Veritas (39 page)

Grey’s eyes were soft as she ran a tender hand over Lauren’s jaw. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you.”

Grey nodded and kissed Lauren again, more softly this time, letting the caress convey exactly how much she had missed having her close like this. “How did you even get here? Don’t you have to work tonight?”

Lauren shook her head and smiled at the way Grey’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “I quit my job at Clarke’s.”

“You quit?”

“Well, technically,” Lauren murmured as she nuzzled Grey’s cheek with her nose, loving the feeling of being able to actually touch her again, “I turned down an offer for an executive chef position.” She brushed a soft kiss over the corner of Grey’s lips. “And
then
I quit my job.”

Grey gaped. “You…what?”

“Mmm.” Lauren smiled and kissed Grey again.

“You’re not making any sense,” Grey muttered, keeping her arms around Lauren’s waist as she pulled back to look her in the eye. “You turned down an executive chef position?”

“I did.”

“Why?”

Lauren’s smile softened, and she sighed as she tickled her fingers through the fine hairs at the nape of Grey’s neck. “The general manager was wonderful, the restaurant itself was perfect, the kitchen was an absolute dream, and I was tempted to do it. But then he asked me what my favorite meal I’d ever made was, and who I made it for…” Her voice trailed off and she shrugged. “If I had been asked that question two months ago, I would’ve rattled off a dish without even having to stop and think about it. But now…my
first
thought was of you. Of  how good it felt for you to hold me in your arms, and how wonderful it felt when you kissed me. I eventually got around to the food, but it was not what was important. And that was when I knew…”

The look in Lauren’s eyes was unmistakable, and Grey’s heart flew up into her throat. “Knew what?”

“That I don’t need a fancy title or a professional kitchen to be happy.” Lauren took a deep breath to steady her nerves. “I love you, Grey Wells. More than cooking or—”

Grey silenced Lauren with a kiss that was filled with every ounce of love she could pour into the caress. “I love you too,” she whispered against Lauren’s lips, sealing the oath with another kiss that made the world around them disappear and left them both completely breathless. She laughed softly and brushed her lips over Lauren’s forehead. “God, do I love you.”

Lauren smiled and melted into Grey’s embrace, basking in the warm, familiar press of the brunette’s body against her own. Oh, how she had missed this.

The sound of footsteps echoing down the dock toward them made Grey look up, and she shook her head when she saw Kip walking toward them. “I should have known you were involved in this.”

“Yeah, well,” Kelly drawled, smiling at the couple, “somebody had to get her out here.”

“Thanks again
, for that,” Lauren said, snuggling into Grey’s side as she turned to half-face Kelly.

“My pleasure.” Kelly cleared her throat loudly and gave Grey a serious look. “So…you gonna give the girl a job, or can I have her?”

Grey laughed, feeling lighter than she ever thought she would again, and shook her head. “No dice, Kip. She’s mine.” She pressed a light kiss to Lauren’s lips. “Whattaya say? You want to be the executive chef aboard the
Veritas
?”

Lauren smiled and nodded. “I do.”

“Good.” Grey lifted a hand to Lauren’s face, and smoothed a thumb over her cheek. Her eyes danced over Lauren’s face as she leaned in closer, and she sighed as she kissed her again softly, pouring everything she was into the kiss, leaving no doubt in either of their minds that this arrangement was permanent. She had loved and lost and somehow been blessed to love again—and she knew that she would love Lauren Murphy for the rest of her life.

Many, many thanks to my wonderful betas, without whom this story would have never seen the light of day. To Amy, thank you for…everything. I look forward to tackling many more projects with you in the future. To Rae D. Magdon, thank you for sharing your impressive knowledge of grammar, and enlightening me to the ways of the Editor.  To Jade, thank you for the much-needed pats on the head as I fumbled through getting this story from my head and onto paper. And last, but most certainly not least, thanks go to Wye for
taking the time to read through this multiple times, and for your honesty in the face of potentially thrown objects.