Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“But?”
She licks her lips, and it makes my stomach jerk.
God, I’ve fucking missed her.
“But I spoke with my uncle Will and several other family members, and they insisted that I do the right thing. They don’t care about the potential scandal; they only care about making sure I’m okay. And before you say anything, I know that you told me the same thing and that you were right all along. I know, Gray. I see it, and I’m so ashamed of how I spoke to you. How I treated you. You deserved so much better than that, and I hope you’ll accept my apology.”
“I do.”
Her eyes widen. “Just like that?”
“I appreciate the apology, and I can print out the paperwork and have you sign it today.” I have to work to keep my voice calm and impersonal. I want to yank her into my lap and kiss her so badly I ache with it. “Is there anything else?”
“You’ll go to dinner with me.”
I narrow my eyes on her. We’ve come full circle, sitting here, staring at each other.
“And why would I do that?”
She doesn’t even blink, doesn’t look at all unsure of herself as she calmly replies, “Because I’m in love with you, of course.”
I simply stare at her for a moment.
“Did you hear me?” she asks.
“I’m not sure. Repeat that, please.”
She stands and walks around my desk, then settles herself in my lap and pushes her fingers into my hair.
“I’m completely in love with you,” she says quietly, and I can see the sadness, along with a bit of uncertainty, in her beautiful blue eyes. “And I owe you more than the apology, but I don’t know what else to say besides I’m sorry. My stubbornness and short-sightedness got in my way and cost us a lot of time. Maybe it cost me you since you have yet to touch me.”
“I’m afraid to,” I say in a whisper. “Because maybe you’re a figment of my imagination.”
“I’m real.” She presses her lips to mine, and that’s all I can handle without pulling her close. She feels like home. “I’m so sorry.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I reply and drag my knuckles down her soft cheek. “We have some talking to do, but we’ll figure it out. I guess it’s a good thing my condo hasn’t sold yet.”
“What?” She plants her hands on my shoulders and pushes back. “What?”
“I was thinking about moving back to Idaho. Mom hasn’t been doing great, and Maya quit her job so she could be with Mom more, but it’s a lot for her.”
“Well, then, I guess we’re moving to Idaho.”
I stare at her for a full ten seconds. “Excuse me?”
“If your family needs you, we’ll go. I can be a silent partner in the new studio, or we can open a second branch out there. Like you said, we’ll figure it out.”
“Stella.” Completely undone, I rest my forehead against hers. “Your life is here. It’s okay. I’ll just make an effort to go out there more often to look in on things.”
“Listen, home is wherever you are, Gray. That’s something I learned over the past month.”
“Thirty-seven days,” I correct her. “And a few hours.”
“Too long,” she murmurs. “So, yeah, we’ll do whatever you want as far as that’s concerned. Maybe we’ll buy a condo out there or something so we can have a home base in both places.”
“You’d be up for that?” he asks.
“Hell, yeah, I would. I’d have the chance to decorate a new place for us. That sounds like heaven.” Her eyes sober as she cups my face in her hands. “Just don’t leave me. I know I’m younger, and—”
“I said that out of anger and hurt,” I say, cutting her off. “I don’t give a rat’s ass about the age difference.”
“I think we both said some things we didn’t mean.”
“I love you.” I brush my nose against hers. “And you’re mine, Stella. You won’t ever walk out on me like that again. If we disagree, we’ll work it out. But, damn it, you won’t walk out again.”
“Yours,” she says as if she’s thinking it over. “I like the sound of that. I’m going to keep you on your toes, Grayson Sterling.”
“Oh, I’m completely sure of that.” I grin before I kiss her once again and feel her melt against me.
“I locked the door,” she whispers against my lips. She stands and shimmies her skirt up around her hips, then quickly unfastens my pants and straddles me, slowly taking me inside her. “Jesus, I missed you, Gray.”
“Mine,” I repeat as I cup her ass in my hands and lift her up and down on my cock.
She tips her forehead to mine again, and with just a few strokes, she brings us both to climax.
“Oh, yeah, I’m yours,” she says, gasping for air. “Oh, by the way, you’re coming with me to Iceland for Christmas.”