Page 91 of The One You Want

He put his hand over hers. “I’ll be glad when the wedding is over and you and I can see each other without him around.”

She turned her hand and linked her fingers with his. “We know where each other works, but I have no idea where you live in the Bay Area.”

“I’ve got a house in the Los Altos hills. What about you?”

“Nothing quite that upscale, I’m afraid. I have a two-bedroom apartment in Santa Clara that costs the same as some people’s mortgages.”

“Do you have a roommate?”

“No. But I tend to work a lot from home and late at night, so I wanted a separate space for that. Believe me, they are two very small rooms.”

“Maybe your sister will come to visit once in a while.”

“I hope so.”

“Come check out my place on Sunday. We’ll both be back from the wedding. We can spend the day together before we goback to work on Monday.” He pulled into the driveway at her mom’s house.

“I’d love that.”

“I’ll barbecue. We’ll relax and hang out. Bring a suit, or don’t, and we’ll go for a swim.” The smirk on his face and hope in his eyes said he didn’t want her to bring a swimsuit.

“Sounds like a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.”

“Any day I spend with you is a good day.”

“Then you can have as many as you’d like because I really like being with you, too.” She leaned over and kissed him. “Thank you again for tonight. I don’t think I’ll ever think of the beach or the sound of the ocean and not think about you.”

He brushed the hair back from her face. “All I think about is you.”

He kissed her one last time and she fell back in her seat.

“Don’t get out.”

He smirked. “But then I won’t get one last chance to kiss you good night.”

She leaned in and kissed him again. “You don’t need an excuse to kiss me one more time.”

“Oh, good.” He pulled her in for another steamy kiss that spun out until the windows started to fog over.

He tried to pull her closer, but she ended up gouging her ribs on the console and pulled back, bracing her arm against her side. “Ow.” She laughed, because trying to get it on in a car never gave anyone enough room to move.

“I’m sorry.” Gray raked his hand over his hair. “This is crazy. Go before I can’t let you go.”

“Well, that sounds perfect.”

Gray groaned. “You should not be so accommodating of my desire to hold on to you.”

“Knowing that you feel that way... It means everything to me. Especially since I’m about to go and talk to my sister about our father. We never mattered to him.”

Gray hooked his hand at the back of her neck and drew her close. “You matter, Rose. More than you know.”

“I do know, Gray. I feel it from you every time we’re together. So thank you again for a wonderful night and for how you care about me.” She gave him a lovingly soft kiss, smiled at him because her heart felt so full of joy because of him, then slipped out of the car and closed the door.

She knew he would but it still made her feel good to know he waited for her to walk into the house, safe and sound, before he pulled out of the driveway.

The second she walked in the door, Poppy poked her head out of the kitchen, a plea and unease in her eyes. “Want some hot chocolate?”

Mom used to sneak them hot chocolate on those few nights Dad passed out drunk early and there was no way he’d catch them. It did her heart good to see Poppy remembering the good things they’d shared as kids. “I’d love some.” And a chance to connect with Poppy on a much deeper level now that all the secrets and resentments were out in the open.