Page 19 of What About Now

“Is there a book you read or something?” I ask him.

“What?” he asks, releasing his hold on me.

“What to say to make her melt? Swoon-worthy one-liners?Capture her heart: Say the right things? Come on, you can tell me. In fact, you should offer copies at the shop. That author deserves praise for his or her work.”

He’s grinning, which in turn makes me smile. Trust me, you can’t have Maddox Lanigan turning that wide smile and those baby blues on you and not smile back at him. I’ve tried, and it’s pretty much impossible.

He smacks my ass, making me yelp, and his smile grows. “New rule in the Lanigan house,” he says, his smile lighting up his big blue eyes, while my belly flips as he refers to the home we’re sharing as the Lanigan house. “We no longer talk about this not working. We both give it everything we’ve got. No, ‘in six months’ talk. It’s us. That’s it.”

I think about what he’s proposing, and I nod. I don’t want to be a negative Nelly all the time, and he deserves me to give him this, even though I already know how it’s going to go. “Okay.”

“Good.” He bends and tosses me over his shoulder, and I shriek with laughter. “Let’s get ready, and I can take my wife to breakfast before we move me in.”

“I can walk.”

“I know you can, Mrs. Lanigan, but I like my hands on you.” He carries me to my room. Make that “our” room, and tosses me gently on the bed.

I’m laughing.

He’s smiling down at me.

Something a lot like hope flares in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, we can do this.

“You can bring whatever you want,” I tell Maddox a few hours later. We’re at his place, and so far, all I’ve seen him pack are clothes and toiletries.

“I’m a simple man, baby. I don’t need much.”

“It’s supposed to be your home too, Maddox,” I remind him.

“This house is small. I’m a minimalist at best. I’ll box up my PlayStation and some photos.” He nods to a frame that has him standing between an older couple.

“Are those your parents?” It has to be. The three of them are smiling widely, and a pang of sadness hits me. I miss my parents so much.

“It is. Hank and Cassie Lanigan, and their pride and joy, of course,” he teases, pointing to his chest.

“So modest,” I tease back.

He stalks toward me and wraps an arm around my waist, lifting me in the air. My body is molded to his as he holds my gaze. “I’m your favorite too. Admit it,” he says, leaning in close.

Is he going to kiss me?

I lick my lips, and his eyes move to watch the action. “Say it, baby. Say I’m your favorite.”

“I mean, top ten,” I goad him.

“Brogan,” he growls.

“Maddox.” I pitch my voice to sound all deep and sexy like his, but I fail miserably, and we both fall into a fit of laughter.

He leans in and kisses the corner of my mouth, and I suck in a quick breath at the action. “One day, baby. One day you’ll admit it’s me. I’m your favorite. None of this top ten bullshit. Just your husband sitting next to you, holding that number one spot.”

“We’ll see,” I taunt.

He shakes his head and slowly lowers me back to the floor. My body slides down his, and I feel his erection, but I pretend like I don’t. I turn away, trying to hide, I’m sure, my tomato face, but my husband, he’s tenacious and won’t hear of letting me hide in my bubble. His arm that is still around my waist holds me to him while the other lifts my chin so that our eyes connect.

“That’s all you, Brogan.”

“Um, that’s all you,” I say, feeling even more heat rise to my cheeks.

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