Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“Or you can stay,” Shane says, lifting my chin and kissing me. “Taylor will be home soon, and she’ll be excited to see you and tell you all about her competition.”
Taylor called us last night to let us know they placed second and would be heading to Nationals, but because everyone was getting ready to go out and celebrate, the conversation was quick.
“Fine,” I say, snuggling into his side. “But I’m not spending the night.” I glance up and give him the stink eye, making him laugh.
“Whatever you say.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head.
His phone goes off, and a few seconds later, he sighs.
“Everything okay?” I ask since Taylor is due to be home anytime now.
“Jamie, Taylor’s mom, is coming into town next month to take Taylor on a girls’ trip.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” I turn slightly so I can look at him while we talk.
“Yeah, it is, as long as she sticks to it. The last time she took her away ended with her working and Taylor begging to come home because she was bored.”
“Well, hopefully, she sticks to it. And if she doesn’t, we’ll get Taylor and have our own fun.”
Shane grins, and butterflies erupt in my belly.
When he doesn’t say anything, I squirm in my spot.
“What?” I ask, wondering why he’s looking at me all funny.
“You said we.”
“Huh?”
“You said we’ll go get her and have our own fun. I love that.” He cups the back of my head and lifts my face toward his. “I love that you’re including yourself.”
Before I can say anything, the door swings open, Becky barrels toward the door, barking in excitement, and Taylor stumbles in, dropping her bags on the floor.
“Dad, I’m home!” She glances at us and grins. “Kinsley, you’re here!”
“I hope that’s okay,” I tell her. “I can’t wait to hear all about your competition.”
“Of course it is,” she scoffs. “And based on the cheesy-ass grin my dad’s sporting, I have a feeling if you leave, he’s going to try to tie you to the bed.”
Shane snorts out a laugh, but doesn’t deny it.
“Get over here,” he says. “Tell us about your weekend.”
Taylor scurries over and plops onto the couch with us. “It was so good!” She beams and then proceeds to tell us what seems like every detail from the past three days without taking a breath.
The entire time, Shane holds me, listening intently while rubbing circles on my arm, and I can’t help but feel like, for the first time in a long time, I’m right where I belong.
And when the guilt hits, I take a deep breath and push it away.
I can’t change the past, but I’m alive, and I deserve to have a future.
Soft kisses flutter against my flesh, forcing me awake. When I pry my eyes open, I find Shane staring at me, a soft smile spread across his handsome face.
“Morning,” I croak out, stretching my limbs.
I wasn’t planning on spending the night, but I once again fell asleep while we were watching a movie, and instead of insisting Shane take me home, I let him carry me to bed.
“It’s a damn good morning,” he says with a smirk. “Especially when I get to wake up with you in my bed.”
“Don’t make a habit of it,” I say, trying to give him the best stink eye I can muster up. “Where’s Taylor?”
“Already left for school. It’s just after ten. You slept in.”
Ten? Holy shit, that means I got, like, twelve hours of solid sleep. Maybe I should spend the night more often.
“I should probably get going …”
“Or you could spend the day with me.” Shane rolls us over so I’m underneath him. “We’re both off today.”
“Oh, yeah? And what do you propose we do all day?” I wrap my legs around his waist and dig my heels into his butt so his body is flush against mine.
“Not sure.” He shrugs. “But I think getting naked with you is the perfect thing to do while we figure it out.”
He captures my mouth with his, and I nod in agreement since I’m completely on board with starting our day with him inside of me.
And truth be told, I think I would be on board to start every day that way.
“I’m pretty sure days off are supposed to be spent away from the office,” Shane says with a chuckle as we walk through the door of Exposed Ink.
I type in the code when the alarm goes off and then lock the door since we’re closed.
“This is my sanctuary,” I tell him, flipping on the lights and texting my dad so he knows it was me who triggered the alarm. “It was my dream to open my own shop, but after Brandon died, I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to tattoo again.
“Thankfully, my dad dragged me out of my depression and insisted we open this place.” I glance around at the beautiful shop, proud of what we created.