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“Darby is rubbing off on you.”
“What?”
“Doomed. Darby shared that same feeling once.”
“She’s a brilliant woman.”
“Baby, as you know, her resistance didn’t get far.”
I groan again, shaking him lightly. “Two days ago, you were a known bachelor. You said yourself that no woman has been in your bed in over ten years.”
“Wrong. Three weeks ago, I was a confirmed bachelor. Things changed the minute I saw you, and as you know, things changed again last night.”
“Let’s try a more sensible approach. Living together differs greatly from waking up together. You’ve seen the little room I’m cramped in. It’s bursting with my stuff. Are you ready to share your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen,” I sweep an arm out to the open room, “all of this with someone?”
“Hell no. I’m not ready to share it with any someone, but I’m ready to share it with you.”
A thrill travels through my body with a little tremor, and I hate that I can’t control my reaction. He grins wider, bending in to kiss me quickly.
“Like I said—crazy! How would we even explain it?”
“Who needs an explanation?”
“Everyone! Your parents, Pierce and Darby, the kids, your employees?”
“My family met you this morning. I think that’s explanation enough for them. My employees don’t get an opinion.”
“What about my parents?”
“We’ll get to that.” He kisses a path across my jawline and bites lightly on my earlobe. “And they are welcome to visit you here anytime.”
Logic fades when his tongue draws little circles around the sensitive area under my ear. “Miller, you’re not listening.”
“I’ve heard everything you’ve said. I’m choosing to ignore most of it because it’s pointless.”
“It’s not pointless. This is new, and I can’t move in here a week after our first date.”
He stops, his warm breath coating my skin as he exhales loudly. I let out a yelp when I’m hefted off the ground. He backs us to his sofa and falls, my legs forced to straddle his lap.
“I think you missed what happened here this morning.” He frames my face. “Let me explain it again. We have a history, Ashlyn. It may not be ideal to tell people, but it doesn’t change the fact it happened. I’m not ashamed and I don’t regret it. The only thing I regret is being so fucking captivated by you that I missed the signs something wasn’t right. When I woke up to that empty bed, for the first time in my life, I felt a sense of loss.”
My gut twists, and a painful cramp wedges into my side. A stinging burns the back of my eyes with the memory of that morning. “You will never be able to forget that,” I say over the lump in my throat.
“No, but I’ve accepted it. One of these days, you’ll share with me why. I could have been pissed about it, but swear to God, the instant you came running out of your house that Sunday afternoon and I heard your voice, my fucking heart stopped. I couldn’t believe it, and my gut settled for the first time in six goddamned months. The feeling didn’t last long when I saw the sadness in your eyes and I knew something had happened.
“It went against everything I believe in not to demand you tell me what was bothering you. That first time I brought you here, I saw a fragile woman that needed some time. As much as I hated it, I tried to give it to you. I wasn’t backing off; I was biding my time. Friday morning, I woke up, jacking my dick to the image of you, and knew I was done waiting. Last night may have been our first official date, but there hasn’t been another woman since you left me in that hotel in Chicago. I am dead-fucking-serious, if you didn’t run out on me, you’d have spent the last six months falling asleep and waking up in my bed, feeling comfortable in my house, and knowing I want you here. We’d have found a way to make the distance work. This morning, you told me you moved here because of me. It’s my turn to make you understand that was the best decision.”
Oh my God! My lungs seize, and I fight to catch my breath. It’s not only what he said; it’s the honesty and sincerity gazing back at me. I was so messed up when I walked out on him, but he plagued my mind and thoughts. We’ve already established I made the biggest decision of my life so far because of a brief conversation. But now, my heart races, knowing this isn’t just a possibility. It’s real.
As in REAL.
I don’t have to worry about him being a man I could fall for, because I already have. It’s too much—too soon. In my mind, he held a special place of perfection, taking me away and giving me a safe place, if even for only a weekend. My heart skips a beat, knowing that he carried some of me with him as well.
