the entire left wall that contained a large variety of trunks. I considered them all, and then I grinned when I found the ugliest pair. In the third row down, one had a striped pattern of blue, green, and white. It was a horrible combination of colors.

I couldn’t resist my natural instinct to razz him at least once as I lifted my hand and pointed. “I’m bettin’ you would look smokin’ hot in those,” I joked.

A hand came down on my behind, making me yelp under my breath, and a pleasant shiver raced down my spine. When I lowered to my heels, the firm wall of his chest was pressed against me.

Jason bent forward slightly. “Tsk-tsk,” he hummed impishly in my ear. “And here I thought we were playing nice.” He chuckled. “I’ll give you one more chance to pick out the pair I’m thinking of, and if you get it wrong, it’s an automatic dunk in your parents’ pool tomorrow,” he added, raising the bar.

I tilted my head back at him. “You’d have to catch me first.”

His laugh was richer this time, and his eyes darkened with challenge—the very same look he’d given me when he caught the garter at Kyle and Lily’s wedding. “Baby, we both know I’ll get you into that pool one way or another, but it’s your call.”

I bit my lip, deliberating, as I gazed back at the wall. My eyes went right to another pair of atrocious trunks that were bright green with yellow Hawaiian flowers. If it weren’t for the horrible shades of colors, they had the potential to be a nice-looking pair of shorts. I stifled back my humor, unable to back down from his challenge. I would just have to avoid him in the pool all day tomorrow.

“Those,” I said, motioning to the ugly flowered pair.

“Oh, Abbey,” he said, having a good laugh. “You asked for it now. Consider yourself thoroughly dunked tomorrow,” he said in my ear.

Then, he bypassed me to seize the exact pair I would have chosen for him.

The Under Armour swim shorts were solid black with only a white stitch added to create an appealing design around the waist and zipper. He would look hot in them tomorrow.

I raised my brow at him as he returned. “That was my next choice,” I teased.

“Uh-huh.” He chortled throatily. “Let’s go check out before you find anything else to add to your never-ending list.”

At the register, Jason insisted on paying, saying it was his day to spoil me. I smiled warmly at him while expressing my gratitude. Men I had briefly dated over the years usually never offered to foot a bill. Some of them hadn’t even paid for dinner, so I was extremely grateful for the change of pace. I told him the next time we went out, dinner would be on me.

Jason carried the bags as we made our way back to his motorcycle. We needed to get back on the road since we still had a long route still ahead of us.

As we neared his Super Glide, his attention bounced back and forth between his saddlebags and our purchases. “I have no idea how all of this will fit into those two small side pouches,” he said with wonder, handing me our bags. He crouched down and unclasped the leather straps on the bike.

“Psh, don’t you worry.” I shrugged, waving my hand at him. “I’ll make it fit. You’ll see,” I added, switching positions with him.

“This, I gotta see,” he responded, leaning back against his Harley in his signature pose, crossing one leg over the other.

I returned my gaze to the saddlebags, noticing one was already half full with a leather jacket, a flashlight, and an emergency kit.

“Hmm…” I folded a few of the items and neatly placed what I could in the first side. “You didn’t tell me you already had stuff in here.”

Jason chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. “I might have accidently left that part out.”

“I see that,” I teased.

I went around to the other side of the Super Glide and saw a pair of leather chaps taking up half of the second compartment. I couldn’t help but wonder what his ass would look like in all that premium leather clinging to his muscular body. My thoughts filled with lewd images of him wearing them.

“You were holding out on me,” I said, pointing to the chaps. “You never told me you owned a pair of these. Why aren’t you wearing them?”

“I only wear them when it’s cold. You’ll get to see them on me in a few weeks.” He grinned impishly at me.

The facial expression he was giving me sent all my blood rushing south.

“For the first time ever, I can say I’m looking forward to fall,” I responded, mirroring his smirk.

“Don’t worry. I’m getting you a pair, so I can see that gorgeous ass of yours in them.”

“Good to know.” I winked as I smiled at him.

I rotated back to start folding the rest of the clothing as tightly as I could manage, and I suddenly started thinking about what our future held. Another few weeks would be here and gone before I knew it.
I pondered over where we could be at that time in our blossoming relationship.

Since he had been staying at my condo nearly every night, we very well could be living together by then. He already had clothes in my closet, and he had been using the armoire that had previously been empty. I gently set the last item into the saddlebag while losing myself in all the many possibilities for us. Part of me wanted to officially ask him to move in, but the other said it was too soon.

Would it be such a big deal to make our living arrangement permanent?

“You look lost over there,” Jason said softly, breaking my concentration. “What are you thinking about?”

My heart leaped into my throat, pausing a beat, and then it began hammering with more force in my chest. I nervously rose to my feet and moved to stand in front of him, clenching and unclenching my palms that were beginning to feel sweaty. He eased his legs apart, making room for me, and I settled between them.

“Um…” I stalled, wanting to find the right words. For some reason, I never seemed to be good at choosing them. I decided that honesty was always the best policy. “I was thinking about our future,” I vaguely added, testing his reaction before I elaborated any further. I waited for his eyes to widen in shock or fear or for him to laugh at the idea since it was so soon in our relationship.

But he didn’t.

His eyes were soft and considerate, never breaking contact with mine. He extended his arms to me, drawing me closer. “And?” he breathed.

The way he was looking at me pulled me in as if forcing myself to admit how much he had come to mean to me. I was falling hard and fast, and it scared me senseless.

This moment was not one of those times when I could hold back. I wanted him to kiss me good night every night, and I wanted to wake up next to him each day, knowing he belonged by my side. I wanted him to stay through all of the good times and even the bad.

I wanted it all with him.

Because I was in love with him.

Surely, I couldn’t voice that quite yet. So, I would have to start with the easier of my two recent revelations. I let out a deep breath that I must have been holding for eternity as I became aware that he was still waiting for my response. “I want us to move in together.”

His eyes penetrated me with thoughtfulness glowing in them. “Going to bed and waking up with you in my arms every day?” He smiled. “I’d like that…a lot.”

The weight of his words and mutual feelings impacted me deeply.

If we weren’t in public, I would have tackled him to the ground right then and there.

“Really?” I asked goofily. I couldn’t believe the profound happiness I felt inside could possibly be real.

“Yes.” He nodded, caressing his hands along my hips with the familiar gentleness he always seemed to have with me. “There is nowhere else I’d rather be than with you.”

“But what about your apartment?” I asked out of the blue, realizing I had never even seen it before.

Jason shrugged. “Most of my stuff is still in boxes, and what isn’t packed”—he grinned—“is already in your closet.”

I stood there, dazed in a trance, beaming over the fact that this was really going to happen. We were going to move in together.

“I’ll talk to the owner and see what he wants to do about the lease. I don’t foresee him having any trouble leasing it to someone else,” he added.

All I could do was smile. My cheeks were beginning to ache.

“Since I seem to have stunned you speechless, get over here and kiss me,” he demanded lovingly, yanking me into him.

I gently threw my arms around his nape, mindful of the bike we were leaning against, and I kissed him. As if reading my mind, he snuck his tongue into my mouth, and I gave myself over to our passionate embrace. Sparks ignited within me, and I felt as if I might burst with glee. His hands tightened around my sides, grasping me as though he never wanted to let me go.

A loud whistle made me break our connection. I spun around to see two teenagers snickering, but other than them, the coast was clear. I blushed and rotated back to Jason, who was sporting a satisfied look on his face. Jason stood to his full height and kissed my temple just once. I sighed, wishing we were alone so that I could ravish him.

“Come on, Abbey.” He chuckled. “Let’s ride.”

As we continued riding, I found myself cuddling against him, reveling over the freedom I had to touch his muscular stomach beneath my hands. I easily could have let go and stayed perfectly balanced on my seat.

But where is the fun in that?

I smiled, knowing I was one lucky girl.