Page 96 of Use Me

“Not if I stop you.” He hung up, and I took the phone away from my ear. I had no idea what he meant, but it felt as though our little game wasn’t over.

Afew weeks ago when I was at the game with my friends, I thought I wanted to have a baby. That was short lived because being able to jump in an airplane and fly to a spa on a whim was more my style. At least for now. My biological clock was ticking, but I loved what I had going with Rhys, and I didn’t want to scare him away.

Also, how could I bring a baby into this world when there was so much drama? Fucking Corey. I just wanted him to leave me the hell alone. All of his texts were confusing, and after Rhys called him, I thought that maybe Corey was only doing it to break us up.

“If I’ll let you do what?” I asked.

“Nothing. What is he talking about Pinterest?”

I took a deep breath. If he got scared away because I was a planner, then it was better to know now. “I have a wedding board on Pinterest.”

He was silent for a few seconds. “That’s it?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Corey—”

“Fuck, Corey. I don’t want to talk about that asshole again.”

“Okay. Hand me the phone back.”

“What are you going to do?” Rhys asked.

“Block his number.”

I did just that.

Over the next few weeks, Rhys and I went and viewed several houses. I didn’t need the hustle or bustle of the city anymore. I wanted the fireplace and pool. Hell, I wanted a fireplace next to the pool. None of the places we looked at were the one, but I went ahead and found a renter for my condo. It was weird knowing some stranger was living in my place, but ever since Philip died in it, I didn’t feel like it was my place at all. The new tenant didn’t seem to mind that a man had been killed in my living room. In fact, she was a paranormal author and seemed to think that it would help her with her writing. To each their own I suppose.

Some might think that buying a house together after only four months of dating is too fast. Maybe it is for some, but when you know, you just know. It was different with Rhys than with any man I’d dated before. He made me smile, he made me laugh, and I felt safe when I was with him. And he almost took a bullet trying to protect me. If that’s not true love, then I don’t know what is.

“The girls are coming over tonight after work. We’re going to watch the game.”

Rhys stared at me for a beat as we lay in bed. Something we did a few times a week. It was as though we felt the longer we stayed in bed, the more time would slow so we could have more time together. “Are you trying to be late to work?”

“What?” I chuckled.

“You just made me hard again by saying that the girls are coming over to watch the game. I’m pretty sure with that sentence I fell more in love with you.”

“Well …” I blushed.

“Next you’re going to be telling me that they’re coming over for poker night.”

My eyes widened. “Yes! Let’s do that. Let’s have a poker tournament when we buy a house. Like a housewarming party, but with poker.”

“Do you even know how to play?” He laughed.

“No, but you can teach me. We have time.”

Rhys grinned and rolled on top of me. “You, Ashtyn Valor, are going to be the death of me.”

“I’m going to be late,” I reminded him.

“You won’t be late. I’ll be quick.” He kissed me feverishly and true to his word, I wasn’t late to work. I made it with a few seconds to spare.

After work, I was going to stop at the liquor store and grab a couple of bottles of vodka. Since it was a Friday night, the girls and I might drink all of it. I wasn’t driving, and Rhys had the secret breakfast that cured hangovers. Plus, I could talk him into making it in only a towel again.

As I was brushing mascara on my lashes to freshen up for my broadcast, I saw Abby walk by. “Hey!” I called out.

She peeked around the corner. “What’s up?”