Storms and Dreams (Becoming Jane Book 3) by Alexis Adare Read Free Book Online Page B

chest.
    He was right, though. The conversation with Sasha had initially settled my nerves but now all that angst was back. She’d told me to live in the moment. But that’s just a little harder than everyone lets on. How do you live in the moment when your head can’t figure out what the moment is? My instincts told me to label and box up all my feelings neatly, to analyze everything that had happened between us so far and consider all possible angles, all likely outcomes. The problem was, all this overthinking was threatening to suck the fun right out of our morning.
    “There is something,” he said. Catching my hand, he pressed my fingers to his lips and shifted, pulling my hips in tighter against him. “Tell me,” he insisted.
    “It’s just…” I said quietly, my eyes locked to his fingers as they threaded through mine, his thumb caressing the back of my hand. “This has been amazing. It’s been so different than what I assumed it would be.”
    “For me as well.”
    “I don’t know what to think,” I said. “I mean, what is this? What are we, and where do we go from here?”
    “That’s a lot of whats,” he said, his chest rumbling with laughter.
    “I know. I’m sorry. It’s just… You asked what was on my mind. That’s it. But forget it. I’m not trying to demand answers of you or anything.”
    “Well, demands or no, I might have some answers I can share.”
    “Really?” I scoffed, skeptical. “What?”
    “I think we both know what this is, don’t we?” he said, his finger lifting my chin so that my eyes met his. “Or at least we suspect?”
    I nodded.
    “And that was unexpected. For both of us.”
    I nodded again.
    “And we seem to have agreed to avoid that topic for now. Clever or cowardly, depending on perspective, I suppose.”
    I laughed softly, and he grinned at me.
    “As for the other matters: What are we, and where do we go from here? I think what we are is up to us entirely. We get to define that for ourselves. And I’m certain we will, in time. As to where we go from here—I believe we should take each day as it comes.”
    “Right,” I said, although internally I was groaning. If one more person told me to “let life unfold” or “take each moment as it comes” I was going to puke.
    “Although,” he said, “to that end, we’ve already failed.”
    “Failed?” I asked, frowning at him.
    “Well, we skipped a day, didn’t we? We’ve got tomorrow figured out, seeing as I committed us to that ghastly party.”
    “And shopping,” I said.
    “And shopping,” he conceded. “But that leaves nothing for today other than idle boredom and more awkward silences.”
    “You’re ridiculous,” I laughed, pushing at his chest.
    “I mean I admit, I had planned to continue fucking you senseless for most of the day. But now, those plans seem simple in comparison to tomorrow’s glamorous itinerary. I’m thinking I need to rethink.” His grin was wry, and his eyes twinkled as he lifted my fingers, brushing a soft kiss over my knuckles.
    “What do you have in mind?”
    “Hmmm, how can I top a stuffy dinner party? A stroll along the beach? Maybe a picnic? What do you think?”
    “That sounds nice. But it’s really cold outside.”
    “Nonsense!” he said. Securing one arm under my legs, he lifted me and rose from his chair. “You’ve assured me you love the beach in wintertime. I think a vigorous hike over the dunes is just the sort of adventure that we need to set you right.”
    “Good Lord. I can walk, you know,” I said, sighing as he carried me down the hallway to the bedroom. “Are you just going to carry me around all weekend?”
    “Possibly.” He grinned down at me. “I like how you feel in my arms.”
    I buried my head in his chest and sighed again. “So do I.”
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    “ C an I ask a question ?” I tried to sound casual as we padded together, bundled in boots and scarves and puffy coats, over a downy carpet of snow to a stretch of beach along the