Page 152 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

We ate in bed, feeding each other bites, stealing kisses between sips of wine. It was decadent and intimate and so very us.

“I’ve been thinking,” I said, licking chocolate from my fingers in a way that made his eyes darken again.

“Dangerous.”

“Very.” I took another strawberry. “I want to stay over more. Like, a lot more.”

“I was hoping you would.” He looked around the room. “I can clear some space for your things. Whatever you need.”

“Slow down, Bancroft. I’m not moving in. Yet.” I smiled to soften it. “But I want to wake up with you. Fall asleep with you. Do normal couple things.”

“Like what?”

“Like grocery shopping. Movie nights. Walking around the city holding hands.” I shrugged. “The little things that make a relationship real.”

He nodded, serious now. “I want that too.”

“Good.”

“But I also want the big things,” he added. “The future stuff. I meant what I said about putting a real ring on your finger someday.”

My heart fluttered. “I know you did.”

“Not yet,” he assured me. “We’ll take our time. Do this right. But I want you to know that’s where I’m headed, Cleo. All in with you.”

“All in,” I echoed. Those two little words so powerful. So meaningful. So perfect.

He took my hand, brought it to his lips. “One step at a time.”

“One step at a time,” I agreed.

Later, when the tray was empty and the wine was gone, we made love again. When we finally fell asleep, tangled together in his enormous bed, I felt like I’d finally found home.

I was falling asleep when he whispered, “Move in with me.”

I froze, wondering if I’d imagined it. “What?”

“I know it’s fast,” he said, his voice quiet in the darkness. “But I want you here. All the time. Every day. I’m serious. You said you wanted to be here. So be here. Please.”

“Cash, that is fast.”

I didn’t need to think about it. I already knew my answer.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Yes?” He sounded surprised, like he hadn’t expected me to agree so quickly.

“Yes.”

I fell asleep with a smile on my face dreaming of our future.

It was going to be perfect.

CHAPTER 47

CASH

Austin and Melody’s house was packed. Every surface was covered with gifts wrapped in blues and yellows and greens. The Bancroft clan had descended in force, which meant at least thirty people were currently crammed into the living room. Add in Melody’s friends, some neighbors, and what felt like a thousand children running around, and it was complete pandemonium.