Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
She pants out a breath. “I don’t mind it. Actually, I think I like it.”
I put my hand to her cheek and bring her lips to mine. I put everything into the kiss. All my insecurities, my fear, my love, all of it. She’s pressed up against me, our bodies flush to one another, and she’s the one to break contact. Her lips are swollen and her nose red. Her eyes are that dark shade of blue that tells me she wants more, but her hand on my chest stops me from reaching in again. “We have work to do, Beau.”
I take deep breaths, and when I’ve calmed down, I nod my head. “Of course, you’re right. So the details for the event…” I shift in my seat because her hip is pressed up against my hard manhood, and it sucks to ignore it, but just being this close and having her in my arms is enough right now. “We are charging $100 a ticket. The food was hors d’oeuvres and desserts. You already know what the entertainment was.”
She nods. “Okay, I need to make some calls.”
I hand her my phone, but she doesn’t take it. “I can use mine.”
I shrug and push mine into her hand. “Take mine. Yours is out of reach, and I don’t want you to get up.”
She takes my phone and holds it between both her hands. She looks at the blank screen and then hands it to me. “You need to put your passcode in it.”
I don’t take the phone. “It’s your birthday.”
Her jaw slacks. “Your passcode is my birthday?”
She’s typing in the code when I answer her. “Yes, and your picture is my screen saver.”
At that moment, a picture of Nat pops up on my screen. Her eyes go to mine, and I can see the surprise on her face, reminding me yet again of what a fool I’ve been.
I lean back in my chair as she works. She calls Chloe to see if she can cover the next three days at the gym.
After that, she calls Sugar Glaze Bakery and talks to Emery, the owner. After some back and forth, they come up with a dessert menu, and Emery is able to cater desserts for Friday night.
She then calls Violet, the owner of Red’s Diner, and in less than ten minutes, she has the food situation completely covered.
When she hangs up, I can’t help but be impressed. “Did you really just take care of the catering in less than twenty minutes?”
She shrugs. “And people will love the food. You know it’s good. I’m not sure why you all didn’t go with them anyway. They do a lot of catering in Whiskey Run.”
“I’m not sure, but we’ll be sure to spread the word if they do a great job. Okay, entertainment…”
She tries to get up, but I wrap my arms around her waist. She smiles, kisses my nose, and puts her hands on my shoulders. “I think better if I pace.”
I growl. I don’t mean to, but I do. I’m about to let her up, but instead she settles back into my lap and against my chest. “Okay, fine. I’ll think here.”
I hold her in my arms and don’t say a word. I would let her think like this all day if I could. I’m staring at her when she opens her eyes. She sits up a little bit but doesn’t try to get up. “You’re looking at me differently, Beau. I’m not sure what to make of it.”
I twirl a piece of hair that has come out of her ponytail around my finger. “I probably am looking at you differently. I feel different.”
I feel her tense, but she tries to hide it. “What do you mean you feel different?”
“I dunno how to explain it, and I don’t want to screw this up again. It’s probably better if we don’t talk about it.”
She leans into me and presses her chest against mine. She’s fighting dirty. “We need to talk about it. Try and explain it to me.”
I let out a ragged breath. “I don’t know. I feel like I always held myself back. The things I thought, wanted, craved… I held it all back. And now, after realizing that there’s a chance I can lose you, I can’t hold it back anymore. I haven’t been living, Nat.”
She puts her hand on my chest. I know she can feel the steady drumming of my heart. “And now you are.”
I cover her hand with mine. “And now I am.”
She curls into me, pressing her head against my chest. I rest my chin on the top of her head. She’s not tense. She doesn’t seem like she’s mad; if anything, she’s completely melted into me. I kiss the top of her head again and just hold her.