Aiden sucked in a breath, propelling himself through the water with powerful strokes, driving hard for the last few feet to the dock. He hauled himself from the water and lounged on the wooden planks, propped on his hands with his head tipped back, savoring the last rays of sun. With eyes closed, he inhaled, hoping the combination of ocean air and physical exhaustion would get the woman off his mind and allow him to sleep tonight. An imagined whiff of lavender brought another wave of pain. Her scent.

"Aiden."

He exhaled. Now he was even hearing that tender voice during his waking hours.

"How are you?"

A frown creased his forehead as gentle fingers caressed his brow, brushing back his damp hair. Only Emily did that. He must be hallucinating.

"Aiden?"

He opened his eyes and tilted his head. After two hard blinks to clear his vision, he decided the woman kneeling beside him was real. He straightened, holding his breath. Waiting.

A smile flickered as she tucked the skirt of her sundress beneath her and dangled her feet in the water, but it faded. She stared wide-eyed, twisting a strand of her dark hair around a fingertip. "Say something." Her lashes fluttered over shining green eyes. "Anything."

The lump lodged in his throat made that impossible. The burn behind his eyes warned him of his impending breakdown. His mind warred. Even as instinct demanded he run, he reached out and tangled his hand into her dark mass of waves, reassuring himself that he wasn't dreaming. He sucked for air, drawing her toward him, burying his head in the crook of her neck. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't let her go.

She curled her arm around his back, one hand ruffling his hair. "I missed you."

Those precious words he'd longed to hear. The pounding of his heart drowned out the next ones as his breath hitched in his chest.

She shifted, sliding a leg over him, her fingers entwined in his hair, her soft lavender scent engulfing him. "I love you." Her warm breath wafted against his cheek and she pressed her lips to his temple. "Shhh."

Aiden's embrace tightened. He never wanted this moment to end, the pain and anger already fading away. None of it mattered. The woman he loved was in his arms and he vowed to avoid repeating past mistakes.

He slid his hands up, cupping her face between them, finally daring to look at her.

A shimmer appeared in her eyes, the cloud of dark hair around her making her look like his very own angel. Her lips parted, the nibble to her lower lip and darkening of those beautiful jade eyes sending a shudder of desire through him.

He captured her lips in a hungry kiss, the way she pressed her hips against him and the soft moan low in her throat inviting him to continue.

Emily nipped at his lip and dug her fingers into his back. Her other hand traveled down his bare belly to pluck at the band of his swim trunks.

As he caressed her velvety thigh, a vague thought flitted through his mind. This wasn't the best place for what was about to happen... but... fuck the consequences.

✯ ✯ ✯

As his eyes drifted open, contentment crept over him. The warmth of her naked body cradled against his as the sailboat rocked reminded him this was real. Emily had returned.

She shifted, regarding him with sleepy eyes. "I'm starving."

He snickered. "Should we plan a raid on the fridge?"

A radiant smile appeared. "You do speak."

"Mmmhmm." He leaned close, hovering just above her. "It's just that sometimes actions are better than words." He savored the salty tang lingering on her skin as he nuzzled her neck.

"I love that." Her breathless whisper and tender touch sent a shiver down his spine. "Don't stop."

He had no intention of abandoning his goal of keeping her close. This woman drove him out of his mind and time blurred, leaving him in a state of blissful exhaustion with hazy images of silken limbs, heated satiny flesh, and his name falling from her beautiful lips as he loved her. Thoroughly. Completely. Endlessly.

She emitted a mellow, satisfied sigh, dragging a handful of dark waves off her face before she snuggled against his chest and draped a toned leg over his. "Where do you get the energy? I can barely move."

"Me either." Not that he wanted to. Despite his brave words earlier in the summer, he hadn't been fine. He'd been empty, struggling to navigate life without Emily in it. "I'm happy you're here."

Her dark lashes fluttered. "I almost didn't get on the plane."

"But you did." He pressed a kiss to her temple.

His phone dinged from somewhere outside in the darkness. He sighed. It chimed again, followed by three more notifications in quick succession. "Damn. It's on the dock." He wiggled free. "It might be Vanna."

Emily smacked his bare ass as he opened one of the drawers under the bed. "Bring me my dress while you're at it."

He wiggled his brows and tugged on a pair shorts. "I like you the way you are."

"I can't return to the house naked. Imagine if Savannah's there?"

"She's not. Jenn and Alex planned to take her to a movie and keep her overnight." He squinted. "Rather convenient last minute plans actually. Though Ryan's another story. He might show up at any time."

Emily bit her lip. "They didn't know I was coming."

The flash of guilt passed so swiftly he almost missed it. "Hmmm." He contemplated her before stepping onto the deck. His eyes adjusted to the darkness and he padded to the deck box and reclaimed his phone.

Hear you have a houseguest. Vanna's staying with us for a few days.

He read Jenna's note again then sent his response.

How did you know?

While the dots danced across his screen, he viewed the texts from Vanna, stating she would stay with Tom and Jenna. He answered his daughter as the dots stopped, then started again. Finally the text appeared.

Ryan was on the same flight. He's staying here too.

Another notification popped up seconds later.

Jenn wasn't supposed to tell you. Don't make it a big deal with Emily, but met her on plane. Tell you later.

Aiden frowned as he replied.

Tell me what??? Big deal how??

Have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't.

Aiden snickered. That left endless possibilities.

Say nothing about the flight.

"Hey." Emily emerged from the cabin of the sailboat wearing one of his oversized t-shirts. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, fine." He locked the screen and set his phone on the box face down. "We have the house to ourselves."

"Lovely." She wrapped her arms around him from behind, resting her head against his back. "Though I was looking forward to seeing Vanna."

He covered her hands with his, wishing they could stay like this forever.

"It's beautiful and peaceful here. Not at all like California beaches." Emily sighed.

He turned in her arms and tipped her chin toward him. "What were you doing there?"

"Visiting Nat. Isa's gotten so big."

"How's Nat managing? Is Andy helping?" He scoffed as she shook her head. "Asshole. So you gave Nat half of your pay check?"

"Isa has to eat." She lifted one shoulder. "You think I'm crazy."

"No. I love your big heart." He cupped her face. "What changed your mind about getting on the plane?"

"I can't explain it." She gnawed her lip.

Aiden hoped for something more definitive than the equivalent of I don't know.

"You're disappointed." She squeezed his hand.

"A little," he said, "but I'm still happy you came."

"I missed you. I missed Vanna." She blinked hard. "I love you, Aiden, I do, but this situation is so complicated. I need time."

"The Boston offer is still open."

Her eyes widened. "Let's just enjoy this time together. I promise we'll talk more about it, but not now. Please?"

Aiden fought the urge to push the issue, but he sensed talking would get him nowhere. If he let his heart speak, if he showered her with love, showed her how perfect they were together, how life together could be, maybe then he'd have the answer.

"Hungry?" he asked.

"Starving."

He entwined their fingers and led her toward the house.

"You left your phone on the dock. And my dress."

"It's private property. Have you ever had a moonlight picnic on the beach?"

"We never left Chicago in the summer, so no."

Once they reached the house, she disappeared into the bathroom while he selected two bottles of wine and packed a variety of food into the hamper. When she reappeared, he handed her two blankets.

"You'd almost think you've done this before." She eyed him as they headed toward the sand.

"Sure. We spent summers here for years." He set the basket near the fire pit.

Emily wandered to the edge of the water, the waves lapping at her feet as she crossed her arms and stared into the darkness.

Aiden selected wood from the box he kept nearby, arranging it into a small stack. In moments, flames flickered to life.

"That looked easy." Her voice carried over the shush of the waves as he spread one of the blankets, dropping the second on top still neatly folded. "Done that a few times too?"

The sand felt cool under his feet as he joined her, curling an arm around her waist. "What's wrong, Em?"

"It's been a long day, is all." She pointed. "The water's glowing."

"Bioluminescence. Later, we can swim."

"In that?" A smile appeared as her stomach rumbled. "Food first. What did you bring?"

Once she was settled on the blanket, he poured her a glass of wine and sliced the baguette, laying out the meat slices, fruit, and cheese.

"A gourmet moonlight picnic. It looks delicious." She graced him with a smile and ate several bites. After a sip of wine she asked, "How's Vanna?"

"Better. Now she has the aunts and uncles around, she seems less anxious."

"Good." Emily swirled her wine. "I'm sorry for the drama at the end. I worried she'd never forgive me."

"But she did. She'll be excited to see you."

"Is she coming to the wedding?"

"Hell no. Jenna worried herself sick over how we'd manage the strange dynamics." It hadn't been an easy decision, but he planned to surprise Savannah with a trip to Portland to visit her friends that weekend. "Tom suggested rescinding Tiffany's invitation."

"Why didn't they?"

There were so many things he couldn't divulge about his ex-wife, especially to Emily. "I asked them to leave it alone. Tiffany already hates me. Why make it worse? Or complicate the wedding plans because of my messed-up life?"

"The delicate division of friendships after divorce?" Emily smiled sadly. "My sisters both went through that."

"The divorce isn't the issue. It's her stupidity over Savannah." He scrubbed a hand through his hair. "Sweet Jenn thinks Tiff will come to her senses, but until she dumps Harrison, it's unlikely."

"Until?" Emily's brow arched.

"Until, unless... whatever." He shrugged off the question. This conversation was leading into dangerous territory.

The look she sent his way was searching, as if she was interpreting words unsaid. "You've done these little romantic nights a lot, huh?" Her lips tugged downward, the motion of her hands encompassing their surroundings.

Here we go again. Where had that overactive imagination led her?

"Who's Maya? Is that her middle name or something?"

"Who's middle name? Tiffany?" At her slight nod he said, "No, she's Tiffany Gabrielle. And this," he pointed at the picnic, "I thought you'd enjoy." He rose, cradling his glass as he stepped into the cool water, swishing his foot through the waves and studying the glowing patterns the movement created in the shallows. He'd thought, or at least hoped, they'd gotten past the assumptions about his life.

Emily came up beside him, curling an arm around his waist. "I'm sorry. The thought of your ex-wife makes me crazy and I don't..." She sucked in a breath. "That's not true. I know exactly why."

Aiden tipped his head toward her and raised a brow.

"It's obvious you loved her. Maybe you still do. Maybe you'll never love another woman the way you loved her."

"Fuck, I hope not." He guzzled the last of his wine before closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. At the end of his marriage, he'd sworn to never love a woman again.

Emily's arm dropped to her side and she sniffled, turning her head away.

"Another relationship like that would end me." He massaged his temples with one hand. "Please don't get passive-aggressive and jealous over someone I divorced ten years ago. There are many reasons the marriage didn't work, but they don't apply to us."

She lifted her chin, revealing tear-filled eyes. "You two have a lot of history here."

"We don't have to stay if it bothers you. One day, maybe I'll sell this place." He hated the thought, but what she said was true, even if the history was ancient. If it was between the house and Emily, he knew which he'd choose.

"Isn't this your grandmother's house."

"It was until Grandfather died and then Gramma signed it over to me. It's the closest thing I have to a childhood home." He glanced at her. "I never bring women here. This is my place. Where I escape to when I need space. Where I reconnect with my friends. Yes, Tiffany has been here, but not since we were fifteen."

She cupped a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening. "And I barged in. Twice. I am so sorry."

"Don't be. I invited you. This time anyway." His lips twitched. "The first time... you were such a hot mess, how could I kick you out?"

Her cheeks flushed a bright pink as she covered her face with her hands, peeking at him through splayed fingers. "Urgh. Every girl's dream. The unforgettable hot mess."

"Unforgettable in an incredibly sexy way." His smile faded. "This amazing, breathtaking, and impossibly complicated woman showed up without warning and stole my heart." He caught her hands in his. "You made it the best Vineyard getaway I'd had in a forever."

The slight hitch of her breath, followed by the shimmer of those beautiful green eyes drew him in. Their gazes locked and he felt it. That snap of attraction, the quickening of his pulse, the rapid beat of his heart, the longing to hold her in his arms. He leaned in, hesitating for a split second before catching her lower lip between his, deepening the kiss, giving in to temptation.

He rested his forehead against hers, forcing himself not to ask. There would be a time and place, but this was not it. "How about that swim?"

**********

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