Chapter 9

Braxton wokewith Lily cradled in his arms and the sun warming his face. He blinked his eyes open and studied Lily's relaxed face. She looked so peaceful. Content in a way he hadn't felt in… Well, he didn't know how long. Maybe ever. He wondered what it was like to grow up with a loving family and to have siblings who seemed more like best friends.

The only person he'd ever been able to count on was Dante. And he was grateful. From letting him crash on his couch more times than Braxton could count when they were in high school to being there for him through everything all these years, he couldn't ask for a better friend. But there was no way Dante could fill all the holes in Braxton's tattered soul. No one could.

Growing up with parents who didn't care about anyone but themselves was a nightmare he wouldn't wish on anyone. And although he knew that Lily had suffered her share of hardships, he still would have given anything to have grown up in Befana Bay with three sisters and a grandmother like Bethany Befana.

The longer he laid there with Lily in his arms, the harder she was to let go. There wasn't anything he wanted more than the soft, lovely woman wrapped in his arms. If circumstances were different, he would have already woken her with kisses, and then he'd cover her body with his and claim her in every way a man could.

Every part of his body stiffened, and he had to stifle a groan. His desire for her was overwhelming. If he didn't get out of the bed soon, he'd never leave.

After tucking a lock of hair behind Lily's ear, he leaned down and gently kissed her cheek. Her eyes fluttered momentarily, but then she settled and fell back into her slumber. He smiled to himself, committing the moment to memory. If he couldn't have her, at least he could have this moment.

Carefully, he slid off the bed, grabbed his clothes from the closet, and then locked himself in the bathroom, where he took a cold shower, forcing his body to calm down. When he finally emerged, his skin was icy to the touch, but at least he wasn't vibrating with need any longer.

After he dressed, he found Lily awake and sitting up. Her robe was falling off one shoulder, and her disheveled look nearly drove him insane. Without a word, she walked over to him and placed her hand on his arm. She glanced down. "You're freezing."

"Cold shower," he said softly, barely able to keep from pulling her into his arms. He shouldn't have confided in her the night before. Now he wanted her more than ever. He should have known that baring his secrets to her would only create an intimacy that was irresistible.

She covered both his hands with hers and started rubbing warmth back into them.

Braxton pulled his hands away quickly, afraid he'd cave, and brushed past her to the door. "I'm going downstairs to the restaurant for coffee and breakfast. Meet me there?"

"Uh, sure," she said, looking disappointed. "I'll be just a few minutes."

He nodded and made his escape.

Once he was in the hall, he was able to start breathing again. Was it always going to be like that around her now? Maybe he needed to sell his shop and move to another town. He'd heard Keating Hollow was a nice place to live.

Shaking his head at himself, he took off for the restaurant. Thankfully the storm had died down and the power was back on. After they ate, they could make their way back to Befana Bay, and his time with Lily would come to an end. Sure, he'd still work with her on the Midsummer Festival, but he could insist they meet in public, and he'd have no choice but to keep his hands to himself.

Once seated in the small dining room, he ordered two coffees and breakfast for both of them, confident Lily would be pleased with his choice. If not, she could order something else.

Lily had just taken a seat when their breakfasts came. And once her French toast with a side of berries was placed in front of her, Lily's eyes widened. "How did you know this is my favorite breakfast?"

Braxton shrugged one shoulder and gave her a smug smile. "Lucky guess?"

"Liar," she said without any heat. "Really, how did you know?"

"I have my ways." For months, every Sunday when he walked by the Enchanted Egg Café, a popular brunch spot on the bay, he'd spotted her with French toast. But he wasn't going to tell her that and make himself sound like a stalker. It had been a coincidence the first few times he'd spotted her. Then he'd noted she was always there at the same time, so he started timing his paddleboarding sessions so that he was done just about the time she'd be at the restaurant.

She gave him a skeptical glance, but then once she dug into her breakfast, pure bliss blossomed on her face.

Braxton chuckled. "It's a shame you're not enjoying that at all."

"Right?" she agreed as her gorgeous eyes glittered at him.

"My grandmother used to make French toast for me when I was a kid," he blurted and immediately wished he could stuff the words back into his mouth. Why was he bringing that up?

"Your grandmother? Did you spend a lot of time with her?" Lily asked, putting her fork down.

"No." Sadness washed over Braxton as he thought of the only person who'd ever shown him unconditional love. "She was my father's mother, and she passed a couple years before he took off. But she did come down to our trailer one day a month, and those are my happiest childhood memories."

"Grandmothers, gotta love them," Lily said with a grin, and Braxton was grateful she'd chosen not to pity him.

"Absolutely. But yours is one of the best," he said.

"No argument from me." Lily stabbed another piece of French toast and said, "If you're trying to keep me from falling for you, Braxton, you're going about it all wrong. Without a doubt, French toast is the way into this girl's heart."

Braxton felt his face flush, but then he just shrugged. "I guess my moves aren't all that rusty after all."

Lily let out a huff of laughter. "Definitely not."