Page 130 of Beautiful Storm

“And?”

“Lainey lives around the corner. You’d have someone nearby if you needed them.”

“Hayley’s close by.”

“Yes, but she’s about to be a movie star.”

“And what? You don’t think she’ll have time for me anymore?”

“No. Not in the way you’re saying it. She’ll always be your friend, but you know she’ll have less time. If you’re worried,this arrangement can be until Jelly Bean is born. We can have separate rooms and—”

“You’d let me have a separate room?”

Luke’s face scrunches as he shakes his head. “Hell no. What was I thinking? Can you pretend I never said that?”

“Consider it erased.”

“Thank you.”

I smile before shifting my gaze to the ceiling and blowing out a raspberry. “What happened to us taking it slow? To dating?”

“Life happened and I promised you I’d do whatever it took to be there for you. This is me doing that.”

“It’s not just you wanting sex every night?”

“Nooo. Wait. I mean, I obviously won’t say no to that because I’d be crazy, but it’s not the main reason.”

“Okay.”

“I’m serious, Amelia. I—”

“I said okay.”

His head flicks back as his eyes widen, clearly expecting more pushback, and I don’t blame him. I haven’t exactly made things easy on him. “You’ll move in?”

“I will. But for the record, I think we’re both crazy for this.”

“There’s nothing wrong with crazy. Should we pack now?”

I huff out a laugh and bury myself in the comfort of his arms, my heart racing when he presses a kiss to my head. I have no idea what the future will bring, but right now, his warmth is keeping me grounded. And I never saw it coming. So while my head tells me to say no, to delay this move as long as possible, my heart is screaming at me to say yes. And for the first time, I’m going to listen.

“Let’s do it.” I rest my chin on his chest and smile up at him.

“Yeah?” he asks, surprise lighting up his face.

“Yeah. I’d love to move in with you.” I smile before adding, “For now,” making Luke burst out laughing.

Iwake up in Luke’s arms, his heavy limbundermy belly, just like the last time we woke up together, as if even in his sleep he’s protecting our child. After wriggling out of his hold, I stretch my body, feeling better after a proper night's sleep in his ridiculously comfortable bed.

Only my headache still lingers.

After pressing a kiss to Luke’s shoulder, I get up and leave him sleeping as I get ready for work. But when I’m packing my bag, I sense his presence behind me before he wraps his arms around my waist. “Who knew that sharing my bed would help me sleep better.”

“Probably a large majority of people who partake in that thing called monogamy.”

“Ah, those people. Smart.”

I laugh as he spins me around, but the second his mouth meets mine, my laughter turns to longing as his lips gently caress mine. This is what I always wanted. Someone who wants me as much as I want them. “I wish I could have stayed in bed all day,” I whisper when he pulls away, my head a little dazed.

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