Page 130 of Lace 'em Up

It’s a valley overlooking a gorgeous view. It’s giving a meaningful present. It’s scoring a goal and seeing her dancing like a fiend in the stands.

It’s a dance in the kitchen.

It’s teasing and an inside joke.

It’s…us.

And that’s why I know it’s perfect.

Thirty-Six

Rory

I’m a woman in love.

It feels weird to say that still.

Even a week after having first said the words out loud.

Hell, it’s weird to even think it.

To actually feel it because I know now that what I had been feeling in my relationship before wasn’t love, not truly.

It was…

Not right.

And honestly? A part of me is still terrified. Scared this is all going to be snatched away. That I’ll be left devastated and heartbroken and alone.

That I’ll have to go on living without King.

But as much as I’m scared, I’m also…

At peace.

Because even if it all goes wrong, I’ll still have had this time, these moments, the memories.

And right now, that’s enough.

Especially because every day with King has been better than the last.

Cuddling on the couch. Watching him play at the arena. Hydrangeas in a vase on the island, the man having somehow discovered my favorite flower. Walking Zeus together on the trails that back up to his house. Coming home from a long day at work and finding the fridge full of my favorites, a slow cooker loaded with dinner on the counter, a note with the channel his game will be playing on tacked to the fridge. Pastries from Molly’s. Spa appointments booked for Chrissy and me so we can have a girl’s night.

And King.

Gentle touches to tuck back my hair behind my ear, kisses stolen as we dance in the kitchen, and…

Orgasms.

Lots and lots of orgasms.

Smiling, I turn off my playlist, drop my empty coffee cup in the sink, and snag my purse from the hook that King designated as mine—oh, my sweet, organized man. I tuck it over my shoulder as I walk down the hall and pull open the door, hitting the button to send the huge metal paneling rattling up when I remember I left my laptop on the island.

Maybe I need King to make me a Life Planner too.

Chuckling, I let the door swing shut, bustle down the hall, snag my computer, and hurry back into the garage.

I need to get to work.

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