THE DAY HAD been incredible. We checked out cool shops and an art gallery. Then we picked up soft serve ice cream cones and took a boat ride around the lake. The entire time was fun and easy. I was no one else but myself with him, and he seemed to like that. A lot.
There was a moment as we stood by a dock, his large frame behind me, his head resting on my shoulder, when I knew my grandma hadn’t been wrong. I was in love. He was such an incredible man.
“Look that way. The sun is about to set,” he said into my ear, and I looked at him.
“Take a selfie with me.”
“Yeah? Okay.” His lips twitched, and we turned to get the lake and sunset behind us.
“Say cheese!” I said, and we grinned like crazy people as I clicked away, but I couldn’t get too much of the background in our snapshots.
“Here, let me get us a little better. My arms are longer, short stack,” he joked, and I rolled my eyes.
He snapped a couple more, his lips on my cheeks as I smiled big, and then I did the same. He turned to kiss me when something came over me. This incredible need to be honest and vulnerable. Completely last minute and unplanned, but I couldn’t hold back the words.
“I love you, Max.” I heard the shutter of the cell stop, and warmth flooded his gaze.
“I love you, Leti. I love you so much,” he whispered, and his free hand tangled with the hair on the side of my head as he kissed me.
It was dominating and rough and so damn beautiful I knew I would remember that kiss until the day I died. We separated breathlessly and both turned to look toward the sky. The beautiful colors that filled the sky matched what I felt in my heart when it came to Max.
His arms wrapped around my shoulder and pulled me in. I rested my head on his bicep and sighed. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere but where I was with him.
“Last-minute good luck charm,” I murmured and felt his lips at the top of my head. “Thank you for coming to my rescue that night in Vegas,” I said as the sky darkened and filled with the brightest diamond-like stars I had ever seen. Or maybe love had a way of making you feel like you were seeing things you took for granted for the first time ever.
“Best night of my life, meeting you.”
“Do you think we would have met anyhow?”
“With you as Lee’s new bestie? Hell yeah,” he said, the smile in his voice completely evident.
“I’m glad we didn’t have to wait too long.”
“Me too,” he agreed. “Ready for dinner?” he asked, pulling away a little so he could meet my eyes.
“If it’s with you, I’m ready for anything!” And that was the God’s honest truth.
