Page 99 of Out of the Shadows

She barked out a laugh and glanced down at her 49ers sweatshirt. “Sorry, buddy. It’s part of the deal. No sweatshirt, no me.”

He threw his head back and groaned. “You’re killing me, B. I’m more than happy to compromise on anything, but this”—he tugged the hem of her sweatshirt again—“it hurts my heart.”

Ridiculous. The man was ridiculous.

Biting the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling, she arched an eyebrow at him. “Oh yeah?” She pointed at her top. “This hurts your heart?” She whipped the sweatshirt over her head and tossed it over her shoulder with a smirk. The bra she wore was purely decorative, the cups a sheer pink that covered nothing. “How’s your heart now?”

His gray eyes heated as he took every inch of her in. A grin split her lips when he muttered something that sounded like a growl.

She cleared her throat and placed a hand on her hip. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

He met her gaze, and the desire staring back at her had her body heating. “Fine. You can bring the sweatshirt?—”

“Oh, can I? How magnanimous of you.”

He stepped toward her, that mischievous look coloring his face. “But every time you wear it, I get to toss it on the floor.”

Her laugh turned into a yelp as he lunged at her. With a strength that shouldn’t have surprised her, he tossed her over his shoulder—careful not to put any pressure on her sore ribs—and slapped a hand on her ass as he circled the room. He laid her gently down onto the couch, his playful gaze sobering as he leaned over her.

“Move in with me? I’m just joking about the sweatshirt. I don’t care what you wear or where we live. I just want to be with you. I want to hold you at night and wake up with you in the morning. I want that every day for as long as I’m breathing.”

Her heart pinged, and she framed his face in her hands. This sweet man was everything.

“I love you, Gavin.”

He pressed a kiss to her lips.

“I love you too.” The corner of his mouth tipped up. “So is that a yes?”

Nodding, she laughed. “Of course I’ll move in with you.”

“Thank God.” He grinned at her, relief evident on his face, along with his love. Then his eyes twinkled with mischief as he lowered his head. “Now, where was I?”

---