Page 202 of The Re-Proposal

“I wanted to see you.” He touches my face as if I’m made of glass. “Did your mother let you out without a fight?”

“I’m an adult. She can’t keep me from leaving my own apartment.”

He shakes his head. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

He smiles, but it’s with a hint of sadness. “Has she spoken to you about the women’s shelter she’s going to run?”

“You know about that?”

Cody nods.

My lungs, stomach and intestines feel scrambled. I can just imagine how mom brought that up to him.

“I’m not going. My life is here.” I walk around his desk, training a finger over the solid wood. “Ms. Phoebe, Laura, the co-op. They’re all here.” I pause and glance up. “You’re here.”

Our gazes lock.

He walks around the desk as if we’re two magnets and he can’t help but be close to me. His forehead rests on mine. “I love you.”

My eyes dip to Cody’s lips.

An electric tingle surges through me.

I’ve been missing him all day.

“You know,” I step closer and play with a button on his crisp white shirt, “we’re not going to be alone again for the foreseeable future. What with my mom here. And us looking after Joel at the hospital.” I rise on the tips of my toes, aiming for his delectable mouth.

He turns his head away.

I’m stunned.

“Ris, there’s something I need to tell you.”

An alarm goes off in my head, and I beat it back.

No. We’re fine. He said I’m enough. He said he won’t break his promises.

As long as I have him, I have nothing to worry about.

Nothing except making the most of our time together.

I place a finger to his firm, perfect lips. It’s hard against my skin and hotter than any pair of lips deserve to be. “Do you really want to spend this rare opportunity talking?”

Cody’s eyes flare with desire.

“I don’t,” I whisper.

A flicker of indecision pulses through his green eyes, but it doesn’t last. I see the moment his desire wins out. He grabs me and wrenches me forward.

Hips-to-hips.

Nose-to-nose.

I feel his hard body and my blood pumps faster, a promise of passion barely leashed, gnawing against all restraints.

Cody whips me off my feet and places me gently on the desk.

---