Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
“What’s it?” I look back at the picture, trying to see what she does, but it’s a normal photo. “I don’t get it.”
Slipping into the tub, she lies back, redirecting her gaze to the ceiling. “That’s it,” she repeats. Her eyes pivot to mine, and she says, “We did a project together for government class.”
“I don’t remember.” And then I kick my own ass for sounding like I wouldn’t remember time with her. It’s not that. It was school, in general. I hated it.
She rolls her eyes. “Of course, you don’t.”
“Don’t take it like that. I don’t even remember graduation. I remember receiving our first Grammy, though.”
By her indifferent expression, I’m thinking she’s not impressed. “Babe, that’s amazing. I don’t even know how many you’ve won—”
“Two.”
Smiling for me, she slips through the water to lean on the edge facing me. “That’s incredible. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks. What were you saying about a project in government class?”
Bolting upright, she says, “We went to the library to do research.” Was I high? Possible. “It was statistics or something about the state of California.”
I jerk my head back. “How the fuck do you remember that?” I shut the yearbook and set it on the counter.
“Well, I loved school, and it was with you.” She takes a long drink of her wine and then stands up, soapy and slick. Fucking hell, I’m drawn to take her pink bud into my mouth and lick the bubbles away. I do because she’s all mine. And she really likes my mouth on her.
But then she grabs the towel and wraps it around her as if I wasn’t just seducing her. “Um . . .”
She laughs as she steps out of the tub. “I’m sorry, babe.” She kisses my chin, which is all she can reach barefoot, and then starts drying off. “But we’re on to something here.”
“I’m still lost. Want to fill me in?”
“It’s that project.” Cat rushes into the bedroom, still talking. “That’s the clue we needed. We need to find out what we were researching.” I follow her and sit in the chair in the corner. She’s doing great, so I decide to stay quiet and let the expert do her thing. She pulls on some tight pants, then flips her hair up in the towel. Standing with those fantastic tits as an utter distraction to what she’s been saying, she asks, “Shane?”
My eyes dart to her. “What?”
Planting her fists on her hands, she says, “I’m going to need you to focus.”
“I’m going to need you to get dressed then.” At least I can still elicit a grin. Even if it is ripe with exasperation, I’ll take it.
She doesn’t cover up because she loves me. Coming to settle onto my lap, she kisses my cheek and takes a breath. “Whatever that project was will lead us to the answer. We need to figure out what we were assigned to do because it wasn’t getting married.”
“Let’s ask the teacher.”
“You make it sound so easy. What if we can’t find him online?” Adjusting her arms around my neck, she says, “My number isn’t listed out there. Yours isn’t. I know the school won’t give it to us.”
“Don’t worry.” He kisses my temple. “I have my ways. I found you, didn’t I?”
34
Cate
Shane kisses the inside of my wrist, then holds it to his chest. “I should warn you.”
“I’m too comfortable to be worried. Warn away.” Making a sheet angel with my free arm and leg, I ask, “How is this the most comfortable bed that ever existed? What count are these sheets?”
He chuckles. “I have no idea. I didn’t buy them.”
I still, looking at him on the next pillow over from me. “Who did?”
“I don’t know.”
Rolling onto my side, I snuggle against him and prop my leg over the top of his. If I could climb inside this man, I would. The closer, the better. “I want a bed fairy when I grow up.”
“You can have mine.”
Doodling across his chest with my fingertips, I ask, “Do I even want to know how many women have enjoyed this bedding and mattress?”
“We said no pasts.” His tone is tempered, but he’s right.
“Ah, yes, we agreed,” I admit begrudgingly because my mind is already spinning, imagining a high number being pulled from a bingo basket.
“One.”
Okay . . . I don’t love it, but it beats two or ninety-nine. “She must have been special to be the only one before me.”
“She wasn’t before you, Cat. She is you. You’re the one.” He drapes his arm over his head. “Now I sound like an asshole feeding you lines.”
“There can never be too much romance, Shane.”
“Good.” He pulls me on top of him, running his hands over my hips. “Because you’re the only one I want in my bed.”
“Yeah, that’s too much.” When his eyes widen, I laugh. “I’m kidding. I’m kidding.” I lean down and kiss him, lingering against his lips. “Tell me again. I’ll be serious this time.”