Page 98 of Until August

“Used to what?”

“Someone taking care of you,” she said softly. “It’s okay to fall apart sometimes. You don’t always have to be strong and stoic. You don’t always have to be so in control of everything.”

I almost laughed at that one. Right now, it felt like I had no control over anything. Not a single fucking thing in my life was within my control.

Last week she told me I was good at dealing with her. The same could be said for the way she handled me.

She must have been the best damn wife any guy could have asked for.

Where the fuck had that come from?

“I really have to go,” she said.

There we have it. Nicola wasstillbeing a good wife.

But she made no move to leave, and all I wanted to do was carry her to my bedroom, strip her naked and do all the things I should have done last night.

My words were limited, but I could express my appreciation in a different way. I leaned in closer and wrapped my hands around her waist.

She put her hands on my shoulders and looked at me from beneath her lashes as if reading my mind. “You’ll have to make it up to me another time. Last night, I got to listen to you snoring all night.” Her brows arched. “Notwhat I’d anticipated when I put on my best lingerie and showed up at your door for a booty call.”

“A booty call?” I asked with a laugh as my thumb brushed over her hip bone. Then my mind snagged on the word lingerie. “You wore your best lingerie for me?”

“Too bad you didn’t get the chance to appreciate it.”

“I can appreciate it now.” I scanned her outfit as if I had X-ray vision and could see straight through the black material.

Sadly, I could not.

I traced the V of her blousy top with my fingertip, dipping below her cleavage before slowly trailing back up.

I heard her breath hitch as I leaned in, my mouth near the shell of her ear and my erection digging between her thighs. “Let’s see it.” I kissed her lips, my tongue sweeping over the seam until she let me in. My tongue stroked hers, and she let out a little whimper as my hands roamed her body, trying to give her more incentive to stay.

She pulled back and gave me a little shove. “Too late. You missed your chance. I’m already running behind. I have to be back in time to meet our new produce supplier at noon.”

I pulled back. “Fuck. That’s today?”

She nodded.

“I’ll meet you there.”

“You don’t have to,” she said dismissively. “Get some rest.”

“I’ll be there.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “I was perfectly capable of running my own restaurant before you came along.”

“I’m sure you were, but now that you have me, you don’t have to do it alone anymore.”

She sighed, her gaze darting to the glass doors. “I don’t want to get too dependent on you, August.”

I hooked two fingers under her chin, forcing her eyes to meet mine. “Why the fuck not? We’re a team.”

“Yeah, for now.” Something flickered in her eyes that I couldn’t read. Sadness? Fear? “But you won’t be happy working for someone forever.”

Forever was a long time. But I stopped myself from saying nothing lasts forever and that no one can predict the future. She knew that better than anyone and didn’t need a reminder.

“I’m here now,” I assured her. “Let’s assume I’m in it for the long haul, okay?”