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I smirk. “Don’t worry. I’ll save all the cocky for Cat.”
Hayden rolls his eyes. “Can’t wait to meet her. Think I can when I come next week?”
“Hope so. We’ll see how it goes. I’m letting her and Cat guide how fast or slow we take this. If it were up to me, Cat and I would head down to city hall and make it official, and I’d have them both living with me by the end of the day.”
I sigh. Somehow that feels like it’s a pipe dream.
My brother smiles his signature smile, his eyes crinkling. “I’m happy for you, Jay. You deserve it.”
“Thanks.” Sitting back in my chair, I run a hand through my hair. “I’m not sure I do, but I’m taking my shot anyway.”
* * *
I stepout of the elevator holding a bouquet of yellow daisies for Chloe and a fall bouquet for Cat. The arrangement is Cat in flower form. All burnt oranges, yellows, and hints of red berries mixed throughout. At the door, my girl is cradling a pizza box and digging through her purse to pay the delivery man.
“I’ve got it,” I say, pulling out my wallet as I hustle to the door.
Cat looks up like a deer in headlights, all wide eyes and nervousness. Her shoulder is peeking out of her red sweater, temping me to drop a kiss there to ease the tension. But instead, I drag my attention away from her and deal with the pizza guy. Once he’s headed to the elevator, I turn back to a speechless Cat. With wild eyes and heaving panicked breaths, she takes a step out of her apartment and slams the door behind her.
“Fucking stunning,” I whisper as I lean in and kiss her cheek, enjoying how she instantly turns pink at my words. “We gonna go in there, Kitten, or are we eating in the hall?”
That snaps her out of her stupor, and with an eye roll, she sighs. “I just thought we should talk—make a plan—before going back in there.” She nods toward the door.
I tangle my fingers in her shorter hair and tug gently before I push it behind her ear. “I thoughtIwas freaking out, but you’re putting me to shame right now.” Hoping to ease the tension she’s carrying, I give her one of my devastating smiles.
She leans against the door, settling a bit. “I ordered pizza,” she says weakly, holding up the box.
Chuckling, I nod. “Is that what that is?”
“You like pizza, right?”
I bark out a laugh. “Cat, pretty sure we ate pizza in bed all those years ago. Like every other night.”
She blows out a breath, but she avoids my gaze. Instead, she focuses on something behind me. “Right.”
“What’s wrong, Kitten?”
She sighs, but she still won’t look at me. “I don’t cook.”
“I don’t need a chef.”
“No, like, I don’t cook, period. I’m not good at this mom thing…and I’ll probably be terrible at the wife thing.”
Crouching low, I gently set both bouquets on the floor. Then I take the pizza box from her hands and place it next to them. When I straighten, I angle in close to her and lift her chin with my thumb, forcing her to finally look at me so she hears my every word.
“I haven’t had the honor of witnessing you as a mother, but just hearing you talk about her? And seeing all you’ve done for her over the last twelve years? The choices you’ve made…” I cup her cheek and swipe the pad of my thumb back and forth. “I’m in awe of you, Kitten.” Taking a step closer, I ghost my lips across her mouth. “And as for being a wife…” I chuff out a dark laugh. “Food is the last thing I want from you, Catherine.”
The gold flecks in her eyes meld together, and tears threaten to spill over her lashes. “What do you want from me, Jay?” she whispers, her lips brushing against mine with her every word.
“All of you.” I pull back an inch or two. “These lips,” I say as her tongue darts out to moisten them. “This heart.” I press my free hand flat against her chest, relishing the wild way it beats against my fingertips. Sliding my hand around her neck, I drop my forehead to hers and pull her so her mouth meets mine. “This body. Fuck, baby, you own me, and I’ll take anything you’re willing to give me. But I promise, the last thing you should ever feel is insecure as a mother or as a wife. Because to me, you’re perfect.”
Her eyes soften, and she swallows thickly. “I like you like this,” she whispers.
I dig my fingers into the back of her neck, barely holding myself back. “And how am I, Cat?”
Her tongue darts out again. “Unhinged, sweet, devoted. Maybe a tiny bit mine.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I’m 100 percent yours. And those other things? For you, yeah, I’m all of those.”
