Don’t cry, Ivory.Buying nail polish should not be this big of a deal. I move around Preston and place the nail polish remover and some other essentials in the cart.
“All set.”
“Wow, we definitely aren’t on the island anymore,” I say once the house comes into view. It’s a small cabin nestled deep into the woods compared to the sprawling house we just left.
“Do you think you can slum it for a couple weeks, Hollywood?” Preston gives me a sideways glance in the passenger seat.
“Shut up.” Backhanding him and sticking my tongue out, I unbuckle my seatbelt and climb out of the Jeep.
“I have faith in you,” he calls out walking up the path to the front door.
“I hope you trip,” I say, following him up the path basking in the playfulness between us.
Preston opens the door with a flourish and an attempted bow, saying, “Your palace, princess.”
I roll my eyes as I walk past him into the house. The interioris small with an open floor plan, only a couch facing a television sitting on a slender table against the wall separating the kitchen and living room. The kitchen is upgraded with modern appliances and an island with bar stools on one side instead of a dining table.
“Let’s see who gets what room.” I start towards one of the two doors along the back wall presumably leading to the bedrooms.
“Um, about that…” Preston’s words stop me in my tracks.
“About what?” I say turning to face him, my brows lifting in question.
“There’s only one bedroom?”
“WHAT?!” My mind starts reeling. He told me he would wait. He told me he would be patient. But will he really? What did I expect after jumping his bones in the hot tub?
“Stop that. Don’t paint me as the bad guy. I didn’t keep this from you. This wasn’t a set up. I tried to find a two-bedroom house but there weren’t any. The couch is a pullout. You get the bedroom and I’ll sleep out here. I’m not pressuring you into sleeping with me. I wouldn’t do that, Ivory.”
I know he’s right. It doesn’t ease the shock. I can’t help but feel blindsided that he didn’t say anything before we got here. That’s my own baggage though. It has nothing to do with him.
“I know,” Preston has been nothing but up front with me the whole time. He won’t take something I am not willing to give. I refuse to let this ruin the good between us. Today felt like a breakthrough for me. I need to keep going down that path. See what can come of this. “Thank you. You don’t have to sleep on the couch though. We can share a bed. We’re both adults.”
Preston offers me a smile and brings me into his strong embrace for a hug, “I’m good on the couch.”
“Thanks for finding this place.”
“You’re welcome, Hollywood.” Preston kisses my forehead again. I love those forehead kisses.
Preston’s biceps flex as he pushes off me. This man is ripped. His body is carved and crafted to perfection for maximum performance. He is tough and strong, yet with me, he is soft, gentle, and vulnerable. The contradiction is staggering.
But if any woman is going to bring Preston Fields to his knees, Lord, please let it be me.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ivory
May 4
“What are you doing?” Preston is laying on the couch with his legs hanging off one end and his head in a crooked position jammed into the corner of the other end of the couch. It looks like he played twister on the couch. That cannot be comfortable.
Preston grunts and grumbles something about coffee. Leaving him in his half lucid state, I start the coffee pot in the kitchen and poke through the contents of the refrigerator for breakfast ideas. Eventually, Preston sits up on the couch and stretches his long muscled arms above his head groaning loudly. His shirt lifts and I get a peek of his hard abdomen.Christ, Ivory, get it together. You cannot eat this man for breakfast.
Or, can I?It’s getting harder to resist him. Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I pass Preston a coffee when he pads his way into the kitchen.
“Thanks.”
“Soooo…” I say, drawing out the word and the question from earlier.
