Page 131 of Mr. Edwards

“Grayson.” Carlee’s eyes widen the moment she turns and sees me standing there. Instinctively she reaches out, running the tips of her fingers down my arm. “You’re real, you’re here,” she whispers.

The corners of my mouth tilt up. “In the flesh, baby. I hear you were missing me.”

Her breath hitches in her throat. “Like you wouldn’t believe,” she confesses.

“I got your gift today.”

“Oh.”

“You should’ve called me; I’ve been going out of my mind.”

“I wanted to, but I was scared.” Her gaze moves down to the bar top.

“Of what? Me? You know I’d never hurt you.”

“I know. I’m just worried there’s too much bad blood between us now. That the damage it caused is irreversible.”

I lean over the bar raising her chin, bringing her eyes back to mine. “There’s nothing we can’t work through if we do it together.” I reach for her hand and lace my fingers with hers. “I’ve missed my sunshine, life’s been pretty dark without her.”

Tears rise to her eyes. “I’ve missed you too. I feel empty inside without you.”

“Ditto, sweetheart.” My heartbeat slows, and a calming peace settles over me. Is this nightmare finally over? Are we now free to be the couple we were meant to be all along? I rub the heel of my palm over the center ofmy chest. “It’s been really damn hard to breathe without you.”

The smile she gives me when I say that is blinding. “Are you going to hang around until I get off?”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“You’re staying until close?”

“Yep.”

“You promise to sit right there and not move.” She points to the stool in front of me and I take a seat.

“I can assure you I’ll remain seated. As for not moving, we might have a problem. What if I have an itch and need to scratch it, or if I get thirsty and need a drink?”

Her eyes slightly narrow making me laugh.There’s my sassy girl.“Are you going to behave yourself tonight, Mr. Edwards?”

I shrug. “I’ll be on my best behavior for now, but once this place closes, I won’t be able to control myself.”

“I think I can live with that.”

My dick smirks, like the cocky fucker he is. He knows exactly where this night is heading. “I’ll need something in return for my compliance though.”

“What?” she asks, eyeing me skeptically.

“I want a kiss.”

“A kiss?”

“Yep, a proper one this time.”

“You’re not going to buy a girl a drink first? You’re just going to dive straight in, hey?”

Her words make me chuckle, I’ve missed that damn mouth. “Is that what you need, me to buy you a drink first? If that’s all it takes, just say the word.” I wave my hand toward the rows of shelves behind her, the ones lined with bottles of liquor. “I know the perfect place I can get one of those.”

She rolls her eyes before leaning across the bar that’sseparating us. “Let’s get this over with Casanova, I have work to do.”

Her eyes flutter shut as she puckers up, and my smile grows. My thumb lightly skims over her plump lips, dragging the bottom one down in the process.