The idea took root a little deeper in my mind. I’d spent years trying to break into high fashion and acting, but maybe what I really needed was something simpler, more practical. Something that normal everyday people enjoyed.
“I’ll think about it,” I promised. “It’s just an idea for now.”
The diner was starting to fill up, regularstrickling in for their morning coffee and breakfast. I moved around behind the counter, filling cups and taking orders, falling into the rhythm of the place with surprising ease. Every so often, my mind would drift upstairs to Diego, still asleep in my bed, and a warm contentment would wash over me.
“I’ll take over from here, sugar,” Aunt Dolly said, stepping up beside me. “You go back up to your man.” She gave me a good once over. “You’ve still got your pajamas on, anyway.”
I glanced down at my outfit and laughed. I’d been so caught up in the morning rush that I’d completely forgotten I was still wearing sweatpants and Diego’s shirt.
“Go on now,” Dolly insisted, shooing me away from the counter. “That handsome cowboy of yours is probably wondering where you ran off to.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, feeling a little guilty about leaving her with the morning crowd.
“I’ve been running this diner since before you were born,” she reminded me with a wink. “I think I can handle a few breakfast orders. Besides, it’s Christmas Eve. Go enjoy it.”
I didn’t need to be told again. I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, waved to Mabel, and headed back upstairs, taking the steps two at a time.
When I pushed open the apartment door, I found Diego sitting up in bed, his hair adorably mussed, looking slightly disoriented. The sheet pooled around his waist, leaving his chest bare. My heart did that ridiculous flutter thing it always did when I saw him like this.
“There you are,” he said, voice still rough with sleep. His eyes traveled over me, a slow smile spreading across his face when he recognized his shirt. “Looks better on you than it ever did on me.”
“I doubt that,” I replied, crossing the room to sit on the edge of the bed. “I just went down to get some coffee. Didn’t want to wake you.”
Diego reached out, his warm hand settling on my thigh. “You okay? You’ve got a look.”
“A look?” I echoed.
“Yeah,” he nodded, studying my face. “Like you’ve been thinking big thoughts.”
I laughed softly. It was scary sometimes how well he could read me already. “I have, actually.”
“Wanna share with the class?” He tugged me closer until I was sitting next to him, his arm wrapping around my waist.
I took a deep breath. “I told Dolly I want to stay in Sagebrush.”
Diego went very still beside me. “You did?”
“Yeah,” I confirmed, suddenly nervous. “I mean, if you were serious about staying too. About us.”
The smile that broke across his face was like the sun coming out after a storm. “Dead serious,” he said, pulling me into a kiss that left me breathless. When he pulled back, his eyes were shining. “You really want to stay here? In Sagebrush?”
“I do,” I nodded, feeling more certain with each passing second. “I was thinking I might look into that empty storefront down the street. Maybe open something. I don’t know what yet, but?—”
I didn’t get a chance to finish my thought as he pulled me in for another kiss. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me onto the bed on top of him. As I sunk down on top of him, I felt his thick cock grinding against me through the sheets.
“Someone’s excited,” I grinned, looking into those warm brown eyes of his that I loved.
“I’m always excited when you’re around.” He kissed me again, his hands drifting under the waistband of my sweatpants and grabbing my ass. “God you’re fuckin’ perfect.”
“I don’t know about that,” I groaned, leaning into his touch.
He caught my gaze, staring at me with the most serious expression I’d ever seen. “I do,” he said, leaving no room for argument. “You are perfect in every way.”
My cheeks burned, but I loved the praise. “You’re not too shabby yourself,” I added. “More than I’ve ever dreamed of, actually.”
He smiled wide. “You’re gonna make me blush, Freckles.”
I reached down, grabbing his cock under the sheets, the heat seeping into my skin as he groaned with pleasure. “I plan to do a lot more than that, cowboy.”
