Page 105 of Make-Believe Match

“Yes. The way you’re fighting for this place, the way you’re willing to risk everything, it’s...it’s inspiring. I’m always focused on looking ahead, but honoring the past matters too. I’ve been thinking about my dad a lot, the sacrifices he made, the example he set, the home I grew up in, what he tried to teach us.” I found myself choking up a little and took a quick pull from my beer. “Anyway, thanks.”

“You’re welcome. It’s actually kind of nice to see your emotions get to you,” she said softly. “I wasn’t sure they were in there.”

I grinned. “I guess you’re rubbing off on me too.”

She shook her head and sighed. “You couldn’t resist.”

* * *

Later that night, right after she crawled in bed beside me, I told her the news. “I got the job.”

Her hand, which had been brushing back and forth on my chest, went completely still. “Oh.”

“I got the call this afternoon, right before I ran into Tabitha.”

“You didn’t say anything.”

“Sorry. I was so mad about Oliver, I forgot.”

“Tell me about the position.”

“It’s everything I’ve been working toward. Senior account representative. Fat salary. Corner office. Company car. Paid vacations.”

“Wow. You can’t turn that down, can you?” She was silent a moment. “When do they want you to start?”

I exhaled, closing my eyes. “January first.”

“Oh.” More silence.

“I asked for two weeks to think about it. I told him I had to talk to my wife.” I paused, making up my mind then and there. “But I’m going to turn it down.”

Lexi popped up, bringing her knees beneath her so she sat on her heels. “What?”

“I’m going to say no.”

“Why?”

“Because I made a promise to you.” I picked up her hand. “And we’re not done here yet.”

There was no denying the pure joy that spread across her face. “Are you sure?”

I kissed her fingertips. “I’m sure. I want to see this through.”

With a whoop of excitement, she straddled my hips and whipped my Camp Lemonade T-shirt over her head. She loved sleeping in it.

“Thank you,” she said. When she leaned down to kiss me, her hair brushed across my chest, reminding me of the first night I spent in this bed.

She put her mouth and her hands all over my skin, she stroked my cock with her fist and her tongue, she lowered herself down on me and worked her hips in agonizingly slow circles. She lifted her hair off her neck, moving up and down my shaft with a complete lack of haste, like she wanted to be sure to feel every single inch slipping in and out. Finally, I lost control, flipping her onto her back and driving inside her like a locomotive, angling her hips just the way she liked.

When it was over and we lay sapped of strength and breath, our bodies entwined in damp, twisted sheets, she started to laugh.

“What’s funny?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Us. This. How good it turned out to be.”

“It is good.” I picked up my head and looked down at her. My chest didn’t feel big enough to contain what I felt.

If I was the kind of guy who could make promises, I’d have made one right then and there.