Read, Write, Love (Love in Bloom: The Remingtons, Book 5) Contemporary Romance (18 page)

KURT’S LAST DAYS on the Cape flew by too fast for Leanna. She wanted to draw them out and eke out every second she could with Kurt. Between preparing for the meeting with Daisy Chain, working with Bella, Jenna, and Amy to figure out how to put a WordPress website together—which was a two-bottle-of-wine job—and spending time with Kurt, she felt the end of summer closing in on her. He’d gone to his house earlier in the day and closed it up for the summer, since he was going back to New York straight from Jack’s wedding in Colorado, and when he’d returned, she’d seen a shadow of sadness in his eyes.

She and Kurt had spent their time at her cottage so she could also have time with the girls, and she appreciated that concession. He seemed content anywhere as long as they were together, and it was one of the things she loved most about him. It was surprising how similar they really were.

They were packing the car with blankets and beach chairs to go to the drive-in theater Wednesday evening when Bella and Jenna stopped by, still dressed in their bathing suits and sundresses.

“Drive-in?” Bella eyed the blankets.

“Yeah. Should be fun. Kurt’s never been.” Leanna watched Kurt coming up the road with Pepper, and she was touched by how he’d come to care for her dog. “He’s a good guy, huh?”

“You’re kidding, right? He’s amazing.”

“Yeah. I know. I’m so lucky.”

Jenna sidled up to Leanna. “Why don’t you take the van and get down and dirty at the drive-in like a couple of teenagers?”

Leanna laughed. “I swear, we are like a couple of teenagers, but I really just want to cuddle up beside him tonight. I hate that he’s leaving tomorrow.” She closed the trunk of his car and then whispered, “Besides, we can get down and dirty in the cottage later.”

Jenna smirked. “Just remember to close your windows.”

Leanna blushed. She and Kurt had forgotten to close the windows on Monday evening, and Jenna had been armed with a litany of jokes the next morning.

“No worries there, eavesdropper.”

“Eavesdropper? Please, they heard you in P-town.” Bella put an arm around Leanna and the other around Jenna. “I’m going to miss you guys this winter. Maybe we should plan a get-together over the holidays.”

“We talk about that every year, but with our schedules…” Jenna reminded her. “Maybe we’ll get together for Kurt and Leanna’s wedding.”

“You guys have it all figured out, don’t you?” Leanna reached for Kurt’s hand as he approached.
Yeah, I’d so marry you.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Oh God. I would. I really would.

“Hey, babe. Ready to grab dinner?” He ran his hand through his hair and glanced at Bella and Jenna. “You guys live in your bathing suits.”

“Why not?” Bella twirled in her dress. “We have to leave this weekend, so we’re making the most of it.”

“You’ll take good care of my girl, won’t you?”

He said it teasingly, but Leanna knew he liked that they were there with her. He’d told her last night that he was glad she had people who cared about her as much as he did.

“You know it,” Bella answered.

“If you were dressed and if Leanna didn’t mind, I’d invite you to come with us.” He glanced at Leanna.

“You would?” She could cuddle with him and spend time with the girls—
a perfect night
.

“I’m sure I’m not the only one who is going to miss you when we leave, so sure, why not?” He shrugged.

Amy came out of her cottage and crouched down beside Pepper to love him up. “Hi, guys.”

“Do you guys want to come?” Leanna asked.

“Heck, yeah,” Bella answered. “Amy, drive-in with Kurt and Leanna?”

“On their last date night? We can’t do that.” Amy squinted and shook her head like they’d lost their minds. She was always the voice of reason.

“I’m going to be with Leanna every night after she comes to New York. I’d feel guilty if I didn’t share one of her last nights with you guys.” He folded Leanna in his arms. “Unless there’s something I don’t know about the drive-in.” He nuzzled against her neck.

“See? I told you.” Jenna adjusted her dress over her cleavage.

“Told you what?” Kurt asked.

Leanna felt her cheeks warm. “Nothing. Jenna’s being dirty.”

“I told her to take the van and make out in the back during the movie.” Jenna grinned.

“Now, that does sound fun.” He kissed Leanna again, and a shiver ran down her back. “Really, she has very little time with you guys. You decide. I’m easy. I’m going to run inside and grab a drink of water before we go.”

“Hear that? He’s easy.” Jenna watched him walk inside.

Leanna slapped her arm. “Hey, he’s taken.” She knew from spending time with him that he was anything but
easy
. Whether they were out in public or spending time in private, if he wasn’t writing, Leanna was the focus of his attention. She glanced at Pepper panting at the door, watching Kurt.
Me and Pepper
. Leanna had thought that her life would include only her, Pepper, and her Seaside friends for years to come, and she was so glad to have been wrong.

HAVING NEVER BEEN to the Wellfleet Drive-In, Kurt wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t kids running around on the playground equipment and families backing their trucks and vans into parking places and piling in under blankets and pillows like one big slumber party, or setting up beach chairs behind their cars with blankets spread out on the asphalt and coolers full of food.

The drive-in played a family-friendly movie at eight o’clock and a movie for adults at ten fifteen. When Leanna had first mentioned that she wanted to watch both movies, he’d questioned the decision. He wasn’t exactly a kid movie type of guy. In fact, he couldn’t remember ever being into kids’ movies, even as a boy, but she said it was part of the drive-in experience, and he’d agreed, because she was, after all, Leanna. He’d brought his computer, and if the children’s movie was too painful to watch, he could start outlining his next book while she watched the first movie. He’d sent his manuscript to Jackie earlier in the day, and he’d touched base with Blue and was happy that the work was taking shape. Now he was looking forward to relaxing and watching the second movie,
Prisoners
with Hugh Jackman.

Leanna drove her van so they could all ride together, and she expertly backed into a parking place; then Bella, Amy, and Jenna jumped out of the van and joined her in setting up the beach chairs, complete with pillows, blankets, and bowls of snacks. Kurt and Pepper watched them create a comfortable slumber party of their own, and the whole scene made him smile.

The couple to their right had two small children, both dressed in pajamas. He heard the father tell the children that after the movie, they would go to sleep in the van and they’d drive home after
Mommy and Daddy
watched their movie.

What have I been missing?

He wouldn’t have pegged himself as a guy who might enjoy this type of Brady Bunch environment, with the noise and the chaos of lines and crowds hanging out by the snack bar. Now, here with Leanna, he found himself wondering what it might be like to bring his own children there one day.
Their children
.

Kurt left his computer in the van and joined the others on the chairs behind the van. Pepper settled in by his feet. It was a dark night with very few stars, and when the enormous movie screen came to life, it lit up the parking lot. The din of the crowds quieted as information about the theater, including emergency exits from the parking lot and a snack bar commercial that must have been shot in the 1960s filled the screen. Leanna’s eyes were wide, and the hint of a smile played across her lips. Jenna, Bella, and Amy sat with popcorn in between them, eyes glued to the previews. The brisk night air carried the scent of popcorn, and every now and again a parent could be heard shushing their child. Kurt probably would have gone forever without seeing a drive-in movie, and it would have been a shame. This…Being with friends and family, coming together without a computer or the Internet, but in real life, in real time…This was more meaningful than the extra hours he’d spent on his manuscript throughout the years. Leanna had opened another door to the world for him. There were probably a hundred things he had scoffed at over the years that, with Leanna, he might see differently, and he couldn’t wait to try them all.

Disney’s
Frozen
was playing, and by the middle of the movie, Leanna had moved her blankets in front of Kurt’s chair and built herself a comforter platform so she could sit between his legs and lean back against his chest.

And he loved it.

The coconut and berry scent of her shampoo—which he now knew was Aussie Aussome Volume and came in a purple bottle—and the feel of her body pressed against him in a relaxed, completely content manner, was something he’d never forget.

He remembered the picture for Siena and pulled his phone from his pocket.

“Do you mind if I take a picture for my sister?”

Leanna climbed right up on his lap. “Bella,” she whispered, then waved her closer. “Take our picture on his phone?”

Bella wore a sweatshirt that looked two sizes too big along with a pair of jeans. Her hair fell thick and wild around her face. She squinted as she lined up the picture. “Okay, smile.”

Leanna quickly planted a kiss on Kurt’s cheek.

“Perfect!” Bella laughed.

“Sneak,” he teased.

Jenna and Amy ran behind Kurt’s chair and crouched.

“Take another,” Jenna hollered.

“Shh,” Amy chided her.

Bella snapped a few more pictures.

“Want me to take one with all of you?” the man to their left asked.

Bella handed him Kurt’s phone. “Yes, please.” Then she crouched beside Leanna, and the stranger took a few more pictures.

“Thank you.” Bella retrieved the phone, and the girls giggled at the pictures.

In each picture, except for the one with Leanna’s surprise kiss, Kurt was caught looking at Leanna, and even he could see the love in his eyes.

I’m a goner
.

Bella and the girls texted the picture from his phone to each of theirs, and eventually the phone ended up back in his hand. He texted a few pictures to Siena.

“I love you,” he whispered to Leanna.

“I saw it in the pictures.” She caressed his cheek, and he leaned in to her palm. “Besides, you must to put up with my friends.”

She curled up on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, then rested her cheek on his shoulder.

“I could stay like this forever.”

Forever sounded pretty damn good to him.

THEY RETURNED TO the cottage after midnight, and Kurt wondered how in the hell he was supposed to accept this night as their last night together until Monday. He wanted to wrap himself around Leanna and remain there until, by some act of magic, it was Monday and the days they were apart had passed.

Leanna came out of the bathroom wearing a black lace cami and matching panties. Her hair was mussed, sexily framing her beautiful face.

Okay, maybe around
and
inside you until Monday.

“That movie was really kind of disturbing,” Leanna said as she climbed onto the bed beside him. “The idea of those little girls and all the children before them being abducted. It’s terrifying.”

He reached for her. “It is disturbing, but it was a movie, babe. It was supposed to be scary.”

She traced a vein on the back of his hand. “Do you ever think about having kids?”

“Until I met you, I’d never met a woman I’d want to live with, much less have children with. But yeah, I do want a family. What about you?” Kurt was surprised that he didn’t break out into a cold sweat at the mention of having children. Wasn’t that what guys were supposed to do when their girlfriends mentioned having children or settling down?

She shrugged and began drawing circles on her thigh.

He wanted to draw circles on her thigh. With his tongue.

“I’ve never really thought about it in terms of when or how many, but I do want to have children someday.” She looked up at him then, the edges of her lips barely curved and her eyes sleepily seductive. “The thought of keeping them safe is a little frightening, isn’t it?”

He pulled her close, and she ran her fingers over his bare stomach. “If I ran from things that were terrifying, I’d never have become a writer, and I might never have allowed myself to go out with you.”

“I’m frightening?”

He kissed her forehead. “No, babe. You’re perfect. The thought of anything coming between me and my writing was what terrified me. But you’ve made me realize that there’s a lot more to life than being the best thriller writer. And with you, I feel like I can enjoy both. You defied the terror, and if you want children someday, then we won’t let fear hold us back there, either.”

“You know, I came to the Cape expecting to have a fun summer and maybe find a career, but I never expected to find you. Us.”

Kurt slid the lacy strap of her cami off of her sun-bronzed shoulder and kissed her silky skin.

“I expected to finish a book in complete solitude.” He slid the lacy strap from her other shoulder, and her cami slid down her chest and came to rest on the arc of her breasts. “I never expected to find you.” He kissed her neck. “Or us.” He kissed the tender skin just below her collarbone. “And now…” He held the edge of her cami between his finger and thumb and planted a trail of kisses across the tops of her breasts. “I can’t imagine going a day without you.”

Leanna’s breath hitched, and he slid his arm around her back, drawing her body closer, her lips a breath away. Her hazel eyes narrowed, full of anticipation; his body ached with impatience. He kissed her lightly. Her tender, warm lips pressed against his; her tongue moved slowly, searching, wanting. Her hips rocked into him, pleading for more. He could feel how much she wanted him in her touch, in the cadence of her breath. He sensed her need, and even stronger, he felt his own need growing thick and hard beneath his briefs and in his heart. He held back, relishing in the desire that drew them closer and made his muscles cord tight. She kissed him harder, urgently seeking his reciprocation. He wanted to please her so badly he ached—but he held back. Kurt’s heart pounded inside his chest as he lowered her to the bed beneath him. Her fingers grazed his jawline; then she cupped the back of his head and deepened their kiss. After tonight they had three nights without each other. Seventy-two hours of remembering their last night together. Kurt intended to give Leanna a night she’d never forget.