Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 158872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
“What I don’t have is a decent blow-dryer.” His lips pull into an apologetic smile, and he holds up an ancient-looking black-and-red blow-dryer. “This was here when I moved in. It works, I think. But it’s gotta be older than I am.”
“That’s okay.” I run the comb through my wet hair. “I like letting it air-dry sometimes. Actually, maybe I’ll braid it. I have hair ties in my backpack.”
He ties the towel around his hips. “You want me to go plug in the waffle maker again?”
“Oh my God! The waffles.” I wrinkle my nose. “You think the batter is still okay?”
“I’m sure it’s fine.” He turns and reaches for the door.
“Griff?”
He stops and faces me. “Hmmm?”
I rush closer and loop my arms around his neck. “Thank you for being so patient with me.”
His eyebrows draw down, but one corner of his mouth slides up. “Patient, how?”
I tip my head toward the bedroom. “Waiting…you know, for me until I was ready.”
“Molly.” He slips his arms around my waist and stares at me with loving eyes. “I want us to spend the rest of our lives together. A couple months—years if you needed them—was nothing.” He flicks his gaze toward the ceiling, like he’s searching for the right words. “I didn’t want you to ever look back and regret anything about us. Or feel like I talked you into something.”
“I’d never regret you, no matter what.”
That doesn’t seem to reassure him. His frown remains as he studies my face. “I wanted our first time to actually be good, too.”
“Oh, it was good.” I lean up and kiss his cheek. “Very, very good. Like I’m-still-tingly-all-over good.”
Genuine amusement lights his face, chasing away the concern. “I’ll never get tired of hearing you compliment my skills.”
I glance at the mirror and warmth spreads over my skin. “You think maybe we can stay at that hotel again?”
He groans. “You’re killing me.”
“What?” I grin up at him.
He hugs me tighter. “Baby, we can do anything you want when I get back. We’ll go away for a weekend. Just you and me. Okay?”
The reminder that he’s leaving me soon sucks all the fun out of our moment. My heart crackles with pain. I don’t want to be without him for so long.
We’ve already talked about it. It’s a done deal. Support him.
I force a big smile. “I can’t wait.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Griff
My ego wouldn’t let me tell Molly that my legs were still shaking after our naked workout in the bathroom. Showering with her. Letting her find all the things I’ve been storing here for her to use one day. All that made the explosive sex even sweeter.
Not wanting to be away from her for more than a few seconds, I end up wearing my towel to breakfast. Molly’s in one of my shirts that reaches her knees. While the waffles cook, she twists her hair into two long braids.
“I have sausage in here.” I stand and yank the freezer door open.
“Oh, yum.” She takes the package out of my hands and tears into it.
“Hungry?” Damn, I never fed her dinner last night, did I?
“Staaarving.” She peers at me over her shoulder. “I had an intense workout session. Several of them.”
“Want me to make you a protein shake?”
She wrinkles her nose. “No. But I sprinkled some of your protein powder in the waffle mix.”
Could she be more perfect? “You’re the best.”
The waffle maker’s slow. We have the eggs and sausage ready before half the batter’s been used.
“We’ll start with these.” I hold up the plate of two waffles. “And let those keep cooking.”
“Maybe I’ll make chicken and waffles for dinner.”
“You think those will last until dinner?” I wait until Molly’s seated, then set a plate of sausage and eggs in front of her and the waffles in the center of the table.
“This is nice.” She reaches across the table and rests her hand over mine.
“I like having you here.” I dig into my waffle. “So good,” I mumble around a mouthful of crisp, fluffy sweetness.
“It’s cold and overcooked.” She pokes her fork in the corner of my waffle. “Here, take mine.”
“No.” I brush her fork away. “Careful. It’s dangerous trying to touch food on my plate, girl.”
She laughs and pulls her fork back to her side. “I’m trying to put food on your plate, you ravenous beast.”
I growl at her, and she laughs hard, shaking her head.
“You’ve really never had anyone over here?” she asks causally. Almost too casual, like she’s holding her breath while she waits for the answer.
I sit back. “You. The guys.” I snap my fingers. “I lied. I have had girls here.”
Her eyes widen.
“Juliet and Ella,” I say, cutting off the images she’s probably conjuring in her mind. “They’ve been here too.”
“Oh. Yeah. I knew that.”
“It’s just a place to sleep. I’m usually out, busy doing other stuff. Over at your place.” I chew on a piece of sausage, swallow, and take a swig of orange juice. “But I’m hoping when I get back, we can look for a house.”