Author note:

A short bit of fluff. I hope you enjoy and it takes your mind from all this mess as it did with me when I was writing it.

I want to thank you for your continued interest in this story & your encouraging comments. It's how I know people are still reading. Stay Healthy!

CH 62-Just the Two of Us

Their time began to take on a pattern. The days were spent together at the beach with their friends. The evenings and nights were theirs. That time became precious to them. There was no family, no school, no Bravo. It was just the two of them. Every night ended in each other's arms.

Tonight, Clay had taken her out to dinner as he promised. He asked around and found a quiet little place along the water that seemed to be a favorite of the locals, but not frequented by the Spring Break crowd. They were seated on an outdoor deck where they could see the ocean and hear the waves.

For Clay it was almost perfect. He sat across from Emma, holding her hand, watching the candlelight reflecting in her eyes and the ocean breeze tease her hair around her shoulders.

"I can' believe that in just a couple weeks I'll be moving in."

"I know. I could kiss that realtor.'

"Huh?"

"For finding a buyer a couple months early. I didn't know how I was going to wait until June."

She gave him a sweet smile, but he could see something lingering in her eyes.

"Babe, something wrong?"

"No. I'm excited, like I said. I…I'm just a little worried about Dad." Clay nodded for her to go on.

"I mean, I get to be with you. Mikey will be getting a chance to go to school and play hockey, like he wants. But Dad will be all alone in the condo."

"Honey, he's welcome any time he wants to come over. And we can go over and hang out there. Plus, you know Sonny, Ray and the boys will be over too."

"You're right, it's just hard thinking about him being in a new place, all alone."

He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.

"You know, Em. I actually think being in a new place will be a good thing for him. I think…I think it would be harder for him to adjust to you and Mikey being gone if he was still at the house. This will be a whole new start for all of you."

"I didn't think of it that way." She gave his hand a squeeze. "Thanks honey. Thanks for caring."

"Of course, I care. Jace is your Dad and my 'brother', he's family."

They enjoyed their meal and returned to the condo. Walking in, they expected to see their friends, but no one was there. Emma checked her phone and saw a text from Jeni.

-Took an Uber to the movies. Be back around 11:00-

"It looks like we have the place to ourselves for a while."

"What would you like to do, babe?"

"Could we take a walk on the beach?"

He hugged her close and pressed a kiss to her hair. "That sounds like a great idea."

They slipped off their shoes and left them on the deck, then started down the beach, hand in hand. She led him down by the water and dipped her feet in the waves. Emma turned toward Clay and stopped. He closed his eyes, anticipating her touch. Instead, he was splashed all across his front. He stood there sputtering as she kicked water onto him again. Emma was laughing hysterically.

"You think you're funny," he teased. She nodded, still giggling.

"Oh, it's on Hayes!"

Emma scurried to get away, but Clay had his hands on her within just a few steps. He lifted her up into his arms and waded into the surf. She was wiggling and squirming, trying to escape. But Clay had a firm hold on her. He swung her around as if to toss her into the waves.

She was squealing, "No, no, no…Clay!"

He spun them both all the way around and placed her feet back on the sand.

"Okay, Okay, you win," she huffed. "You win."

She looked up at him and could see he was no longer playing. He lowered his mouth to hers and murmured, "I think we both win."

Clay slipped his tongue across her lips and she opened to him. They stood in the moonlight, drinking of one another. He felt Emma unbuttoning his shirt and sucking at his neck. He wanted to lay her down, her and now, to love her, but he kept his wits about him. Clay had no qualms about people knowing how in love he was with Emma. But, no one needed to be a witness to their expression of that love.

He picked her up and started back to the condo. His efforts to navigate the sand and the steps to the deck and the bedroom were hampered by Emma's continued assault on his neck and shoulders with her lips. They finally reached their room and he kicked the door closed behind them. Now Clay allowed himself to worship her body without reservation, and to receive her love in return.

They laid quietly together. The room was silent, save for the sound of their breathing. So, Clay could clearly hear Emma sigh.

"Everything okay, Em?"

"I was just thinking."

"About…"

"Us living together. Do you think it will be like this?"

"Well…yes, and no."

She raised her head from his chest and looked at him. Placing a kiss on her forehead, he continued.

"I do plan to make love to you as much as possible." She pressed kisses to his chest in response.

"But this is vacation and that will be real life. I'll have work and you'll have school. There will be times you want to hang with your friends… and times I need to be with the guys because you're driving me crazy."

"Wha…?"

She looked at him and could see the grin spread across his face and the twinkle in his eye. She tapped him lightly and he pinched her bottom.

"Seriously babe. We're both gonna need our alone times. But, at the end of the day, we'll always come home to each other. That's the important thing,"

"Always," she echoed.