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"March."
I flipped to March, and my knees went weak. He looked absolutely mouth-watering. With his shirt off, held in one hand over his shoulder in a casual way. His chin was dipped slightly, his gaze cast in the distance.
I groaned. "Now the whole country will know how hot you are."
"No worries, baby. You're the only one who can touch me."
"I should get started on that, right? Why salivate at the photo when I have the model in front of me?"
"As I said, I like how your mind works."
I took one last look at the calendar before tucking it away on a bookshelf. I smiled when I felt Graham's hands on my hips, turning me around to face him.
He took my face in his hands, whispering, “I love you, baby.”
***
Graham
I felt her tense, and my gut clenched. I hadn't premeditated saying it, but now that I did, I didn't want to take the words back. But my gut clenched tighter when Lori looked at me with uncertainty. Had this been too fast? Damn it, that was how I felt, and I saw no reason to hold back. I took it as a good sign that she wasn't pushing me away, but I didn't like the stiffness in her posture. "You're amazing, and I feel so close to you that I don't want to be without you."
"That's so sweet." She swallowed, and I could swear I felt her becoming tinier by the second, like she was folding in on herself. I kissed her hard, hoping she felt the same way about me. I wanted her love—I needed it. There were no two ways about it.
"Can you say it again?" she whispered when I moved my lips to her cheek.
It dawned on me that she wasn't used to hearing the words—at least not from anyone she wasn't related to.
"I love you, Lori Connor." I peppered her neck with kisses. "You deserve to be loved." I moved to her cheek, and repeated, "You deserve to be loved." I took a deep breath and went on. "If you don't feel the same, I don't want to rush you. I'm okay with whatever you can give me right now. But I at least want to know if you imagine you could love me one day."
I wasn't sure what I'd do if she said no. Part of me wanted to take anything she had to give me, but if she didn't see this going where I did....
"I do love you. I just... I hadn't expected this."
She ensnared me in the circle of her arms, crushing her lips to mine. Something seemed to expand in my chest as relief and joy overwhelmed me. I felt Lori smile against my lips while I was kissing her, like she couldn't contain herself. Life couldn't get better than this. She loved me. I wanted our lives to be so entwined that she'd never be able to shake me off. I thought I couldn't get involved emotionally anymore, but I'd been wrong.
"Hey, want to see my bedroom?" she whispered. We were still standing in the living room, wrapped in each other.
"You want to take advantage of me, Ms. Connor?"
"Why, no. Of course not. I'm a lady. I was rather hoping you'd take advantage of me, Mr. Frazier."
We broke out in laughter. Lori tried to shush us.
"We'll wake up Milo."
We did our best to keep our voices down as we hurried to her bedroom.
"Wow!" she exclaimed once I'd closed the door. I'd arranged scented candles throughout the room. Fishing the lighter out of my pocket, I lit up each one, then turned off the lights.
"Any other surprises planned?" Lori asked in a husky voice.
"Lie down and you'll see."
She tilted her head. "Want me naked?"
"Very naked. And on your belly."
I watched her take off her dress and underwear then remove the cover on the bed. She cocked a brow at the large beach towel I'd laid out.
