Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“You destroy me, too,” I assure him, leaning in to press a kiss to his lightly stubbled cheek. He shaved this afternoon, but he’s already bristly, and I love it.
It’s hard to think of anything I don’t love about this man.
As we push through the door, Nancy’s still on the couch, half-asleep in front of an episode of Singles in South Hampton, some horrible new reality show she swears is actually kind of fun. She takes one look at us—my puffy lips, his mussed hair, the way we’re standing way too close—and reaches for her purse.
“Mimi woke up once for a drink and a cuddle, but went right back to sleep,” she says as she pops up from the couch and breezes our way. “Hope you guys had fun. Even though you’re home, um…very early?”
“So much fun.” I shove money at her, hoping it’s enough, but knowing we’ll sort it out later, if not. “Thanks, Nancy. I’ll touch base soon.”
“Totally,” she says, calling over her shoulder as she heads for the door, “Have so much fun, you two. You deserve it!”
The lock clicks behind her.
Silence falls, and the fact that we’re basically alone—finally alone—settles between us.
And suddenly, standing there inches from this beautiful man in the place we both call home, the weight of what’s about to happen crashes over me.
This is Grammercy Graves.
My secret crush. My podcast fodder.
And now, through some unfathomable twist of Fate, my friend, my co-parent, and about to be…my lover. How is this even real?
“I should check on Mimi,” I say, my heart racing from nerves as much as lust.
Can I do this? Now? With still so much unsaid between us? With my secrets unspoken and maybe his, too? This is brand spanking new. There are still so many things we don’t know about each other.
“Elly?”
“Yes?” I gulp.
“If you don’t go now,” he says quietly, “I may have to kiss you again, right here. And then the chances that we’re going to make it to my bedroom aren’t looking good.”
“They aren’t,” I agree, my nipples tight and tingling again just from the look in his eyes. Every piece of me yearns for him with a primal need that won’t be tamped down by something as flimsy as logic.
Not even fear can hold a candle to how much I want him right now.
“Go check on our girl,” he adds. “I’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready.”
Our girl. Like she belongs to both of us. Like we’re really a family and this isn’t temporary or pretend.
I don’t know what’s more confusing, the fact that he said those words or the fact that they don’t feel as crazy as they probably should.
I practically run down the hall, needing to move, to pull in deep breaths, something to give common sense one last chance at pulling me back from the edge. Mimi’s door is cracked, spilling warm light into the hallway. I peek inside to find her sprawled across the bread in her tragic Victorian fashion, Miss Sparklehorn draped over her chest and her mouth open in a tiny snore.
It’s the sleep of a girl who knows she’s safe. Protected.
Loved.
And with sudden clarity, I realize I deserve to feel all those things, too. And that Grammercy makes me feel them, every single one.
All the way down the hall, through the great room, and down the shorter hallway to his bedroom, that’s all I can think about. That Grammercy makes me feel loved, even though it’s way too damned soon. Even though we barely know each other. Even though we had our first real, honest-to-goodness kiss tonight.
I remind myself of all that as I step through the open door to find him sitting on the padded storage bench at the base of his bed, the worry creases on his forehead visible in the soft light from the lamp in the corner.
As soon as I close the door behind me and lean back against it, they smooth, but the concern remains in his eyes as he whispers, “I was afraid you weren’t going to come. That you’d decide we’re moving too fast.”
My brows slide up. “Do you think we’re moving too fast?”
“No.” He shakes his head slowly. “Maybe I should, but you feel so familiar, El. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I just…knew. I knew I was going to know you, that I had to know you or I’d regret it for the rest of my life.”
My chest goes tight. “I felt the same way. But you were a hockey player on a tiny screen I watched in my sad little apartment, and I…” I pull in a breath. “I don’t want you to think this is about that. I want you to know that I see you. The real you.” I will him to hear the truth in my voice as I add, “And even if you had the most boring job in the world and we lived in my tiny apartment full of rats and never had money to go out to fancy jazz clubs, I would still be so honored to be your girl.”