Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“Uh oh. That sounds ominous. If we’re going to have a difficult conversation, come sit on my lap. I’ll need to hold you close.”
“Please. I need to be able to look at you.” Valerie forced herself to sit still and not clamber onto his lap where she really wanted to be.
“Do you promise me you aren’t going to run away and you’ll sit on my lap later?” he asked with a steely look.
“Yes and definitely, yes.”
“Okay, Cupcake.”
Grayson sat down facing her and reached out his hands for hers. Immediately, she held on for dear life.
“First… How’s your back?”
“It’s okay, Valerie. It ached a bit today but I took a couple aspirin and felt better.”
“Second…” She paused to swallow hard. What if he says no? “Can I break my lease and move in with you?”
He blinked and leaned forward to scoop her into his arms. Taking care to settle her straddling his legs so she could face him directly, Grayson replied, “I would love for you to live with me, but you love your house and have it all set up for your work.”
“You have a nursery,” she whispered. “And you’re here all the time to spend time with me. It’s silly to have two houses when we’re together when we aren’t working. And this one is just a lease. I’m not that invested in it.”
“I’m glad you like your nursery. There’s a room just down the hall that could be your office.”
“The one with the big windows under the oak tree?” she asked, watching his face.
“That’s the one. It would be a very good office. Close to the front door if deliveries come, to the kitchen to fill up your water bottle, and you can wave to me when I pull into the driveway.”
“We’d have to move the furniture out,” she said slowly, watching his reaction.
“Of course. There’s a big room downstairs we can make into a guest room if your family comes to visit.”
“You want to meet my family?” she whispered.
“I’d hoped you would take me with you the next time you visit. They live close, don’t they?” Grayson asked.
“About thirty minutes away.” She giggled. “They won’t need a guest room.”
“Ah. That is close. Tell me your dad’s phone number and your mom’s and dad’s first names, Cupcake.”
Without thinking, she recited the number she knew by heart as he plugged the information into his phone. “His name is Phillip Hopkins and my mom’s name is Debbie.”
She lurched forward to stop him when she saw him press the button to call her dad. It was too late.
“Hello?” Her dad answered skeptically, probably expecting a sales call. He always answered the phone, just in case.
“Mr. Hopkins, my name is Grayson Lee. I’m dating your daughter, Valerie. I’d like to come meet you if that would be okay?”
“Grayson, huh? And you like my daughter?”
“I love her, Mr. Hopkins.”
“And she loves you?”
“I do!” squeaked Valerie, recovering from the fact her Daddy had just told her father he loved her.
“Ah. You’re there, Valerie. Bring that gentleman of yours to meet us next Sunday after church,” he directed.
“We’ll be there, sir. I’m looking forward to meeting you and Mrs. Hopkins,” Grayson told him.
“Call us Phil and Debbie, Grayson. We’ll see you on Sunday.”
“Bye, Dad!” Valerie chimed in as Grayson said his goodbye as well.
When Grayson disconnected the call, Valerie looked at him in shock. “You move fast.”
“Our minds must be in sync. I wanted to talk about consolidating our houses tonight, too.”
“Really?”
“Really,” he confirmed with a smile. “I also want to meet your parents.”
“I want you to meet them, too.” Leaning forward, Valerie pressed her lips to his. The steamy kiss that followed made her wiggle against him in delight. He cupped her jaw with one callused hand and rubbed his thumb against her cheek. She shivered with pleasure.
When he lifted his mouth, Valerie knew she stared at him blankly as she tried to pull her thoughts together. He pressed a quick peck to her mouth and gently pulled her to lie against his chest. She closed her eyes as she savored the feel and warmth of the incredible man who loved her.
“I am so lucky.”
“I’m the lucky one, Little girl. Thank goodness we found each other.”
“We don’t need to leave this early. We’ll get there way before my parents get home from church,” Valerie protested as her Daddy rushed her into her bedroom to help her dress.
“We have a stop before we get on the interstate,” he shared.
“We do?”
“I want you to look at your future office. I have an idea.”
“Really? To do what?” she asked, tilting her head to peer up at him quizzically.
“I’ll show you when we get there.”
A short while later, Grayson ushered Valerie into his house and down the hall to the bright sunny bedroom. Valerie stopped in the doorway.
“You already took everything out of here.”