Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
“It’s a feeling. I can’t explain it.”
“I think I’ve got an idea,” Abram says, shaking his head in amusement.
A tense silence falls between us as Abram continues to look into my eyes. I lower my eyes, suddenly interested in the sparkling red wine in front of me.
Does it taste so exquisite because it’s a French wine?
“You make me happy, Melody,” Abram says, breaking the awkward silence. My eyes snap up to his, and my heart skips dangerously as the solemn look in his beautiful blue-green eyes pierces my heart. “If you don’t mind being with an old man, I’d like to....”
“You’re not old!” I say and quickly cover my mouth at the realization of my thoughtlessness. “I’m sorry for the interruption,” I add, clearing my throat awkwardly. “Please, continue.”
“I’m forty-nine, sweetheart,” Abram says with an amused chuckle. “Some consider that pretty old.”
“I don’t,” I say with a small shrug. “You’re just perfect.”
Abram lets out a hearty laugh. He looks so different when he laughs. His eyes crinkle up at the corners giving him the expression of someone who’s lived a lot of happy memories.
I wish I could paint like him then I’d capture this image of him on a canvas in the brightest and most beautiful colors.
“I see what you did there,” he says when his laughter dies down. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
Abram holds out his hands to me with an expectant smile on his handsome face. I place my hands in his, distinctly aware of the impossible increase in my heartbeat and the fluttering feeling in my stomach.
“I want you, Melody,” Abram says, looking directly into my eyes. “All of you. These things that I feel for you are strange and scary. But I’ve thought about it and don’t want to stop. I know I’m being selfish, but I already warned you... Now, I can’t bear the thought of you with anyone else. I want everything, including the title.”
“Wh...What are you talking about?” I ask, swallowing nervously. My throat has gone dry, and my chest is so tight I can barely breathe.
“Please, be my girlfriend,” Abram says, keeping his eyes on mine. “I...I know it’s sudden, and we haven’t known each other for that long but I...”
“Yes.”
Abram leans forward eagerly, his hands tightening significantly around mine. “I promise you I’ve thought long and hard about....” He freezes, blinking at me in surprise. “What? Did you say yes?”
“Yes,” I say with a nod, chuckling through my tears.
I can’t believe this is actually happening.
I can barely hold back the urge to burst into tears and bawl from too much happiness.
“Yes, as in you said yes or yes as in you’ll be my girlfriend?”
I laugh because it’s all I can do. “Yes, to both. I’ll be your girlfriend.”
Abram’s eyes soften.
He holds my gaze for the longest time, allowing me to see into his soul. There I clearly saw his genuineness and vulnerability.
He lets go of one of my hands to pick up his wine glass.
“A toast?” he asks, raising his wine glass. “To us.”
I pick my wine glass and clink it against his. “To us.”
Us.
The word sounds strangely yet perfect.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Melody
I change the channel with another sigh. An animal show comes on, and I roll my eyes at the overly dramatic voice of the narrator.
Abram’s chuckle draws my attention from the TV. I look up to see him walking toward me with two cans of soda. He hands one to me and lowers himself to the space beside me.
I snuggle up against his broad chest, and his arms immediately come around me.
He smells so good, a tantalizing combination of some minty men’s shampoo and his natural woodsy scent.
His hair is still wet from the shower, and I suddenly feel like running my fingers through the dark steel-peppered strands and pulling him down for a ravishing kiss.
I drink my soda instead, embarrassed at the direction of my thoughts when we just made mind-blowing love right here on this couch before he showered, and then all night before that.
“What were you watching?” Abram asks, breaking the comfortable silence that’s fallen between us.
“Nothing in particular,” I reply with a deep sigh. “Everything is boring. I shouldn’t have let you talk me into staying home all day.”
“You need the break, baby,” Abram says in an amused tone. “You work too hard.”
I turn my head slightly so I can look at his face. “You work me even harder at night. You don’t hear me complaining.”
Abram’s brows shoot up.
“Is that so?” he asks, his mouth pulling up in an engaging smile. “Here am I thinking what we do helps you relieve stress. Especially seeing as you’re always begging for more.”
I narrow my eyes teasingly.
“What’s this stress I feel right now, then?”
Abram feigned surprise.
“Well, well... We should do something about that, shouldn’t we?” he asks, backing me against the sofa until he’s half-lying on top of me.