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My imagination is full of possibilities, and I want to ask her more about these outfits and poses, but instead I hold out one black high heel toward her. When she moves to take it from me, I pull her against me instead of releasing it. Her hand goes to my chest as if to push me away, but the attempt is half-hearted at best.
“Cole, I need to go,” she whispers. “The wedding is…”
“Hours away,” I argue, looking down at her. “Stay a little longer. We’ll order breakfast. We can try out my giant shower. I’ll have you back to your room in plenty of time to be there for Piper.”
She still looks hesitant, so I lean down to kiss her lips. “Please?” I murmur the word against her mouth.
She sighs and I feel some of the tension leaving her body. I smile and kiss her again, lingering this time. The hand on my chest slides higher, wrapping around my neck as her lips soften, and she melts against me. I smile, feeling something in my chest swell almost painfully at the realization that she’s going to stay a little longer. I’m surprised I managed to convince her, especially after last night. We’d broken more than one of her rules.
Speaking of rules, Layna slept with me last night. It may have only been for a few hours, but she’d stayed in my bed and slept beside me. That had been a first. She’s never even allowed herself to doze off beside me in the past, but last night she’d let me pull her back against me as she’d fallen asleep. And it’s the best sleep I’ve had in years. I want to ask her what this means, but I’m not an idiot. I know what would happen if I did that. She’d shut me out so fast my head would spin. I need to play this carefully.
So, I order room service and pull her into the massive, tiled shower while we wait for the food to be delivered. I keep things light, flirting and teasing her as we wash. I try to help her wash her hair, but she swats me away until I leave her to it. Instead, I deliver teasing touches to her body while her hands are occupied. She grins and rolls her eyes at me but doesn’t push me away.
When we emerge from the bathroom, clean and dressed in fluffy bathrobes, we help ourselves to the food that was delivered while we were showering. We eat as we talk about the coming day and all the last-minute wedding preparations. It all feels so blissfully normal that I feel a pang in my chest. This is what I want. I want to wake up with Layna in my bed every morning. I want to talk about our upcoming days over breakfast. I want to know that at the end of the day she’ll be there when I come home. I want to hear about her day at work and fall into bed with her each night. I want to share all the little moments as well as the big ones. But I can’t tell her any of that.
I think about my brother’s words. Him telling me to stop being a chicken shit and just tell Layna how I feel. Then I remember all the times she’s pushed me away, citing our age difference or my reputation, and I hesitate. If I knew how she’d react, I’d spill my guts right now. I’d tell her everything. But I don’t know, and that’s what scares me. Her rejecting me is a strong possibility. Just because she spent the night with me doesn’t mean she sees me as boyfriend material. She hasn’t said or done anything to indicate she’s changed her mind about me.
“I should go soon,” she says, pulling my mind back to the present.
She’s seated at the vanity, using my hairbrush on her damp hair. I’ve never seen her so relaxed. Her face is free of makeup and her hair is drying in soft waves down her back. She’s wearing a bathrobe and her bare feet are tucked underneath her. I have the sudden thought that I could easily spend the rest of my life with this woman. The idea should terrify me, but it doesn’t. The only thing that scares me is not knowing if she can see a future with the guy who started out as just a fling.
“Stay a little longer,” I say, catching her gaze in the mirror.
“Cole, I need to get dressed,” she says. “Piper and Harlow are expecting me in an hour for hair and makeup.”
“How long does it take for hair and makeup? The wedding isn’t for hours.”
She laughs. “Oh, what a sweet, naïve man. Hair and makeup can take hours. Plus, there are photos and champagne and possible tears. And then fixing the makeup that the tears mess up. It’s a whole process.”
I don’t like the idea of her crying, but I know women tend to cry at weddings. Piper is her only family. She’s bound to be emotional about her getting married.
“What time is Piper expecting you?” I ask.
“I told you. In an hour,” she says.
“So, stay with me for another half hour and I’ll walk you to your door myself,” I say.
“Cole…”
“Layna…”
She sighs. “I still don’t have any clothes here.”
“So, wear some of mine,” I say.
“I can’t wear your clothes.”
“Why not?” I ask. “It’s either the bathrobe, last night’s incredibly sexy lingerie, or my clothes. I vote for the lingerie. But just know that if you put that back on, I can’t guarantee you’ll make it to your sister in an hour.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “Have you ever worn a corset? They’re not the easiest things to put on.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” I say. “So, no corset. That leaves the bathrobe or my clothes. Which is it? And don’t worry. I’ll walk you right to your door. If anyone gives you a weird look, I promise to intimidate them with my manly glare.”
“Cole, you don’t have to do that,” she says. “I can make it to my room.”
“I know you can. But I want to.”
“Why?”
