I eventually forced myself out of bed to clean myself up after our romp last night, and when I returned, Morgan was still recovering in the same spot I’d left her in. I slid a pair of sweatpants on, got back into bed, and I was talking to her.
I don’t remember falling asleep.
We’d officially broken one of the rules for the first time since we made our deal. We’d done pretty well, considering it took us a whole year.
I drew back slightly and took a moment to look at her, watching as her chest rose and fell with soft, even breaths. Her brown hair was splayed against the pillow beneath her, her perfect cupid’s bow lips were narrowly parted, and her dark eyelashes were fanned against the skin of her cheeks, which I noticed, for the first time, were dusted with subtle freckles.
Even at our worst, I could admit Morgan was an attractive woman. But this went beyond simply being easy on the eyes.
Seeing her like this, at her most relaxed and vulnerable, I realized just how captivatingly beautiful she was.
My thoughts were interrupted when she inhaled a deep breath. I drew back from her a little more as she began to stir, but I kept my arm draped across her waist if only to see her reaction when she realized what had happened.
I watched her eyes flutter open, and her brow slightly furrowed as she took in her surroundings. When she slowly turned her head to look at me, her eyes were wide, and I was grinning smugly. “Morning, Princess.”
She let out a breath and shot straight up, holding the sheet against her naked chest. “We fell asleep.”
“We fell asleep.”
“We broke a rule.”
“That we did,” I replied nonchalantly. She flew out of my bed, yanking the sheet with her and off of me, and quickly gathered up her clothes from the floor. “Where’s the fire?” I teased.
“You do realize it’sMonday, and we both have work.”
“Oh, shit.” How the hell did I forget it was Monday? My head snapped over to my nightstand; it was only eight, giving me an hour before I had to be at the office.
“Thisis why we don’t break the rules,” she said as she frantically got dressed. “It causesnothingbut problems.”
I chuckled. “Don’t be so melodramatic. It wasonerule.”
“One rule, one time,” she muttered.
I nodded, repeating it back to her for her reassurance. “Onerule.Onetime.”
Chapter 29
“What color should I get?Something bright and fun for spring?”
“No,” I answered, more sharply than I intended. I cleared my throat and softened my voice, trying again. “No. I, uh…I think something…subtle and clean.”
Callie looked at me, raising a curious brow. “Subtle and clean…”
“Yeah. Like…milky pink or pearly white or–oh!Where they do that glazed finish look or the chrome-looking effect. Something…luxe and timeless. It’s totally in right now. And it’s good for every day.”
“Luxe and timeless…”
I nodded affirmatively. “Yes.”
Callie gave me another look and chuckled. “Okay.”
She turned her back to me to look at the nail tech, and when the woman’s eyes flickered up to me, I held up my left hand and pointed to my ring finger. She smiled with a subtle nod of understanding.
Lucas was proposing tomorrow, and as Callie’s best friend, it was my job to make sure she was going to look perfect for her special moment.
We went to get our hair done last weekend after I made an excuse about how we should have a salon day, even though I’d just gotten a trim a few weeks prior. Afterward, we did some shopping, and at one of the boutiques, she tried on a pale pink dress that looked amazing on her; I convinced her to buy it, saying it could be worn for various occasions…like her engagement that she knew nothing about.
Now, we were getting our nails done, and I knew she would want something that would look good in the many inevitable photos that were to come of her hand. And when I saw her finally decide on a nude pink polish, I smiled.
