Page 54 of Hollywood

“He’s not going to disappear on you again, Winter.”

“He might and if he does, you know what? I’ll deal with it. I handled it as a little girl and I’m not a little girl anymore.” The words rushed out of her as if she needed to get them out before she lost her nerve. “But there’s something else.” She pulled her hand from mine and my veins turned to ice.

“What is it?”

“When Dad pulled you out of there, I was distraught to say the least. Anyway I rushed to you and held you. Kissed you. I may have said something about loving you but it’s all a blur of blood and gunshots. He asked me out right two days ago and I told him that I was in love with you.”

Winston knew. “Is that why he’s not here?”

“No,” she sighed. “After the first twelve hours it was clear you wouldn’t come around quickly so I sent him home to relax. Recover. Process.”

I frowned as her words sank in. “Twelve hours. How long have I been out?”

“A little over two days.”

“Two damn days?”

She bit her bottom lip and nodded. “You lost a lot of blood and you’ve been out of it. Laura and the doctor said it would take some time but that you’d wake up and here you are.” Her smile was small but sincere. “It’s felt like forever, Hollywood.”

“I’m here. I’m alive and I ain’t going anywhere.” But there was still a question that I couldn’t drop. “How did Winston take the news?”

“Not well, honestly. But I only told him that I was in love with you, I didn’t mention anything about you returning those feelings. He hasn’t talked to me since I told him to go home and promised I would call when you woke up.”

“Ah, shit Winter. I’m sorry.” The last thing I wanted was to come between the woman I loved and my best friend.

“Don’t be.” She shook her head. “I was upset about it at first but the I realized something.”

“What?” I raised my eyebrows, this woman always kept me on my toes, and I had no clue what that brilliant brain of her would come up with next.

“That I don’t care. I’m in love with you Hollywood. For the first time in my life I found a man who makes me feel good and alive and cherished. It’s not just about how you make my heart and my body feel, but it’s about you Hollywood.” She took a step forward and laid her hand over my heart. “You’ve been through so much and still you’re a good man. Bossy and protective, sexy and generous. I love all of those parts of you,and I won’t give it up, giveyouup, not ever. Not as long as you want me.”

“I’m not good, Winter. I’m just a man.”

“Well you’re my man and I think you’re a good man so just accept it.”

I really loved that sassy mouth of hers. “I’m too old for you.”

She laughed. “I’m very mature for my age, you know, on account of raising myself. And you aren’t fully mature yet.”

Her words tugged a laugh out of me that made me wince. “I’m a criminal.”

She was at my side instantly. “They got the bullet out of your back, it wasn’t near anything major but you’re gonna hurt like hell for a while.” She pressed her lips to my forehead. “And you can be a criminal and a good man at the same time. I’m not the fucking law, Hollywood.” She took my hand in hers and kissed it several times. “Anything else?”

I nodded. “Yeah, and this is a big thing. Really fucking important.”

“What is it?”

“I won’t be able to fuck you for a few weeks, apparently.”

Her expression turned serious for a few long minutes and then her face split into a grin. “That’s all right, you’re worth the wait. And you can watch me play out my spank bank fantasies while I tell you all about them.”

I groaned.

She laughed. “Consider it motivation for a speedy recovery. When you even think about skipping your physical therapy, you’ll think of all the things you get to do to me when you’re completely and totally healed.”

“That’s mean, sweetheart.”

She flashed a grin. “I know.” Her lips, soft and plump, were on mine in a heartbeat. The kiss was sweet and chaste but then her tongue flicked out and teased the seam of my lips until I opened for her. The moan she let out hit me square in the chest and underneath the flimsy fucking gown they had me wearing even though I wasn’t in a damn hospital.

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