Her Wild Coast Refuge: A small town age gap suspense romance (Wild Hearts Book 5) by Dakota Davies

Author:Dakota Davies [Davies, Dakota]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Savage Creek Press
Published: 2023-10-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

LEXIE

I wake to a sense of unease. Dawson is gone. Next to me, Quinn is curled close, his arm resting on my stomach. I snuggle closer. He’s warm and his limbs are heavy, but even as I will myself to rest a little longer, my restlessness wins. Carefully, I roll out of bed. My sundress has been folded neatly over the back of the easy chair in the corner, but the rest of my clothes are missing. I slip on my dress and tiptoe to the hallway.

By the slanting light on the foothills, it’s early. Is Dawson asleep somewhere else? I explore, peeking into each room. Besides two empty bedrooms, a linen closet, and bathroom, there’s the expansive office, but it’s empty, the shades drawn. Quietly, I close the door and head downstairs.

The clinking of dishes draws me to the kitchen. Dawson stands at the glass door to the deck, his back to me, cradling a cup of coffee. He’s framed by the soft colors and layers of mountains streaked with sunbeams.

A pair of faded blue pajama pants hangs loose off his hips, but his torso is bare, giving me a view of his broad shoulders and strong back. His thick brown hair is rumpled, like he’s been running his hands through it. In anguish? Concentration?

The floor creaks beneath my feet, and Dawson turns. His blue eyes fill with a bright joy, tempering the worry building inside me.

I grip the granite edge of the counter to steady myself. “Morning.”

“Morning. I didn’t wake you, did I?” He takes a sip of coffee, his lips curling around the cup. Warmth coils low in my belly.

I shake my head. “When did you leave?”

“A few hours ago. You were snoring.”

I scoff. “I don’t snore.”

With a grin, he opens his arm, beckoning me close. I walk over, the polished hardwood cold against the soles of my feet. He sweeps me into a gentle embrace, holding me for a moment before moving behind me so we’re both gazing through the glass.

“It’s so pretty,” he says.

“Why do you sound surprised?” I ask, stealing his cup for a sip of coffee. The warmth from the mug pricks my wounds, but I ignore the discomfort. Being cradled in Dawson’s arms, his cheek against my temple, feels precious. Decadent.

“I haven’t slowed down long enough to appreciate it.”

“Will that change once your…partnership…ends?”

“I hope so.” He sighs.

“Tell me for real why you left this morning. Is it me? Are we breaking too many rules?”

Dawson takes the cup of coffee and sets it on the counter, then spins me around and cradles my face. “You let me worry about rules, okay? They’re mine to keep or break.”

“But I want you to break them.” I cringe. “Sorry. I don’t mean it like that. I want you to be free.”

He smiles. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me in a long time.”

“It’s true.”

He gathers me in his arms. I sigh and relax into his embrace.

“You never told us your fantasy.” I gaze at our reflection in the glass with the sun-streaked valley and mountains beyond.

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