Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88057 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88057 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“I’m gonna work on it,” I promised, meeting his intense stare with one of my own. “I want to get there for you. You make me want to be a better person.”
“You already are.” He raised his head enough to give me a kiss that made my toes curl against the sheets. My body might be worn out from the multiple rounds of orgasms, but my spirit sure was willing. But then my phone beeped, and Hercules barked, standing up. I reached reflexively for it, and Ambrose laughed.
“Your friends probably think I kidnapped you.” He grinned merrily as if he liked the idea of himself as a bandit.
“Nah. More like they wanna know if I’ve screwed up yet.” I scanned my messages.
“Tell them you screwed all afternoon. And that you’re the best boyfriend I’ve ever had.”
“Will do.” Laughing with another person had never felt as good as it did with Ambrose. I’d do my damnedest to keep earning that title. Boyfriend. Never thought I’d want that label, and now I didn’t want to ever let it go. “Duncan says that Cash and Danny want us to come over on Saturday. Also, he has a list of possible Atlanta clients.”
“Don’t let him pressure you either.” Ambrose’s voice was all stern. “And I’m happy to go see your friends.”
“Hercules can come. He’ll like Danny and Cash’s dogs.”
“Good.” Ambrose let out a big yawn and sank back onto my chest. “How am I sleepy already?”
“I wore you out.” I stroked the back of his head.
“Don’t sound so smug.” His voice was all sleepy, and no way was I letting him drive.
“But I am. I’m proud of us. That was a record-setting afternoon. You wanna sleep over?”
“Already am.” He yawned again, a soft huff of breath ruffling my chest hair.
“Then sleep, boss. I’ll be here.” And I would be. I’d be here as long as he kept me, even if it meant battling my own doubts to do so.
Chapter Forty
Ambrose
“Is this some sort of work party? An A-List function?” I whispered to Harley as we made our way to the pool and patio area at Cash and Danny’s Hollywood Hills home. Cash had let us in before immediately being summoned by someone I didn’t recognize. Several people were already in the water, with more gathered around a big picnic table loaded with food. Duncan and Ezra were sharing a lounger, deep in conversation with Avery, the younger SEAL who’d greeted me at A-List a few days prior. “This is more people than I expected.”
“Me too, but think of it as a dog playdate, not a party.” Shifting the cookie platter to his left hand, Harley threw an arm around my shoulders. “And if you need to leave early, just give me a signal. Not gonna complain one bit if you want early to bed.”
“My hero.” I pretended to swoon, which cracked us both up and went a long way to making me less anxious. Still, though, I petted Hercules and glanced nervously around, trying to decide when to set him down.
“Oh my God, your dog is adorable.” Danny Love, the Danny Love, iconic child superstar all-grown up, rushed over to greet us, followed by two small dogs. I didn’t do starstruck, but Danny Love and Ezra Moon at the same gathering was pretty impressive. Danny was in purple swim trunks and a Hawaiian print rash guard, and he gestured back at the dogs who featured matching lifejackets with shark fins on top. “This is Linus and Lucy. Linus will growl, but he’s all bark. You can let your cutie say hi if you want. Jace is bringing a couple of his pups too, but they’re super well-behaved.”
“Jace is coming?” Harley asked Danny as I gingerly placed Hercules near Danny’s dogs—a female dachshund and a male mixed-breed terrier. Much sniffing and wagging commenced.
“Yeah, well, the entire crew needed proof of you all domesticated.” Danny batted his eyes innocently at Harley. “The invite list kept growing as word spread.”
Harley shook his head. “Money and the LT have turned into old gossips.”
“Who just want you happy.” Danny patted his arm like he was one of the dogs.
“We brought cookies.” Trying to keep the peace, I pointed to the plate Harley was still holding. Harley had nixed my idea to offer a bottle of wine from my cellar, which had somehow led to a discussion of various hostess gifts our mothers had used over the years, which led to a call to Harley’s sister-in-law last night. Sue had been only too pleased to share Mama Burton’s chocolate-chip cookie recipe. We’d passed a floury and happy morning in my kitchen, trying to duplicate the cookies Harley remembered, the highlight of a string of days that had been nothing short of idyllic.
“You might need to revive me if Harley baked. Cash, fetch the smelling salts.” Danny called out to Cash, who emerged from the house with a big tray of vegetables. “Harley brought cookies, and they don’t look store-bought.”