Page 35 of Falling for a Grumpy Hero

FORD

I woke up to the piercing shriek of my alarm and groaned, silencing the damn thing before dropping my arm over my eyes. Tangled in bed with Lila and with Rook lying over our feet, I had zero desire to get up.

Her body was so warm and soft against mine and Rook’s snores filled the air, neither of them stirring despite the racket the alarm had made. Lila’s head was on my chest, her long hair brushing against the inside of my arm.

It had been a long time since I’d experienced a moment I wanted to drink in, but I could really get used to this. Even Rook’s snores weren’t as grating as usual. Not while I had Lila burrowed into my side and I got to hold her in the tranquility of the early morning.

Outside my bedroom window, birds were chirping a cheerful song to welcome the dawn of a new day. It’d been fucking ages since I’d even noticed that. In the distance, the sound of the occasional car whizzing by signaled that people in more of a rush than me were already up and about.

I sighed but finally opened my eyes and blinked a few times to adjust to the golden, dim light of the sunrise spilling into the room. Frankly, I would have stayed like this all day if I could.

Well, I would have kicked Rook out and put my hands all over her again, and the mere thought of it had my body suddenly waking up in the ways I couldn’t afford right now. Because as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t dive under the covers and wake her up with an orgasm.

Both of us needed to get to the office, and if I got my mouth on her right now, we’d be out for another whole day. So very tempting but nope.

We’d recently been out of the office too much as it was and our work was starting to pile up. I rolled over to face her, smiling as I ran my fingertips along the length of her side. “Lila? You need to wake up, baby. We’ve got to get going.”

I watched as the smallest frown puckered her brow, her long, reddish eyelashes not moving to part. She let out a quiet moan though, and the sound was like a fist around my already hard cock. My lips parted and I hissed when she stirred and her hip brushed against me.

Shit, I want her so damn bad.

“Lila?” I murmured, feeling Rook stir at our feet but unable to tear my gaze away from her face.

I wanted to see the moment she woke up and I couldn’t really explain why, but it wasn’t just physical need driving me this morning.

It ran so, so much deeper than the lust wreaking havoc on my body.

“Wakey-wakey, Lila. If you want time to grab a shower, we really need to get up now.”

Finally, one of those blue eyes opened and her lips formed the most adorable little pout. “You’re the boss. Can’t we just be late for once?”

I chuckled, lowering my head to drop a kiss on her bare shoulder. “I wish, but being the boss means I have to set an example. I haven’t been doing that very well, especially not lately.”

Her other eye slowly opened and she let out a deep breath through her nostrils, her gaze hazy with sleep but relaxed and happy on mine. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Give me one kiss and I’ll get up.”

“You drive a hard bargain, but I’ll take it.

” It seemed I was unnaturally smiley this morning because it still hadn’t disappeared from my lips as I ran my nose along the length of hers.

I kissed the tip of it, brushing some of her hair behind her ear before I pressed my lips against hers, groaning at the soft sensation of them against my own.

“If we don’t stop now, I’m not letting you leave this bed today. ”

Lila grinned. “Who says I want to leave?”

“I thought we’d already concluded that we have to.” I groaned and shut my eyes, my heart hammering and my dick a steel rod. “God, do you have any idea how much I want you right now?”

“Think of it this way,” she said, her voice husky, but filled with laughter too. “The anticipation will make it so much sweeter.”

“The anticipation is going to fucking kill me,” I grumbled but sighed and rolled away from her. If I didn’t do it now, it wasn’t going to happen. “We can swing past your apartment on our way to the office so you can get some clothes.”

As I stood up, she rolled onto her side, facing me.

She slid her hands under her cheeks and looked into my eyes.

Bathed in that golden glow, her hair seemed like it was made out of wisps of fire and the covers were draped over her in a way that hid all the important bits but left swatches of smooth, pale skin exposed.

I’d already had a bulge in my pants, but it was quickly becoming a tent as I stared back at her. “What is it?”

She smiled, eyes bright with amusement as she shrugged a single, bare shoulder. “I was just wondering how you wanted to handle getting to the office today.”

“The same way I handle it every other morning? We get in my truck, swing by your apartment, and go when you’re ready.”

“Do we go in together?” she asked. “Or separately? When we get there, do you want people to know about us? We need to hatch a plan here so we know what we’re doing when we get there.”

“Oh.” I drew in a deep breath, filling my lungs with air as I thought it over. “I don’t know if I’m up for whispers and not-so-whispered comments from Jared. He likes to know everyone’s business and I don’t want him to know mine, not about this. Not now.”

“Okay, we’re going to keep our budding relationship to ourselves. That’s what you’re saying?”

I searched her face for a clue that I’d offended her but didn’t find any.

Her expression hadn’t changed, still relaxed, amused, and peaceful.

Probably still better to approach this with caution.

“I would like not to be the subject of office gossip, but I’m not ashamed, shy, or scared.

It’s simply a matter of personal preference, but if you’d like to?—”

Soft giggles spilled out of her and I cut myself off.

She sat up, holding the sheets around her chest with one arm, and she shook her head, that red hair tumbling past her shoulders and resting softly against her skin.

“Relax, Ford. I get it. I agree with you. It’s better to keep it to ourselves until we figure out what exactly this is. ”

Dumbfounded for a beat, I just stared back at her and then laughter started vibrating through me as I leaned over, smacking just one more quick kiss on her lips. “You’re something else, Li. Okay, I’m going to hit the shower. I’d invite you to join me, but…”

“But we’d never leave if I do.” She giggled again, her cheeks flushed with what I could only assume was joy—or lust, but maybe it was just me. “Go ahead. I’ll get ready and take a shower at my apartment. All my things are there anyway.”

I pondered on that while I raced through a shower, wondering if it was too soon to tell her she was welcome to keep some stuff here. Yeah. No. Too soon. Way too soon.

Shelving the idea for a couple months from now, I got ready for the day and drove my ever cheerful assistant/girlfriend back to her place.

I didn’t walk her to her door this time, though.

All that need for her was still coursing through me, simmering just below the surface, and every time she looked at me, I saw some heat flickering in her eyes too.

Cursing the fact that we had to get to work and that Rook had come with us, I offloaded her bicycle and headed to the office with him.

She would join us once she was ready. Of course, as soon as she arrived, my traitorous mutt went to lie at her feet, and for most of the day, that was where he stayed.

I sat behind my desk, stealing glances at her like a schoolboy with his first crush. Answering emails and bringing our admin up to date, she was humming quietly under her breath, a constant smile on her face.

My heart did weird shit every time I caught a glimpse of her, pounding, and constricting, and jumping. I also still wanted her something awful and the need was like an insatiable beast, like my body was insisting that we catch up on the time we’d lost.

Breathing through a fresh wave of desire brought on by watching her ass sway slightly from side to side as she walked back from the copier, I snapped out of it only when my phone rang. Rodrigo’s name came up on my screen and I sighed but shook my head to clear it of the haze before I picked up.

“I’m sorry,” he said, but it sounded like he was doing it begrudgingly, his voice tight and the words forced. “Eliza has informed me that she approved the designs and the workers are fixing the roof. I apologize for my outburst and I hope you will convey my apologies to Lila as well.”

“I’ll do that.” In the past, I might’ve taken him to task or even stonewalled him completely, but strangely, I just didn’t feel the inclination to do that today. “Thank you for your call, Rodrigo. We’ll talk soon.”

When we ended the call, I got up and grinned as I caught Lila’s eye. “Guess who I just spoke to?”

Her head tilted. “The Fierras?”

“Yep. Well, Rodrigo, but I think Eliza might’ve been on the call too, holding her husband at knife point to try to get the man to apologize.”

She smiled. “I think you and Rodrigo have more in common than you’d like to admit.”

I rolled my eyes, striding into her office and halfway around her desk before I noticed the email chain open on her computer. I frowned and squinted at it, genuinely confused about what I was looking at. “Why are you messaging a dozen of my neighbors?”

Her eyelashes batted as she lifted her gaze to mine. “I was invited to help with the block party this weekend.”

“Are you serious right now?” I didn’t know why I’d asked.

Obviously, she was serious. No one was going to joke about the tedious task of helping with a neighborhood party happening somewhere you didn’t even live. What I realized, however, was that having her in my life was going to mean stepping into the sun a lot more often than I was used to.

I held her gaze and shrugged, intent on not betraying the stab of panic that sliced through me at the thought of facing so many people, so often. “What am I supposed to do while you go to the party?”

She frowned. “Oh, you’re coming with me whether you like it or not. Your neighbors are good people and they’d all love the opportunity to get to know you better.”

Our gazes locked in a silent battle of wills, but instead of annoyance over being told what to do, all I felt was a bolt of attraction.

Tension suddenly hummed to life in the air between us and I knew she felt it too.

Her lips parted, her nostrils flaring before she gave her head a firm but small shake and very deliberately turned back to her computer.

She cleared her throat. “I’ll let you know if there’s anything you can do to help with the arrangements, but I have it handled for now.”

The words did little to dispel the tension, but I nodded and rolled my head from side to side in an attempt to ease the tightness in my muscles. I turned and left her office. I had been right this morning. This tension was going to drive me insane.

All day long, I kept stealing those glances, torn between the urge to grab her hand and drag her home, and the knowledge that there was still a ton of work to be done.

In the end, we both stayed late, her working on sketches for Heritage House and me catching up on plans for some of our other projects.

Lila and I ended up being the only people left in the office, which I suspected was a choice we’d both made. Jared was the only other person around for the longest time, but when he finally, finally headed out, throwing his hand up in a wave as he passed my office, I stood.

I’d never been the most patient guy and I was done waiting. The anticipation wasn’t going to make this sweeter. It was just going to make it rougher.

Marching directly to her office, I grabbed her hand and hauled her into my arms, guiding her back into my office with me. I slammed the door behind us and hit the button next to it to close the blinds.

Lila moved willingly with me, a knowing smirk on her lips as her gaze met mine. “So, now that you have me in here, what are you planning to do with me?”