Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“I thought you might like it.”
“I love it.” As she sat down in one of the chairs, she admitted, “I had no idea this was even up here.”
“Most folks don’t. That’s why I like it up here.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she tilted her head back and looked up at the stars. “Beautiful.”
“Yes, you are.”
“I was talking about the stars.”
“And I was talking about you.” I tilted my head back and rested it on the back of the chair. “Don’t know how you do it.”
“Do what?”
“Take a shit day and make it better without even trying.”
“You do the exact same thing for me.” She let out a sigh. “Today was awful. I just wanted to go to class and get what I needed for my project, and then Ben comes along and suddenly I’m wondering if I’m gonna get out of there alive.”
“Really hate you had to go through that.”
“I only have myself to blame.” She looked over at me with puppy dog eyes. “But don’t worry. Next time, I’ll listen and do whatever you tell me to.”
“You mean that?”
“Well, yeah. Of course, I do.”
“Then, move in with me.”
I knew it was fast. We’d only been dating for a couple of weeks, but I’d known for years that she was the one. I watched as her eyes widened and her mouth fell open, and when her nose wrinkled, I knew she was about to argue. “Move in with you? Seriously? We just started dating, and now, you want to live together?”
“Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do.”
“You don’t think that’s rushing it a bit?”
“No.”
“No?” She stood and started pacing in front of me. I knew then she was about to really amp it up. “We’ve been on two dates, and I’m not even sure that one of them was actually a date. I mean, we slept together, but we spent most of the night watching the game with the guys. I’m not sure that counts. But even it does, it’s been two dates.”
“It’s been six years, Elsie. You know me better than anyone, and I’d dare say I know you just as well.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah, that’s absolutely right.” I stood up, and her face flushed red when I told her, “I know the only reason you like Oreos is because of the center. I know you like daisies because they remind you of your mother. I know you say you like scary movies, but you also sleep with a light on for days after watching one. I know you bite your bottom lip when you get nervous, and I know your cheeks flush whenever you see me come into a room, and they don’t do that for anyone else but me.”
A small grin slowly spread across her face as she tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, letting me know I was getting to her. “You definitely know how to win an argument.”
“Only when it’s important to me, and nothing’s as important as you... You mean everything to me, Elsie.” I brought my hands up to her face, gently brushing my thumb across her cheek as I said, “One look at you, and my day is made. I don’t know a better way to say it than that.”
“You said it pretty damn well.” She studied me for a moment, then smiled. “Okay. I’ll move in with you, but only on one condition.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“I need you to not to forget about me.”
“Hmmm? How could I forget about you?”
“Pretty easily actually,” she scoffed. “When you’re working on something, you tend to get tunnel vision. You go into your office, and there are times when you don’t come out for days. I get it. I know you have things to do, and the brothers are counting on you for stuff, but I need you to find a way to fit me into the equation. Even if it’s only for a few minutes.”
“I can manage that.”
“Okay, then I guess that settles it.” She stepped over to me and wound her arms around my neck. “You should probably know... I’m not a very good cook.”
“I’m aware.”
“And I like cats, but I like dogs better.”
“I know that, too.”
“So, we’re really doing this?”
I didn’t answer.
Instead, I lowered my mouth to hers, kissing her with a promise of what was to come. The beat of her heart next to mine calmed me, refueled me, and that’s when I knew. She wasn’t my first, but she would be my last. I pulled her closer as I continued to devour her mouth, claiming her in the only way I could in that moment.
Damn.
I loved how her body instantly responded to mine, but it made it hard not to take her right there on the roof. I was quickly losing my restraint, so I stepped back and broke our embrace. Disappointment flashed through her eyes until I said, “I think it’s time we took this inside.”