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“What we have here is something real, Grace. I don’t want to make any mistakes with you.”
“I see. Well, I’m on the pill, and I assume a responsible adult such as yourself carries condoms, so…”
He laughs softly and kisses my cheek. The heat level of his kisses is lowering inch by inch and I don’t like it. “That’s good to know, but…what I mean is, let’s take some time to get to know each other. I know you don’t feel rushed, but the longer we wait, the better the sex will be.”
I blow out a long, lingering breath, trying to get ahold of my faculties. If that’s what Buck thinks is best, I have no choice. There’s no sense in pushing forward.
“I respect that, Buck.”
“One more hug?”
“Of course.”
He snatches me up in a rib-squeezing bear hug, and my feet really do come off the mat this time. With my face buried in his neck, I inhale his masculine scent. My body memorizes the imprint of his hands. The protection of his arms. His breath in my hair.
I whimper as he sets me down for the last time, then shocks me by swatting me on the butt. “If you don’t go inside now, I won’t get to watch that hot ass walk away.”
I give him one last pout, and he kisses me one last time. A faint growl of frustration vibrates from him into me.
We say goodnight, and once inside my apartment, I lean against the door, catching my breath.
What a dreamy man.
The floating sensation stays with me until I’m in bed and hear my phone ping.
“I take it the date went well.”
It’s Presley, texting from next door.
“Yes. Very well.”
She sends a little dancing woman emoji, and my stomach drops. I text back, “I’m worried we’re both in deep enough that I’m really going to hurt him when the truth comes out.”
After some time, Presley replies, “Well if you need help maintaining the lie until everyone forgets, I’m at your service.”
My brain is too tired to question what that means. Presley certainly has had an exciting life, so who knows.
Me? I’m an amateur at best—at lying, at everything.
And I hope that doesn’t blow everything up in my face.
CHAPTERFIVE
Buck
I wait outside Grace’s house in my truck at 8 a.m. with a drink carrier on the console.
Lucky for me the new coffee place in town makes a mean triple-shot coffee drink. I sip my rocket fuel and wait.
Despite running on five hours of sleep, I feel incredibly rested and alert this morning. I could have gone to bed earlier, but I’d spent another hour watching Grace’s house.
It’s a nice house—well, it could be, if someone kept it up better. I don’t like that there are so many ways for random people off the street to get inside. Not that there’s anybody on the street in Fate at this time of night.
Another tenant bounces down the steps in jogging gear, a short blonde woman whose eyes get huge when she sees my truck. Her whole body freezes like she’s in a panic. When I roll down the window and lean out, she relaxes. “Oh! Aren’t you…”
“I’m Buck Wood. I’m here for Grace.”
The woman laughs. “Of course you are.”
