Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 151044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
He scooped my wilted body into his arms and carried me into the den. Lowering me to the sofa and cradling me to his chest, pressing kisses into my hair. “Is that what you needed, baby?”
“Mmm-hm,” I hummed happily, too content to open my eyes.
He simply held me, his fingers combing softly through my hair as our bodies came down from such an exquisite release. I could fall asleep in his arms like that and be content to never wake up.
Cradled softly in the quiet moment, my thoughts drifted into delicate musings. Hale was the best anti-stress drug I’d ever taken.
“Tired?” he asked, stroking a finger delicately down the slope of my nose.
“Comfortable,” I mumbled, eyes still closed.
“Take a nap.” He pulled the throw off the back of the sofa and covered my legs.
My mouth curved into a smile at such simplified bliss. “Did you ever notice,” I slurred, only half coherent. “That the older we get the more our childhood punishments seem like rewards?”
He chuckled. That deep rumble was a familiar comfort I craved to hear several times a day. “Such as?”
“Nap time was torture when we were kids. Now, it’s like the biggest treat an adult can get.”
“I think you like naps a little more than most.” He teased my nipple and I nuzzled closer, getting a chill. “You’re the one who taught me about nappetizers, after all.”
I grinned. Napping before going out to eat just made good sense. That way there was less of a carb crash later.
“It’s not just naps, though. Staying indoors used to be a punishment too, but now I’d give anything to avoid the outside world.”
His hand stroked soothingly up my bare arms. “Thank you for finishing the meeting with Quinn today. I know that was a lot for you.”
It was, and I appreciated him acknowledging that. “I want you to have the wedding of your dreams, Hale.”
“I’ve already got the bride of my dreams.”
Gah, he was so impossibly sweet sometimes. I sure hoped the latest wedding-gate news didn’t ruin it.
I shifted to sit up, wanting to read the look in his eyes as I explained the situation. “Quinn found the perfect venue, but there’s a catch.”
“The wedding has to be in three months.”
My jaw unhinged. “How did you…?”
“She sent a follow-up email. I read it in between calls.”
“Damn, she’s efficient.”
He nodded with approval. “What are your thoughts?”
How had this come back to me? I wanted Hale to make the final decision so I could go along with whatever he wanted—which was the big, fancy wedding in the city. I knew that. But he also seemed interested in my thoughts.
“You decide.”
“No, this is our wedding, Rayne. We both have a say.”
I groaned. Pressure had a way of making me more indecisive than I already was. Okay, it was time to commit. I could do this.
I drew in a deep breath, looked him in those devastatingly grey eyes, and blurted, “I don’t want to wait.”
He smiled and I knew I’d made the right choice. “Me neither.”
“So, I guess we’re getting married in April.”
“You sure you’re okay with that?”
I hesitated because I was scared. “I am, but that doesn’t give us a lot of time. Things will be more expensive—”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Okay, but not a lot can change in three months.”
He frowned in confusion. “What needs to change?”
I shrugged. “Me.”
“Hey.” He caught my chin, forcing me to look into his stern eyes. “I don’t want you to change. I love you, exactly as you are. You’re who I want to marry.”
“Even if I’m just a big dork who will never be as sophisticated as your fancy friends and someone the tabloids will always poke fun at?”
“Fuck the tabloids. And you’re my friend—my best friend—the only friend that matters. There are very few people I trust, but I know I can always trust you. That’s everything to me. And as far as you being a dork, I happen to find you adorkable.”
I stilled and smiled. “You know I can’t resist you when you’re punny.”
“That’s why I do it.”
I hugged him. “Thank you.”
“For?”
“Loving me.”
As he pulled me into a hug, I wondered if he would always make me feel this way, calm but giddy, truly loved and eager to show love. He unraveled me and put me back together in a way that made the world a logical place for a while. I was incredibly lucky to have him, so lucky it inevitably freaked me out if I thought about it for too long.
I mean, what would happen if I lost him? Knowing life could be this good meant very little could ever compare. I could never go back to dating mediocre guys or putting up with crappy sex. No, thank you.
As far as Hale was concerned, I was completely smitten and I wanted to stay that way forever. It wasn’t that I loved him. I also loved the way he loved me. No one else had ever gotten it so right. I was in deep, deep smit.