Page 90 of Taylor

Then he did something that surprised her. He walked in, sang the male part of the song, and reached for her to dance with him. She grinned and sang and danced. And just like the song said, the world around them could fall apart. Nothing that wasn’t in this room mattered to her.

She still wasn’t sure if he heard her or not this morning, but it didn’t seem to matter anyway.

When the song finished, he said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Then he went to pull her in for a hug.

“Don’t hug me,” she said, reaching up on her toes to kiss him. “I have paint on me.”

“Well, whenever you’re ready for a break, I brought home some lunch. I’m going to eat and watch some game videos before I take a nap.”

“Okay, I’ll just finish up here and clean up and join you. If you don’t mind, that is... I don’t wanna mess with game-day habits.”

“Alice, I always want you with me,” he said, cupping her cheek and dropping a sweet kiss on her mouth.

He turned and left.

Alice couldn’t help it. She closed her eyes and sank into the giddy feeling that had taken over her life since he turned up on her doorstep. With the biggest, goofiest smile, she walked over to the canvas to finish things up before heading out to clean up.

Taylor was on the couch, grain bowl in hand, watching videos of the team he would be playing.

“I’m just going to go clean up. I’ll be right out.”

“Okay, I’ll heat up your food.”

“Thanks,” she said as she disappeared into the room to wash her hands and changed her paint splattered shirt.

“Ummm, babe. Did you eat breakfast?” Taylor asked, showing up in the doorway with an amused smirk.

“Ummm, yeah, I think. Why?”

He showed her the plate with a rock-hard burrito.

She just chuckled and shook her head. “Oops. I meant to eat but then I just got to work in the studio.”

“I see how it is. Maybe my morning text should involve a reminder to eat.”

“Ya know, that’s not a bad idea.”

“What am I going to do with you?” he said, shaking his head.

“Just love me, I guess,” she said, trying to be funny without even thinking about what she was saying.

His gaze took a serious turn, and she was regretting saying that, but then he said, “I do.”

All the breath left Alice’s body.

“What?”

“I do love you, Alice.”

“You do?” she asked with a grin, once again, stretching across her face.

“I do.”

“I love you, too, Taylor,” she said, running into his arms.

He was so strong and sturdy he just absorbed her and hugged her and pulled her face up for a kiss.

He deepened the kiss, and Alice snaked her arms around him and slipped a hand under his shirt, feeling the smooth warmth from his back.

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