I don’t do any of those things. Instead, I lay out a blanket, sit and motion for Emily to settle beside me. She does and my heart squeezes. The sunlight hits her hair just right and pieces of it shine. She’s too good, too beautiful to be my girl. “What are you doing with me?”

She tilts her head. “Why would you ask that?”

“Daughter of a doctor, straight As, to be honest, completely out of my league. Special-education teachers don’t make bank.”

Emily rises to her knees and slowly inches toward me. The twinkle in her soft eyes pulls me in and the hypnotic sway of her hips engulfs me further into her spell. Her fingers whisper against my face. “I’m with you because you’re strong and brave and you love people with a ferociousness that I have never encountered before.”

Her hands drift to my shoulders and on impulse, my hands cup her waist. She’s exactly like I remember—warm, sensual.

“Besides that, I love the way you look at me and I love the way you make me feel beautiful inside and out. Plus, you’re missing a very important fact.”

My eyebrows furrow together. “What’s that?”

“Technically, by blood, I’m more gangster than you.” The utter tease in her voice causes me to sweep an arm around her and roll her onto the blanket.

“More gangster than me?”

“Your parents are probably concerned I’m going to taint your pure soul.”

We both laugh and the motion causes a vibration between our bodies. The day’s warm, not hot, but my blood definitely increases in temperature.

“I mean,” she continues, “it was me that kissed you first and then I blackmailed you into helping me and I’m pretty sure I seduced you that night we spent together.”

“You’re right,” I whisper. “I’m completely unable to resist your evil charms.”

“Well, if that’s the case, why aren’t you kissing me now?”

Not willing to miss this invitation, I lower my head to hers and lightly brush my lips over her mouth. Everything inside me tightens, heightens and becomes aware. She tastes so sweet. Her kiss like heaven.

We’re alone on the ridge. Very alone except for the birds in flight and the trees surrounding us. It’s a slow exploration. Hands recalling areas so glorious that every touch deserves the moment. There’s no rush. Neither of us are hurried.

A shirt over my head. Her tank top used as a pillow. Bra straps lowered and us leaving lingering kisses on every spot within reach. Other pieces of clothing are eased down and slipped off. A breeze blows over the hill and goose bumps form along her exposed skin.

I cover my body with hers and we’re moving. A rhythm that builds in a steady progression. The urge is to beg for more. Emily’s bold but she’s inexperienced. There are places I want to take her. A million ways I long to worship her body, but we have time and Emily is a forever type of girl.

Emily hooks a leg around mine and lets out a soft moan that causes me to apply pressure to her hips. Our mouths move, our touches grow more intense and instinct pushes us to the brink. Emily encircles her arms around me, cries out and I bury my head in her neck as the world shatters.

I slide off her while keeping her tucked close. We both breathe hard as we share long kisses that say more than words ever could.

“Do you mind that I want to wait?” she asks.

She’s talking about sex. We’ve had several conversations on the phone discussing what I’ve done and what she hasn’t. She grew up thinking she was the product of a one-night stand. Though she knows now that she wasn’t, she also knows, like I do about myself, that she was unexpected.

Neither of us want that type of unexpected in our lives anytime soon.

I sweep the hair away from her face. “I can do what we’re doing forever, Emily.”

“I like the sound of that,” she says.

“Me, too.”

She flashes me her beautiful smile, quickly kisses my lips and rolls away from me.

“Hey.” I reach for her and she giggles as she maneuvers out of my grasp. “I wanted to lie with you for a while.”

Emily’s already slipping her bra back on. “We promised Eli we’d make this a fast trip. If we don’t return soon, he’ll come looking for us, and I am not in the mood to be busted again.”

I chuckle as I button my pants and toss my shirt on. “You’re mine tonight and I’m not sharing. We’re watching a movie and you’re sitting with me. Eli can kiss my ass.”

She tilts her head, waiting. “Deal.”

I cup her face with my hands and draw in her lower lip as she takes in the top of mine. I’m trying to memorize every kiss. She’ll be gone in a few days and even though I’ll be making a run for the business through Florida in two weeks, each moment we spend together is crucial.

When we’re presentable, Emily grabs the bag and holds it in her lap. The spark she had fades and she skims her hand over the material. “I wish I could have been there when she passed.”

From behind, I enfold Emily into me and nuzzle the spot behind her ear. “You were there, in spirit.”

“Is it pathetic that I didn’t actually think that Olivia would die?”

“No.” But she did. “We don’t have to do this today.”

“Yes,” she answers. “I do.”

Emily zips open the bag and pulls out the box containing Olivia’s ashes. Olivia didn’t choose the casket and she admitted it’s because of the encounter that freaked out Emily. Olivia’s last request was this: for Emily to release her ashes into the wind.