Page 204 of Crazy for this Girl

“Because I want to be surprised.” She gives a little prideful raise to her chin. “And a time makes me anxious to smell good and stuff.” A burst of laughter thrusts from my chest, and Laynee transforms her blues into unamused slits again. “I’m serious, Cal. It’s too much pressure.”

“Well, get ready for my next comment, because I’m not sure you can handle it.” I step closer to her, my body thrumming with the need to crush her under my weight and bury myself between her thighs. For her to be utterly and indisputably mine. “I want you to date me.”

Her lips part, before a slight change in her breathing gives away that she’s scared and possibly excited. “Date you?”

“Yup. All me.”

I think I see her swallow slightly. Her weight shifting to her other foot as she creates a pro and con list in her head. “And if we break up?”

A mirthless chuckle rumbles from deep in my throat because I’ve never been more confident in my life that her and I are going to work. No matter how much or often we want to kill or fuck each other. “We won’t be breaking up. I’ll put my life and everything I own on that bet.”

“Is the next thing you’re going to tell me that you can predict the future or something?”

I rock my head from side to side. “No, it’s my steel-like hard-on that I’ve been carrying for you since I was thirteen, Laynee.” My attention falls down the white tank top she’s wearing, exposing the pink bikini underneath that’s plastered to her skin. “And for the love of God, will you please remove your shirt? I’ve been dying to see your tits in a bathing suit for over a decade.”

Laynee blushes, but a sweet smile curls higher up her face over my tortured fantasy. “Really?” Her small fingers reach down and shamelessly yank at the hem before slowly pulling it over the top half of her body. Each flawlessly piece of exposed skin sends my cock rock hard for the billionth time. The bold color meshes impeccably with her ivory skin, showing off her perfect tits and curves that make my fingers itch to caress and stroke. Yeah, I’m fucked. “Better?”

“Much better.” I outstretch my hand to drag her into my arms, but she gracefully dodges my advance.

“I haven’t told you what I wanted yet.”

“Make it quick,” I say, still sliding my heated eyes down her body and already conjuring a dozen ideas of how to make her come. “I’m starting to feel hungry.”

“Will you help me look for a property for the bed and breakfast?” She begins fidgeting with her fingers anxiously, which seizes my attention of whatever the hell is going on in her head. “I think I want to do it here.”

“Yes.”

“Here, as in North Carolina.”

“Sure.”

“As in, I’m going to need to move back here.”

My green eyes meet with her blues. “Okay…”

“And if you want to date me—”

“I do.”

She inhales but doesn’t exhale, which means she’s about to work herself into nothing. “Then I’m not sure how this is going to work. I don’t want you to overexert yourself to come see me when you’re busy and—”

“I’m the CEO. I can do whatever the hell I want.”

“But you have to be present.”

“Says who?”

“Says…” She pushes out her bottom lip. “Well, don’t you?”

“It’s called wi-fi, and a laptop, and being virtual. Will I need to fly out sometimes, sure, but I have enough time to make sure my team in all locations are set to run without me babysitting. And wasn’t that the plan all along? Me coming here to be with you? You weren’t going to use me just to get all the ins and outs of my company, then dump me, right?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

I hit her with a mini-glower. “Say that a little more confidently, Reese. I don’t like the dip in your tone like I just caught your ass in the act."

Her hand comes up to cover her smile as if to wipe it away, before she meets my gaze assuredly. “That was never the plan, Mr. Harper. I promise you.”

“Anything else you’re worried about, Miss Reese?” I flex my fingers because my body is on the verge of just lifting her over my shoulder and suspending the rest of this work-talk bullshit.

---