Love and Leftovers Read Online Free

better.
    Of course, she'd known the split would be hard at first but would be for the best in the long run. This just happened to be one of those tough moments she'd known she'd have to face.
    "Time for bed." Lucy tucked Alexa in and gave her an extra big hug. Then she went outside and sat on the deck staring at the ocean, watching the whitecaps glow under the full moon. She dozed off in her chair, lulled by the slapping of the waves on the shore.

    * * *
    "Lucy?"
    Lucy woke with a start to find Tate squatting next to her. "What time is it?" she asked.
    His gray eyes looked silvery under the moonlight. "Eleven. I thought it might be too late, but when I realized you were sleeping I didn't want to just leave you out here."
    Lucy sat up and smelled something wonderful. That's when she spotted the plate on the table. "What is this?"
    "A blueberry truffle tart. I wanted you to taste it and tell me what you think."
    She took a bite of the exquisite, tiny dessert and closed her eyes, moaning. "God, yes."
    "Shh." He laughed. "What will the neighbors think?"
    She popped the rest of the tart into her mouth and licked the tips of her fingers. "I don't know, you're the neighbor. What do you think?"
    She looked up at him.
    He stood and held out his hand, pulling her up from the chair. They stared at each other, unmoving, as if they were each waiting to see who'd make the next move. Tate took a step closer and her throat tightened. He threaded his hand through her hair, then grazed his knuckles down her cheek. "I think I'm very lucky to be staying next to you this summer."
    Her better sense was telling her to back up, to tell him, "No can do," but when he slid his arms around her neck, she felt herself lean into him. She couldn't help herself. It'd been months since a man had touched her, and she'd never been touched by a man like Tate.
    "I know what you mean," she said.
    He bent to kiss her, but she sucked in a breath, still battling her feelings. "My daughter's inside."
    "That's why I'm kissing you outside."
    She laughed softly, and he cupped his hand behind her head, bringing her mouth to his. Any remaining protests disappeared with that kiss. It was soft and divine, but demanding. Her lips tingled and she wanted more.
    He pulled back, smiling. "How am I going to get any work done with you next door?"
    "Work during the day, play at night," Lucy said, surprised by her flirtatiousness.
    He rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip. "Are we going to have to stay outside every night?"
    Every night? She struggled to swallow. So this was going to be a summer romance, not just an eventual one-time fling. "Alexa's spending a week with her father. She leaves on Sunday."
    He kissed her again. "Then I'd better get some work done before then."

    * * *
    Lucy was surprised. Despite his plans to work during the day, Tate made time to take the occasional beach break with Lucy and Alexa over the next week. He also treated them to gourmet dinners.
    Lucy had never eaten such amazing food, and she admired his talent and thoughtfulness - he even sent his cleaning lady over so she'd have more time to work on her projects.
    "I was only joking when I said you should lend her to me," she told him.
    "I figured you wouldn't mind a little help. It's your vacation - you should relax."
    "Well, it was way better than a dozen roses."
    He sent her a dozen roses the next day with a card that read, "Are you sure?"
    Lucy found herself becoming giddy at the end of each day after Alexa went to bed; she knew Tate would be coming over.
    This isn't long term. Don't get too excited, she had to tell herself more than once.
    At night after Alexa fell asleep, they would kiss and talk while Tate fed her the treats he'd made that day. But she was resisting taking things further until Alexa was gone. She and Tate both knew what they'd be doing on Sunday.

    * * *
    On Sunday morning, Lucy was awakened by a knock on the back door. She hurried downstairs and found Tate holding two buckets.