He nods. “You don’t have to tell me twice. We follow the doctor’s rules.”
I take the bottle, peel away the plastic safety seal, and flip open the cap. “But there is a whole lot that doesn’t break the rules, right?”
“So, so much.” His voice is low and heavy with promise. His eyes sparkle, and he nods at the massage oil. “Do you have ideas? Because I am happy to make suggestions…”
“You’ve done a lot of work on this date already,” I tell him. “Let me take over.”
I stand up off the bed and strip off my jeans and top. He watches me climb back onto the bed in nothing but a nude-colored lace bra and matching panties. I raise a brow at him and wait. “And?” I insist. “Are those clothes staying on?”
He takes the hint and leaps off the bed. Unzipping his pants, he wriggles out of them, pulls off his socks, then unbuttons his shirt and sets it all on a chair. He thumbs the waistband of his boxer briefs. “Leave these?”
“For now,” I say. “On your back, please.”
He climbs back into the bed and sits upright, propped against the pillows. I turn down the lights so only the bright image from the TV lights the room.
17
RYDER
By the glowinglight coming from the TV, I stare into her beautiful gray eyes.
“I want more of this,” I tell her. “More of you.”
“How late can we stay?” she purrs seductively.
“You can stay all night if you want,” I tell her. “I should get home before the kids wake up. I prepaid for the room, so anything you need, just charge to it and sign my name before you leave.”
She smiles at me, and I want this forever.
“Do you think this could be more?” I ask. “I want it all with you, Gracie. I don’t care if this is fast. We’ve known each other over three months. You know my kids. This isn’t just…a fling for you, is it?”
She bristles at the word, and I immediately feel like a dick.
“If this is a fling, it’ll go down in history as the longest, slowest fling ever.”
I laugh and push the hair back from her face. Even with us just lying here facing each other, she’s the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen. “I just…”
It occurs to me that lying in bed half dressed, spilling my heart out is probably the worst time to tell her about Austin’s business and the job he offered me. But maybe it’s also the best time.
If Grace doesn’t feel the same way, like this is more than I expected and everything I want, maybe I should take the opportunity now to go back to Columbus.
Before things go any further.
Before I get my heart broken. Again.
“So, my friend Austin,” I start, trying to ease into it. “He came for the weekend to talk to me about a business he wants to start.”
“Yeah?” she snuggles deeper under the covers but then looks like she’s thinking. “Want some cheesecake?”
“Oh, hell yeah,” I say. I forgot we have snacks and treats, but the real treat is watching Gracie walk around in nothing except her sexy underwear to bring everything to the bed.
“Plates,” I say, banging my forehead with the heel of my hand. “I knew I forgot something.”
“Who needs plates?” she asks, sticking a fork into the creamy delight. She scoops a big hunk of the fresh strawberry swirl. “You got this from Taste, didn’t you? Over by the aquatic center?”
I nod. “You know Star Falls.”
“It’s home,” she says. “Always has been. Always will be.”
