Grasping her wrists, I pull her hands into my chest. “What did I tell you? Don’t apologize.” I hold her attention until she nods, then kiss her chastely on the lips. While I have her this close, my stomach clenches with the need to tell her more. “I love…” Her hands go rigid beneath my touch, and all my courage flees. “I loved spending time with your family today.”
“Uh, yeah.” She reaches around me to grab the shower hose. “It was fun watching Bea on those evil giant dogs.” Chuckling, she guides my head back and rinses my hair. “And Kane looked like he had a good time with my dad.”
“Yeah. He invited us to go golfing with him.”
She replaces the hose and sits back. “You golf?”
“No. But how hard could it be?”
A too-loud laugh escapes her, and without another word, she kisses me on the nose and rises from the tub.
With my hands behind my head, I enjoy the view. The bubbles have mostly dissolved, but a few cling to her hips and ass for dear life. Damn, I now identify as soap bubbles.
After we’ve rinsed off, I wrap Millie in a towel, then grab one for myself. When I join her in the bedroom a few minutes later, the lamp on my side of the bed is lit, casting just enough light to reveal that her eyes are closed. I stand in the doorway, watching her breathe for a moment, then climb under the covers, turn off the lamp, and pull her in close.
With her back securely against my front, she doesn’t stir, clearly as exhausted as she said she was.
The pillows aren’t as comfortable as the ones at Millie’s, so it takes a bit to get settled. When I do, I realize how quiet it is outside the city. For a second, I contemplate pulling up a New York City Soundscapes playlist on my phone in hopes that it will help me fall asleep. Instead, I focus on her breathing, letting the rhythmic pattern lull me into a relaxed state.
Just as I’m about to slip into a slumber, I whisper, “I love you.”
37
Ezra
“YOUR PHONE IS RINGING,MILLS.”
“Who is it?” she calls from the bathroom.
While she dresses, I’m stripping the sheets. Asher said we could leave them, but I’m doing him a courtesy. Millie was anything but tired this morning when she woke me up with the best blow job of my life.
“Kris.”Who the fuck is Kris?
“Just ignore it. I’ll call back later.”
I hit the button on the side to sendfucking Kristo voicemail. “Who’s Kris?”
“She’s my agent.”
A text preview appears on her lock screen.I need an answer. Call me back ASAP. Rehearsals start…
What the?—
Millie steps into the bedroom in her bra and underwear, eyes on her phone, which is still in my hand. “What?”
I toss it to her.
“Oh,” she sighs when she opens the notification.
“When were you going to tell me?” I don’t mean for my tone to sound accusatory, but there’s no quelling the hurt working its way through me.
“Never? I’m not taking the job.”
My spine snaps straight. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not taking?—”
“I heard you. Why not?”
