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)
I tuck the last flower, a pale pink ranunculus, into the vase, then turn in his arms. Wrapping mine around his neck. “Wait, you . . .” I can’t seem to get a read on the situation. “You flew back for one night just to see me?”
“Yes.” Kissing my temple, he says, “Trust me, it was self-serving.” I feel what he means against my leg.
Tonight is the night, and I’m not prepared.
No new lingerie to wear for him.
No dinner waiting for us or even ordered, and it’s almost nine o’clock.
I don’t remember if I even made my bed.
It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t because he wants me as I am. I still plan to take that bath and wash the day away so we can enjoy tonight together.
My heart beats faster, but I’m pretty sure it never stopped racing from the moment we met back in high school. “You say the sweetest things,” I joke, needing the laugh after the earlier sadness.
Chuckling, he says, “I try.” His tone turns when his grin levels. “Cat?”
“Hmm?”
“You make me feel.”
I wait patiently, knowing he isn’t used to sharing his emotions. When he doesn’t say anything else, I ask, “I make you feel what, babe?”
“Everything. You just make me feel anything and alive for the first time in forever.” Stroking the side of my neck, he says, “Thank you.”
“I . . .” I close my eyes, absorbing every word his heart just spoke to mine. I catch a breath and hold him a little tighter. “Careful, or you’re going to make me fall in love.” I tilt my head back enough to watch his reaction. I might be mistaken, but that might be love already reflecting in his blues. I fold myself into his arms again, needing to keep my heart from floating away.
In his arms, drifting in his words, I realize this is what was always missing from my life.
The magic.
The feeling that anything is possible.
Love blooming in my chest.
“There are worse things that could happen to a married couple than falling in love with each other.”
Tightening my hold on him, I reply, “There sure are.”
17
Cate
My stresses disappeared when Shane arrived, but the hot water of the bubble bath helps relieve my muscles. I take a sip of wine, then set the glass back on the edge of the tub. Splashing the water, I rest back, making eye contact. “I’m happy to make room for you.”
He laughs, sizing it up by giving it a once-over from his seat on the floor. “It’s miniature.”
“It fits me,” I reply as if I’ve proven my point just by saying it. “Well, not entirely since only half my body can be underwater at a time.”
“Next time I’m in town, come bathe in mine. You’ll never leave after being so spoiled. It’s deep, and your feet wouldn’t be hanging out.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
“I’m tempting you.” He takes my hand, holding it between both of his. “Come stay with me.”
“It won’t take a lot of convincing, but it will take planning for me to get to work the next day since we live so far apart.”
He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses the top. “I don’t have weekends off until the tour is over. We can stay here until then.”
“I’ve never been so sad about missing out on a tub.”
“It will still be there. Or,” he says, sitting back against the tiled wall, “I’ll give you a key to enjoy it while I’m away.”
Just when I think I’m safe from swooning over this man, he goes and offers me not just what I imagine to be an incredible tub, but his whole house. For Shane, that’s the same as him giving me his heart. “You don’t have to do that,” I say. “I know we’re moving fast, probably too fast for—”
“I want you at my house, Cat. I want you with me. I just . . . I want you. All the time.”
I wasn’t prepared earlier. I’m definitely not now.
How could I be?
I barely know this man in the greater sense but have been slowly falling in love with him since we reunited. We’d pushed the marriage and the divorce aside and started to get to know each other without the weight of those impending issues.
He doesn’t do relationships but is breaking his rules for me. How can I not fall madly in love with him for that reason alone? Add in the other thousands of reasons and all eight of those rock-hard abs of his, and I’m sunk. I never stood a chance with him. Deep down, though, I’ve always known it.
“What are you saying?” I ask without remembering until now that we’d left this discussion for later. It’s later, but I still didn’t expect it to come so naturally.
“I want you with me, Cat. I want you in my life.”