Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
I don’t tell her my biggest truth—and fear.
I don’t tell her that I want her to be mine.
“What about the wedding?”
“I want it to be perfect. Whatever you want, I want, but it will need to be pulled off quickly so that I’m not tying you up with this forever.”
“So, a dress?”
“Yeah, gorgeous, a dress.” That’s something else I’ve thought about more than I should have, considering this is an arrangement between friends.
She hasn’t asked me about a ring, and that’s okay. If she asks, I’ll tell her, but I want it to be a surprise. This needs to be real to everyone except for us and our closest friends. What kind of man doesn’t buy the love of his life an engagement ring? Not this one.
“I’m stuffed.” She pushes her now empty plate away from her.
“You need me to carry you out to my truck?”
“Yes, actually, that would be great.” She laughs.
I wave down the waitress, hand her a couple of twenties, and tell her to keep the change. Standing, I offer her my hand and help Monroe out of the booth. When she’s standing before me, I bend and pick her up bridal style. She shrieks as her arms lock around my neck.
“Legend,” she whispers. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying my girl to the truck.”
She relaxes into my hold, and nothing has ever felt more right.
We’re back at my place—our place—and snuggled up on the couch, watching a movie. Strawberry waffles and a night with Monroe is my new favorite thing.
“I need a snack,” I tell her.
She reaches for the remote and pauses the television. “I made you some of the peanut butter fudge you like.”
“What?” I sit up and turn to face her. “Where?”
“It’s in a container on the counter in the kitchen.”
“You made me your peanut butter fudge?”
“I did.”
She smiles, and I don’t think, I just lean in and kiss the corner of her mouth. It’s not a full-on kiss. I’m tempted to kiss the hell out of her, but I’ve enjoyed this time with her, and don’t want to make it weird or scare her off. She’s staying here tonight, and I’m looking forward to waking up with her in my arms. We both know that’s how the night’s going to turn out. Every time she stays with me, that’s how we wake up.
Jumping off the couch, I rush to the kitchen. “You want anything?” I call out to her.
“A water and a tiny piece of fudge. I’m still stuffed.”
Grabbing two bottles of water and the entire container, because Monroe’s fudge is the best, I make my way back to the living room. Monroe hits the play button and we finish our movie. When the credits roll, I look over to find her sleeping.
“Hey.” I place my hand on her cheek. “Wake up, gorgeous,” I say softly.
Her eyes flutter open. “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”
“Don’t be.”
“You’re going to have to tell me how it ended.”
“Nope, we’re just going to have to watch it again.”
“I can’t make you sit through it again.”
“I’d sit through it a thousand more times if you were next to me.” I trace my thumb across her cheek. Her eyes hold mine, and we’re both lost in the trance. My heart is pounding, and from the way her eyes are suddenly dilated, I’d say hers is as well. I’m tempted to place my hand to her chest to feel it, but I refrain. Barely.
“Ready for bed?” I finally ask. I know if I don’t break this trance, I’m going to do something we didn’t agree to. Like kissing her. Not just her lips. I’ve imagined stripping her naked and exploring her body. I know it’s wrong, but I can’t seem to stop myself.
“Yeah.”
Standing, I pull the blanket off her and lift her into my arms. “I got you.”
She loops her arms around my neck. “I know.” She kisses my cheek, and I tighten my hold on her.
It takes everything inside me, all the willpower I didn’t even know that I possessed, to place her on the bed.
I’m falling hard for her, and I don’t think I can stop it.
CHAPTER
TEN
Monroe
Today is my day off, and everyone else is at work. Legend won’t be home until around seven tonight. Emerson is working, and I assume the rest of the guys are as well. Legend and I decided I’d be moving in with him this weekend. He already gave me the code to the door and he’s told me multiple times to make myself at home.
I’ve washed all my laundry, and I’m pretty much packed up. It's not like I have a lot of furniture to take with me. It didn’t take me long to pack up my life in a few cardboard boxes. Instead of sitting around the house, I decided to do a little shopping. It started out just for groceries to make Legend dinner tonight. Then it ended up being… well, more than that.