Page 115 of Reluctantly Yours

“Never.” He says it so earnestly my nervous reflex is to laugh.

“You’re kidding, right?”

His gaze is piercing, unwavering. But then his mouth breaks into a grin and he shrugs.

“Eventually. When the kids ask about your first place in the city and it reminds you that you used to live somewhere else.”

“We have kids? If you’re trying to not freak me out about living with you, talking about our future children isn’t the way to go. You haven’t even asked me to move in. We’re not even a real couple. Are we? I mean things have obviously changed between us, but we haven’t discussed anything official.”

“I thought that was implied. You know, by not telling you your apartment is ready.”

“I can’t move in with you. It’s too soon.” It’s too soon for a lot of things. Mostly the way I feel about him.

“You’re already here.”

“Only because Ralph skittered across the floor and freaked me out. Although he was kind of cute.” I think about that little gray mouse and wonder where he is now. Hopefully relocated to a nice farm he can roam around. “I just didn’t like the surprise of him being there. But that situation is resolved now.”

“Is it? How do you know for sure?” Barrett asks, his eyebrows lifting with feigned skepticism.

I don’t know what’s happening right now. Barrett wants me to live here with him, yet he’s said nothing to me about changing our previous arrangement. We’re set to break up next week and he’s talking about kids? What the hell is going on? Did I miss something? The confusion must be all over my face.

Barrett leans down and kisses me gently on the lips. A reassuring kiss.

“Chloe. I want you here with me. I want our arrangement to end and us to be together because we want to. Keep your apartment. It’ll be there if you want it. But if you want to be here, I want you here. Sleeping in my arms. Waking up every morning together.”

As Barrett says the words, I let out a shaky breath. More than moving in with him permanently, the reassurance that he wants to make our relationship real makes my stomach fluttery and my heart pound happily against my ribcage.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to negotiate.

“Access to the study?”

“Unlimited.”

“Rose would continue to stock the fridge with cookie dough ice cream?”

“Yes.”

“I’d get half of your closet?”

He shakes his head.

“There’s a second closet identical to mine.”

I tap an index finger on my lips in consideration.

“How much tennis will I have to play?”

“Only when you want to, but the outfit is required bedroom attire.”

“I was thinking I would take lessons. Frankie said there’s an excellent tennis pro.”

Barrett shakes his head. “I’ll teach you.”

I shrug. “Okay.”

“Sex?” I question. As if it’s going to be an issue. We can’t keep our hands off each other.

“Lots.” He backs me against the counter, his hands cupping my ass. “Are those your only demands?”