Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
My hair is wet and wavy. For most of my life, I’ve viewed that as a curse. I’d rush to blow dry and straighten it as soon as I stepped out of the shower, but lately, I’ve come to love my reflection in the mirror when I see the soft waves surrounding my face.
“Hunting,” I answer with a light laugh.
He adjusts the waistband of his boxer briefs as he sits down next to me, tugging my hand into his. He feathers kisses over my knuckles before he closes his eyes briefly. “How long have you been awake?”
“Not long,” I lie.
It’s been at least two hours.
It’s hard to sleep when you feel as though you’re standing on the edge of tomorrow; on the precipice of the rest of your life.
That’s where I am.
Today, I’m Gina Calvetti.
Tomorrow, my wish for my twenty-ninth birthday is that I become Gina Lawton to the world. I want everyone to know that I married the most remarkable man.
He glances at the cardboard box in front of me. “What’s this?”
“Memories,” I whisper.
He leans forward to peer inside, and almost instantly, a bark of laughter fills the quiet space. “What the fuck, Gina?”
I laugh too when his hand dives in, and he yanks out a blue T-shirt with the name of a band stamped on the front along with their recognizable logo. I know it well. So does he.
I snag it from his hand before he can reclaim it as his. “That’s mine.”
He fists the bottom hem, giving it a firm tug. “Like hell it is. The last time I saw this was years ago. Jesus, how long has it been? At least eight or nine years.”
I pull hard enough that he releases the fabric. Before he can get ahold of it again, I have it bunched up and cradled near my face. I inhale deeply. “It was ten years ago that it went missing.”
“Went missing?” His left brow perks. “I thought your brother stole it from me. He was always borrowing my clothes, and he happened to love that band.”
“I took it,” I admit.
His gaze searches mine. “Why?”
I never imagined a scenario in which I’d have to admit this to anyone, especially not Daniel, but here I am. “Because it smelled like you.”
“You took it?” Confusion etches his tone. “You took my shirt, Gina?”
I nod softly. “I was visiting Dominick one day. You weren’t home, and it was there on the couch. I shoved it in my purse and ran out of your apartment.”
I expect him to laugh, but there’s no amusement in his expression. It’s all intensity as he stares into my eyes. “I had no idea you liked me that much.”
“It was a crush,” I explain. “I had a silly crush on you back then.”
“Is it still a silly crush?” he asks, his gaze dropping to my lips.
“It’s something,” I manage to say.
“It’s something for me, too.” He glances at the shirt again. “Did you steal anything else that belongs to me?”
His heart. I hope I’ve stolen that.
“No,” I answer because I need today to figure out exactly what I’ll say to him tomorrow.
“So you came in here at the crack of dawn to smell my shirt?” He smirks. “You could have stayed in bed and smelled the real thing.”
I laugh. “You do smell divine today. You always do, but I was looking for something to wear today.”
His gaze wanders up to the rack of clothing in the walk-in closet. “The closet in our room is filled with clothes, Gina.”
Our room.
Those words make my heart sing.
He views this as our home. It is. Our home. Our life. Our future awaits us.
“Those are mostly items I got from sponsors.” I tilt my chin up. “This closet is filled with clothes I bought.”
He nods because he understands completely. “Why don’t I take you out to dinner tonight in one of the outfits from this closet?”
“To Calvetti’s?”
He nods. “Let’s aim for eight. I’ll meet you back here first, though, okay? I want to work up an appetite before we have dinner.”
I smile. “I love that plan.”
He presses his lips to mine in a sweet kiss. “I love that you stole my shirt.”
“I couldn’t help myself.”
He runs the pad of his thumb over my chin. “What’s on the agenda today?”
“I need to answer a few emails and plan my online content for the rest of the month. I also have a photo shoot this afternoon with one of my favorite brands.”
“Which brand?” he questions with a grin.
“Ella Kara,” I tell him. “It’s for the launch of a new line they’ll be offering in the spring. I’m excited to be working with them on it.”
“You’ll kill it.” He gazes into my eyes. “I’ve got a full day too, so I need to get my ass into the shower. You wouldn’t want to…”