Page 68 of My Promise To Keep

He laughs. ‘That’s why she’s my favorite.’

I sit up, a horrified expression on my face, and he laughs harder. ‘She is not.’

Leo pulls me close, pressing our bare chests together and bringing our mouths close enough to feel our breath on each other’s lips.

‘She’s not even close, baby.’

My eyes are closed,inhaling the steam and enjoying the beat of the hot water against the back of my neck, when a hard body presses up against my back and a strong arm wraps around my waist. I lean my head back against him and smile.

‘I can’t let you go.’ I sigh, resigned to the truth. ‘I want to do this with you, but I need it to be slow, and I need it to be a secret.’

‘Zoe.’

‘Just for now. I don’t want to involve them until we know for sure.’

‘I do know,’ he says, his lips against my temple, and I moan my reply.

‘Please, Leo.’

His breath in my ear triggers my own deep inhale, and I turn in his arms. ‘You want to go slow?’

‘Yeah.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘I want us to date, get to know each other.’

He laughs, and it’s a deep rumbling that stirs something in my belly. ‘Darlin’, we already know each other.’

I roll my eyes. ‘Not as a couple.’ Saying that word quiets us both for a moment. ‘I want us to go on dates, hold hands in the street, make out at the movies. Learn about each other in the ways we never have.’

‘Okay.’

‘You sound pissed.’

Another deep breath. ‘I’m not.’

‘Leo.’

‘Munch, I’m not pissed, I guess I’m just a little impatient.’

‘I want to be with you. That’s not in question. It’s just a lot, you know?’

‘Yeah, I know.’

‘I promise you — I want this. I just need to ease into it.’

‘You promise.’ It’s not a question, and I understand it. He’s acknowledging the weight of that word.

‘I promise, Leo.’ I nod, gazing up at him. ‘I’m not walking away.’

‘I know. I just,’ he flicks his gaze to the ceiling like he doesn’t want to say what he’s about to say, ‘I just really wanted you to be my date for the wedding.’

Smiling, I press my body closer to his. ‘I can be your secret date.’

‘Secret date?’

Laughing, I lean back and find him smiling down at me, one eyebrow arched.

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