They both smirk but get the hint and set their beers on the counter then follow my indication direction straight the door. “Hustle, boys. No seriously, move a little faster.”
“Okay, we get the hint,” Keats assures me with Liam by his side.
Walking them to the front, I open the door with gusto and feign a smile at them.
“Call me when we can plan a double date.” Keats winks at me.
“And I’ll see you at our next family dinner where… Ah, it will be great,” Liam boasts with a wide grin.
I grumble a sound, and as soon as they step to the other side, I swing the door shut, causing a loud bang due to the force.
Gathering myself, I return to the kitchen and lean into the counter, rubbing my face due to exhaustion. I hear another door open, and my eyes zip toward the hall to the garage and laundry room.
The sight of Hailey instantly puts my body on full alert and my spine straightens. She’s taking her earbuds out and saunters my way.
“You’re here?”
She nods. “I was sitting on the step in your garage, unable to leave because my heart didn’t want to.”
My jaw ticks when she says the word heart. “What did you hear?”
Hailey shakes her head and stops when she stands across from me but keeps her distance. Too much distance. I can’t pull her into my arms.
“Nothing. I knew you weren’t alone so wanted to tune out. I was listening to a true crime podcast about a woman on trial for murdering her first and second husband.”
Stifling a laugh, this is one way to break the ice. “Should I be concerned?”
She slaps her forehead. “Shit. That sounded kind of bad. Not that I’m gathering ideas or anything. Actually, I’ve been spewing out a lot of gibberish in the last hour.”
“How so?” I cross my arms over my chest and tip my chin up as I inspect her body language.
“We don’t need to be married.”
My eyes pop out because I don’t need to hear her say that again or the fact it comes out in monotone from her gorgeous mouth.
She curses the F-bomb under her breath before her tongue dips to the corner of her mouth and slowly slides along her bottom lip. “Not doing great here, Hailey,” she berates herself. “Imeant that the rules for the building changed and the effort we put in is irrelevant it seems. And now you have that job.”
I step forward in a flash, ready to object. “I’m not taking the job.”
She seems to be double-checking an answer that she already knows. “Oh, so you’re staying here. You don’t have to if it’s because of me.” Her eyes dip down.
My eyes remain set on her with a cold stare. “Not because of you. I don’t want the job, as I’ve said a million times.” My words are tart.
Our eyes lock and it’s only a second or two before a light smile ghosts her lips. “Okay, one less thing to worry about. Only the staying-married part seems to be the topic on the agenda.”
Pursing my lips, a small calming breath leaves my soul. “Stayingmarried. We seem to agree on something, so that’s a start.” My heart is booming in my chest.
“Staying sounds good,” she replies shyly.
“Do you know what I think?”
“You’re going to tell me, aren’t you?”
I press my lips into a faint smile. “The universe was throwing us signs to be together because we were both scared to commit because… we always knew we would be forever.”
Now she steps forward, the space between us shrinking. “You’re right. You and I skipped quite a few steps, but that’s okay. We’re not strangers. Most of all, you are the man that I would dream about and the man that I’m in love with. Not just the lust kind of love, but Ireallylove you.”
“Oh, thank fuck.” In a flash, I close our space and my hands weave through her soft long hair, and I hold her in place to punish her mouth with a kiss that will sear her because she’s mine.
