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I roll my eyes. “You had to ruin it, didn’t you?”
He ignores my disruption. “I’ve given you two months to hem and haw and overthink things. Are you about done now?”
Um, no. Hello! Have you met me? I have tons of more problems and obstacles to throw at him. “What about when you move back to Merrill?”
His thumbs rubbing circles into my skin pause. “When I move back to Merrill? When am I moving back to Merrill? Why am I moving back to Merrill?”
“Since you and Liz made up and all, I thought you’d want to move back to your hometown. Wally said you didn’t move back here after you got out of the Army because of the situation with Liz and Bill’s death.”
“Ah, I see.” His eyes move to a spot behind me as he formulates his answer. Shit. I was right. He does want to move back here. I panic and verbal diarrhea spews forth from my mouth.
“I can’t move here. My whole life is in Milwaukee. My friends, my business, my brewery. I mean, I guess I could move the brewery, but all my contacts are there. And I don’t think I could manage living in a small town. Everyone in the diner knew Liz and her story. I couldn’t handle walking into a room and knowing everyone knew everything about me. I like my privacy.”
“Are you done ranting now?” I wasn’t ranting. But I don’t bother with an explanation. He’s a man. He wouldn’t understand.
“Whatever.”
“I never planned to move back to Merrill. There aren’t a whole lot of job opportunities here. And moving here after …” He pauses to clear his throat. “… everything I’ve seen and done seems like moving backwards.”
“Oh.” I fiddle with a button on his shirt. “Are you planning to stay in Milwaukee then?”
He grasps my chin and forces me to look at him. “I’m not leaving Milwaukee unless you are. I love you, Precious. I’m not going anywhere.”
I close my eyes and let the feeling of belonging wash over me. I didn’t realize how much I was worried about him moving back to Merrill until we visited today. But he’s not moving back. He wants to stay with me.
“Now, is there something you want to say to me? Something about love maybe?”
I slap his chest. “Don’t push me.”
“Munchkin, if I don’t push you, you won’t tell me you love me until we’re old and gray sitting on our rocking chairs on your porch at your house.”
“Please. Like I’m ever going to go gray.”
Grayson wraps his arms around me and hauls me close until my body is flush with his. “I need to hear the words, Precious.”
“Fine! I love you. Are you happy now?”
“Ecstatic,” he whispers before he molds his lips to mine. I immediately open my mouth and his tongue invades to duel with mine.
I end the kiss before I completely lose my mind in a Grayson fog. We have other things we need to clear up before I forget my name.
“You’re not going to propose, are you?” I tilt my head back so I can look him in the eyes. “I’m not ready for an engagement.” I’m not sure I ever will be if I’m being perfectly honest with myself. Adult Suzie laughs and laughs and laughs. Liar. You want to be married to this man more than you want your next breath.
“No.” Grayson chuckles. “I’m not going to propose this minute.”
“You need to know I may never be ready to get married.” It’s important to be honest about these things.
“Not a problem. Wisconsin is a common law state.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “What do you know about common law?”
“You’re the one who’s always bringing it up every time Sid claims he’s only been married four times.”
“He has been married five times,” I insist. “Common law marriage is still marriage.”
Grayson rolls us and I find myself on my back with him hovering over me. Sparks erupt when I feel his hardness pressing into my belly. Yes.
“Finally, we get to the ravishing portion of our evening. Time to rip my clothes off, bad boy.”
“I am not going to fuck you.”
My bottom lip juts out in the biggest pout ever.
“No, silly girl, I’m going to make sweet love to the woman I love who finally admitted she loves me, too.”
I am totally down with his plan. Totally!
