Page 175
“An official date,” I clarify and pull her close again. “You and me. No work, no stress. Out of the house. Just us.”
She stares at me, like she’s not sure she heard me right. Like she’s waiting for me to take it back.
I don’t.
Her lips part slightly, her blue eyes scanning my face, searching for something—doubt, hesitation, anything that might tell her I didn’t mean it. But she won’t find it.
Because I do.
I want this. I want her.
And I want to take her on a damn date.
Annie exhales a small, disbelieving laugh, her hands resting against my chest. “You’re serious.”
I arch a brow. “Have you ever known me to joke?”
She bites her bottom lip, her fingers curling slightly against my shirt like she’s considering it.
“I mean, you did just spend the past ten minutes brooding and scowling like a man who thinks his baby mama is about to run off with a younger, happier man—”
I squeeze her hip, making her squeak.
“Say yes,Annie.” My voice is quieter now, lower.
She tilts her head. “And if I say no?”
My grip tightens on her waist. “Not an option.”
She grins, shaking her head at me, but something in her face softens. The teasing fades just a little, and when she finally exhales, it’s like she’s been holding onto her answer this whole time.
“Yes,” she says, her voice softer now. “I’ll go on a date with you.”
Satisfaction curls in my chest, and I tighten my arms around her. “Good.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “You don’t even have a plan yet, do you?”
I smirk. “Not yet. But I will.”
She narrows her eyes at me playfully. “I’m holding you to that.”
“I’d expect nothing less.”
I pull her to me and kiss her, soft and tender. She makes a sound of pleasure deep in her throat and wraps her arms around me, settling into the kiss, opening her mouth for my seeking tongue.
She sighs when I pull back and press my forehead to hers.
For a long moment, we just sit there. Her body pressed against mine, her fingers resting lightly against my chest.
My hand trailing slow circles against her hip. It’s easy. Comfortable. Like we’ve done this a thousand times before.
She exhales. “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”
I tighten my hold on her. “Yeah, Annie. We are.”
Chapter Forty Two
Annie
She stares at me, like she’s not sure she heard me right. Like she’s waiting for me to take it back.
I don’t.
Her lips part slightly, her blue eyes scanning my face, searching for something—doubt, hesitation, anything that might tell her I didn’t mean it. But she won’t find it.
Because I do.
I want this. I want her.
And I want to take her on a damn date.
Annie exhales a small, disbelieving laugh, her hands resting against my chest. “You’re serious.”
I arch a brow. “Have you ever known me to joke?”
She bites her bottom lip, her fingers curling slightly against my shirt like she’s considering it.
“I mean, you did just spend the past ten minutes brooding and scowling like a man who thinks his baby mama is about to run off with a younger, happier man—”
I squeeze her hip, making her squeak.
“Say yes,Annie.” My voice is quieter now, lower.
She tilts her head. “And if I say no?”
My grip tightens on her waist. “Not an option.”
She grins, shaking her head at me, but something in her face softens. The teasing fades just a little, and when she finally exhales, it’s like she’s been holding onto her answer this whole time.
“Yes,” she says, her voice softer now. “I’ll go on a date with you.”
Satisfaction curls in my chest, and I tighten my arms around her. “Good.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “You don’t even have a plan yet, do you?”
I smirk. “Not yet. But I will.”
She narrows her eyes at me playfully. “I’m holding you to that.”
“I’d expect nothing less.”
I pull her to me and kiss her, soft and tender. She makes a sound of pleasure deep in her throat and wraps her arms around me, settling into the kiss, opening her mouth for my seeking tongue.
She sighs when I pull back and press my forehead to hers.
For a long moment, we just sit there. Her body pressed against mine, her fingers resting lightly against my chest.
My hand trailing slow circles against her hip. It’s easy. Comfortable. Like we’ve done this a thousand times before.
She exhales. “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”
I tighten my hold on her. “Yeah, Annie. We are.”
Chapter Forty Two
Annie
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