Page 63 of Stick Work

My heart beats a little faster. “Speaking of benefits. Have you seen the bed?” She frowns as she glances at it. “What, you don’t like it?”

“It’s so big.” Her eyes widen as she takes in the California king.

I smirk. “You don’t like big things?”

Her head snaps back to me, and she shakes her head. “Oh, Elias,” she jokes. “Did we not agree to leave the comedy to me?”

I chuckle, loving how playful she is right now. If I’d known a luxury hotel would make her this happy, I would have taken her here months ago. “You didn’t think that was funny?”

“If I say yes, will it go to your head?” She shoots me a sly look, then flops onto the bed, arms and legs stretching out as she makes imaginary snow angels.

Damn.

My heart beats even faster, because she is angelic. Fucking perfect.

I clear my throat, and adjust my pants. “Something is going to my head,” I grumble in a suggestive way, so she catches my meaning.

She laughs. “You’re really on a roll tonight.”

I spread my arms out. “I’m here all weekend.”

Her jaw drops in exaggerated shock, and I really love how dramatic she can be at times. “Now you’re stealing my lines. What are you going to steal next?”

“Your panties,” I tease, shooting her a wicked grin.

“Um.” She sits up and plants a finger firmly against my chest. “I believe you’ve already done that.”

I grin because she’s right. Needing to feel her body next to mine, I nudge her until she’s spread out again, and fall over her, pinning her beneath me. She wraps her arms and legs around me and I press my lips to hers. The sweet little moan she lets out sends a rush of heat straight through me. I love this woman. My heart pounds, emotions overwhelming me as her body melts beneath mine, happy, content, not a worry in the world. This. This is how I want her. I want to take all her worries away and give her everything she’s ever wanted.

A low, guttural groan rumbles in my throat as I trail my lips down her neck, breathing in her intoxicating scent. “If we didn’t have dinner plans, I’d tear this dress from your body and have my way with you.”

Her breath hitches, her fingers gripping my sweater. “I want that too.” Her voice is deep and husky, so full of arousal it’s all I can do to think straight. “Rain check, Anchor?”

I remember the last time she asked for a rain check. It was the morning after I’d taken her virginity and something about that reminds me that she’s young, and still has a life to live, one that I’m not a part of—outside of being her friend.

But I can’t deny that something happened to me on Christmas day, when she sat into that plush chair, holding little Carter in her arms like it was the most natural thing in the world. It was that moment that solidified what I already knew. It’s not that I don’t want to give my family a daughter-in-law to call their own. It’s not that I hated them setting me up because I wasn’t interested in marriage and children. It’s not that I haven’t dated since Cami because she deceived me, and now I’m jaded, or because her actions reflected poorly on my family.

It's because for months now…I’ve been in love with Taylor Coolidge.

My best friend’s kid sister.

“How am I going to survive dinner, knowing we have this bed waiting for us?” she murmurs softly, a teasing smile tugging at her lips as she glances at the clock.

I follow her gaze.

Do we have time?

“I could be fast,” I let her know with a wink.

She chuckles, her eyes twinkling with delight. “Oh, I know.”

“Hey,” I shoot back, laughing. “But you’re not wrong,” I admit sheepishly. Sometimes it’s all I can do to slow myself down when I have her naked beneath me.

“Fast has its place,” she teases, squirming a little beneath me. “But we can’t be late for dinner.” I inch back, forcing myself to move. “We don’t want people to know what we’ve been doing up here.”

“Yeah, right. Grandma would be thrilled.”

A warm smile comes over her face as she puts her hand on my cheek. I lean into her warmth when she says, “I can’t wait to see your family again, Elias.”

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