Page 30 of All This Time (Blossom Peak #1)

We just stay there, staring at each other until the chime of the timer on my phone goes off. Smirking, I reach over and turn it off. “Now, why have you been ignoring me?”

Laney closes her eyes and shakes her head. “We shouldn’t have done that.”

“I believe it was your idea.”

She glares at me as she hops down from her desk and pulls her pants back up. “No, you brought it up, I just …”

I close the distance between us again and cup her face. “You wanted me to make you come. You can admit it.”

“Fine, I did. And I’ve been ignoring you because…Well? I enjoyed Friday night way too much, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.”

Irritation builds at my temples again, reminding me of the point I was going to make.

“You know, you could have just responded to my messages to let me know that instead of leaving me on ‘read.’ I wasn’t sure if I should send out a search party for you or assume it would be another three years before we spoke again. ”

“If you saw that I read your messages, then you knew I was fine.”

“True, but why couldn’t you just send something back?

” I hate how desperate my voice sounds right now, but as I stand here and stare down into those hypnotizing eyes, my hand moves to her jaw before I stroke the skin right behind her ear.

“Like thank you?” I drag my finger down the front of her throat now, loving how her breathing grows shallow each time I move my touch along her skin.

“I’m still keeping count of those, you know. ”

“Not sure why.”

“Because each one reminds me that you don’t entirely hate me.”

She sighs. “I don’t hate you, Fletcher…”

I lean forward and press my lips to hers softly. As I retract, an idea comes to me. “Let me ask you something…”

“Okay…”

My voice comes out sounding like gravel, indicating the restraint I’m demonstrating right now. “Did you enjoy me touching you?”

“Yes,” she admits on a whisper.

“Do you want me to do it again?”

Her tongue darts out to lick her lips. “I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”

“Then that’s all we need to agree on right now.”

When her eyes lift and lock on mine, something flashes in them that I instantly recognize—fear of rejection. And how do I know that? Because I am fairly certain that my eyes look the same.

But we don’t need to have all the answers right now. I don’t need to know everything that’s going to happen next. Focusing on the fact that Laney wants me is enough fuel to keep me pushing forward while I figure out how the hell to make this woman a permanent fixture in my life.

“So, we agree this is just physical?” she asks timidly as her eyes darken.

“If that’s what you want.”

“Yeah, I mean…some decent sex would be nice for a change.”

I thrust my hips against her pelvis, letting her feel how fucking hard I am.

With my hand back on her jaw, I dip my head down so my lips are just an inch from hers.

“Let me be clear about something, Laney Hart. Sex between us would be much more than nice. It would be carnal, sensual, and downright dirty. In fact, I’m pretty sure that fucking you would be a goddamn religious experience. ”

“Fletcher…”

Before I do exactly what I’m thinking, I change the subject. “Now, we have a bachelor party to plan, remember?”

Brows drawn together, she clears her throat, but her voice still cracks when she answers. “Um, yes. I’m aware…”

“Well, we should probably meet up tonight then.”

Laney’s eyes dart around the room, clearly thrown off by my change in topic. “I, uh…have a client at seven. I’ll be home late.”

“Tomorrow?”

She shakes her head. “I can’t do tomorrow night either. We have yoga at the winery.”

My jaw tightens as I fight off my irritation, but I know if push comes to shove, I can call some people in Charlotte, wave my credit card around, and get what we need in a few days’ time. “Fine. Wednesday?”

Laney licks her lips. “Yeah, that will work. I’ll have to postpone my dinner with Dilynne, but she’ll understand.”

“Okay.” The corner of my mouth tips up as I chuckle, but I pull her flush against me, my hands gripping her hips possessively.

“One more thing, though.” Dipping my mouth to her ear, I wait a few seconds to speak, just listening to her breathing.

“Laney, there’s something you need to understand about what you just agreed to.

” I push my hand under her shirt against her back, letting the warmth of her skin soothe me while also making her shiver in response.

“I might have agreed to make you come again, but I’m the one who gets to decide when and where that happens. ”

A groan leaves her lips as I drag her earlobe between my teeth, and then I release her and head for the door again. “Talk to you soon, angel.”

Without a backwards glance, I exit the office and head for the front door.

“Leaving so soon?” Yvonne calls out to me as I walk past the receptionist’s desk.

“My work here is done.”

She snickers behind me. “You work fast.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I say, “Nope. I just know that some things are worth waiting for.” With a tip of my hat, I walk onto the sidewalk outside, even more determined to give this opportunity all I’ve got.

Laney might think she just wants sex, but I want much more than that. I want all of her.

And I’m not going to give up this fight until she wants that too.

***

“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Henley mutters beside me.

I lean closer to him and lower my voice as we walk to the front entrance of Hart Winery. “What’s the matter, Mr. Adventurous? You scared of a little yoga?”

“Yes, I am. What if I stretch the wrong way and tear my ball sack open?”

“I’m fairly certain that won’t happen.”

“How do you know?”

“Because we aren’t going to be doing the fucking splits, Henley.”

Footsteps sound behind us, and when I turn around, I find Elliot just a few feet behind us. “I’m not late, am I?”

“Nope.”

Elliot takes in my gym clothes and Henley’s athletic attire before staring down at his three-piece suit. “Why are you guys dressed like that? I thought we were gonna have some drinks and hang out?”

Henley shoots a look over at me. “You didn’t tell him why we’re at the winery tonight?”

Wrapping my arm around his shoulder, I continue to move us through the courtyard and that’s when I see the realization on Elliot’s face. “Oh fuck.”

“We’re still gonna have some drinks. We’re just going to do yoga first.”

Elliot glares at me. “I could kill you right now.”

“Well, if you do that, then you won’t have a best man.”

Henley raises his hand in the air like a fucking kindergartener. “I volunteer as tribute.”

“Not sure you’re using that right, Henley,” I say as I guide us to a spot on the grass near the front, but off to the side. I find three mats next to each other and drop my water bottle on one of them.

“I can’t do yoga in a fucking suit, Fletcher.” Elliot loosens the tie around his neck.

“Just do the best you can.”

Henley groans. “First, you cock block me the other night, and now this?” He takes a step closer to me and lowers his voice. “If this interferes with my sex life too, we’re going to have some words.”

“Honestly, boys…this might help your sex life. Yoga increases your blood flow and flexibility.”

“You sound like you’re speaking from experience,” Elliot replies, crossing his arms over his chest.

The truth is, I’ve done yoga throughout the course of my football career, but not consistently. Yoga fucking hurts. The first time I tried it, I thought I was having a heart attack because I couldn’t breathe after just fifteen minutes.

So, the only reason I’m here tonight volunteering for this torture is to support Laney, and the winery, of course. Putting any significant length of time and space between us right now is the last thing I want to do. Plus, seeing Laney in spandex is icing on the cake.

“I’m not a professional by any means, but I promise, it’s not that bad.” Lies, Fletcher. All lies. Slapping both of my friends on the shoulder, I say, “I’m going to use the bathroom before it starts. Don’t lose our spots.”

Henley grumbles. “No promises.”

As I cross the courtyard, more people filter in. But the one person I’m looking for is nowhere to be found.

“Fletcher?” George Hart turns a corner and almost runs into me.

“Hey, Mr. Hart.”

He scoffs. “Please, call me George.”

I shake my head. “Sorry, I can’t do that. I’ve called you Mr. Hart since I was fourteen and the habit is ingrained.”

Laughing, he shoves his hands in his khakis. “What are you doing here?”

I toss my thumb over my shoulder. “Yoga. I dragged Henley and Elliot along too. If Rhonan wasn’t on shift, I’d have lied to get him here as well.”

George chuckles. “I would have paid good money to see that. Seems you’re still able to get the boys to go along with practically anything, huh?”

Yeah, except for agreeing to lift a pact that we made when we were fourteen.

Of course, I haven’t exactly brought up the subject and won’t until I know where Laney and I stand.

“I can be pretty persuasive,” I reply, thinking about how giving Laney only one orgasm led to her wanting more. It wasn’t the outcome I was looking for, but I’m taking advantage of the opportunity.

Hence why I’m here tonight—to remind her that there’s more between us than just an intense physical connection. I mean, hell, I’m willing to endure fucking yoga for this woman. That has to count for something.

“Speaking of persuasion,” I say, “there’s something I wanted to speak to you about, sir.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. It’s actually related to the winery,” I begin, knowing that part of my mission tonight involved a conversation with Laney’s dad as well. But I don’t get a chance to finish my thought because the woman I’m here to impress interrupts us.

“Dad? The sound system isn’t working.” Laney has her eyes on the clipboard in her hands as she walks toward us, oblivious that she’s about to run into me.

So I decide to just let it happen.