Page 110 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

I chuckle under my breath, tightening my hold on her. “It's about goddamn time you caught up to me. I've been waitin' four years.”

After the water gets too cold to stay in the shower, I towel dry every inch of her body, and then give her one of my T-shirts while I put her clothes in the washer. I figured we'd come back here for dessert, so once we settled on the couch, I served strawberry shortcake with whipped cream.

“This is good. Who says you can't cook?” she taunts, licking the cream off her fork.

“I'd barely call it that. I mixed the strawberries with sugar, put them on top of a shortcake, and added the topping.”

She smirks. “Gramma Grace has been teachin' me a lot these past two weeks. She's a gem. You’re lucky. I'm not super close to my grandma.”

“No? How come?”

Her shoulders lift casually. “She was a single mom, and I don't think she had great relationships with her kids, either. She comes over during holidays and for random dinners, but it's mostly centered around small talk, and I hate that.”

After we finish eating, we put on a movie. But halfway through, we end up making out and Ellie straddling my lap. This time, I don't make her ride my hat and let her come grinding on my dick.

“Do you wanna stay the night?” I ask when it gets late. “If you don't wanna drive in the dark, I can take you.”

“I don't mind stayin' if you don't.”

“Not at all.” I kiss her. “I'll be up early for chores but can come back before you have to leave.”

“Have you ever had a girlfriend sleepover?”

“A one-night stand, yes. A girlfriend, no.”

She gives me a disapproving face, and I chuckle. “Then why did you ask?”

She shrugs. “Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I guess. Did you burn the sheets at least?”

“Oh they're long gone. I bought all new bedding for you. Top of the line, luxury sheets, and a new comforter.”

“You did? Why?”

“Because I wanted a fresh start with you. As soon as we started dating, I wanted any trace of other women gone. None were serious anyway, so it wasn't a hardship to replace everything. I even bought new towels so you'd have high-quality ones when you needed to shower.”

“I dunno if that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard or the most presumptuous that you were gonna get me in your bed…”

I scratch over my beard that’s overdue for a cut. “I vote for the former.”

She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls my mouth to hers. “Okay, sustained.”

My phone goes off with a text, and I grab it off the coffee table before we walk to my room.

“Oh shit…”

“What is it?” she asks.

Cecilia

YOU'RE ENGAGED?!?

“I think your interview released…” I tell her, and then show her my screen.

“I'm surprised she didn't hear about it sooner.” She pulls the covers back and rubs a palm over the softness of the sheets. “Ooh, these are very nice.”

“Good, I'm glad you approve.” I flash her a wink.

I don't tell her I took Wilder and Waylon with me to buy these a month ago. It was the blind leading the blind in figuring out what kind of bedding was the best.

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