Page 88 of Break My Fall

His eyes held hers as his hands traveled up to cup her face. “Meredith.” The word was a whisper just before his lips brushed across hers. “You’re supposed to make me wait.” Another brush of lips. “You’re supposed to insist on lots of dates, each one more extravagant than the last.”

The next kiss held her lips a few seconds longer.

“Otherwise, I might think you’ve forgiven me.” His lips traveled to her ear. “I don’t deserve that.”

She leaned into his caress. “Maybe I don’t care what you think you deserve.” She turned her head to capture his lips with her own. “You obviously need someone in your life who will appreciate you and take care of you.”

“Are you volunteering?” His lips brushed her chin, then her nose.

“Is the position still available?”

He pressed his forehead to hers. “The position was only ever yours.”

“It’s filled now.”

His smile soothed all the hurts and raw edges from the last few weeks. “You’re still going to get the dates and surprises.”

“I like surprises.”

He closed his eyes and pulled in a long breath, then released it at the same time he released all of her except one hand. “Come on. Let’s eat.”

She followed him into the dining room on shaking legs and then had the most romantic meal of her life. The bass was perfection. The risotto creamy. The wedge crunchy and crisp. And when she couldn’t possibly eat another bite, he cleared the dishes and returned to her, holding her coat. “Come on. Let’s walk off dinner.”

“Please tell me we aren’t going to Gossamer Falls.”

He laughed. “Too crowded. I have a better spot in mind.”

Meredith slid into her boots, and for the next couple of hours,she let him convince her that she was the only one he wanted, the only one he would ever want, and the only one who could ever have pulled him out of the abyss he’d placed himself in.

As he drove her home, far too late for grown-ups with real jobs to be out at night but far sooner than she wanted to, she said, “Gray?”

“Hmm?” His thumb ran across her hand where he held it.

“Will you be my plus-one for the wedding?”

His hand clenched on hers. “I might have to work while we’re there.”

“I know. But I’m still asking you to please be my plus-one, as a date.”

“Then yes, I’d love to be your plus-one.”

“So it’s a date.”

“It’s a date.”

TWENTY-FOUR

Gray walked around to Meredith’s side of the car and opened the door for her.

He offered her his hand and she took it, but she wasn’t looking at him. She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head toward the firepit. Gray followed her gaze. Mo sat nursing what looked like a root beer, and Cal was beside him in Meredith’s regular seat. The location gave Cal an excellent view of the driveway, and Gray had no doubt both men had been waiting on them to return.

Meredith touched his arm and whispered, “Do you want to join them? Or say good night here?”

“We aren’t saying good night here. I’m not leaving you by the car just to avoid speaking to them.”

Meredith looked from him to the two men by the fire. “Cal’s your best friend. I don’t want you to avoid speaking to him ever.”

“I appreciate that, but tonight is about you. What doyouwant to do?”

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