Page 85 of Exposed Ink

“This is the key to my house,” he says softly. “Taylor and I spoke, and we would love for you to move in with us.”

As I stare at the key in his hand, it hits me that if I say yes, I would move from my parents’ pool house into Shane’s house.

Is that the right thing to do?

For some reason, the idea of him proposing felt less intimate. Maybe it’s because engagements take time, whereas moving in together would be right now.

His home would become mine.

Am I ready for that?

“This is all so sweet,” I tell him, looking around at the romantic ambiance he’s created with the candles and flowers.

“Why do I feel like there’s a but coming?” Shane mutters.

“No, not a but.” I step closer to him and put my hands on his chest, so we’re connected. “I want to move in with you. At least, I think I do.”

I shake my head, hating that I kind of suck at all this.

“You’re so damn good,” I tell him, trying to explain myself. “You give and give and give, and you deserve someone who can reciprocate. And I just don’t know if I’m capable of that.

“I want to be. I love you, and in the short time we’ve been together, it’s the happiest I’ve been in a long time.”

“You give me so much,” he says, gliding his knuckles down my cheek. “You might not see it, but I promise that being with you makes me so damn happy. The way you are with my daughter and how every time you walk in, you make it a point to give Becky attention. Your passion for your work … I could watch you tattoo me all day.”

He chuckles. “I love going to bed and waking up to you in my arms. And when you mentioned getting your own place, my first thought was if getting to do that with you every day for the rest of my life is an option, I want you to move in here.”

“I love spending time with you,” I tell him. “I love going to bed and waking up with you. But I don’t know if moving in together is the right move.”

When he frowns, I reach up and run my finger along the seam of his lips, not wanting him to be anything but happy.

“I’m not saying no,” I clarify. “I just need to make sure. A few months ago, I couldn’t even imagine moving out of my parents’ pool house. And then today, I was looking at houses, and … I just need a little bit of time to make sure whatever decision I make is the best one … for everyone.”

Shane nods in understanding.

“Okay,” he says, taking my hand in his and placing the box in it. “But the key is yours. Even if it’s just so you can come and go as you want. I want you here as much as I can have you.”

He grips the back of my neck and captures my mouth with his for a quick yet emotionally charged kiss. “And until then,” he murmurs against my lips, “I’m going to do everything in my power to convince you that moving in is the right choice.”

He glides his hands down to my ass and lifts me into his arms. Then, he carries me to his room, where he does a damn good job of convincing me that the only place I belong is right here, in his bed, with this man.

* * *

“Kinsley, wake up.”

I hear Shane’s voice, but it’s so hard to open my eyes. The number of times he made me come last night left me in an orgasm-induced coma that I wasn’t sure I’d ever wake from.

His hand glides down my side and settles on my hip, and I snuggle closer to him, loving how hard yet comforting his body is.

“Sour Patch,” he says with a chuckle. “As much as I’d love to stay in bed with you, Katie and Eric had their baby last night, and my parents are on their way, so we can go to the hospital to see them.”

At the mention of his parents, I freeze. I knew he had parents. He talks about them all the time. They even live next door to him. But I’ve never spoken to or met them because they’ve been traveling in their RV all over the country.

“Hey,” Shane says softly. “If you don’t want to go to the hospital, it’s okay. Nobody would fault you for not wanting to?—”

“It’s not that,” I tell him, rolling over so I can look at him. “I’m okay with meeting the baby. But I’ve never met your parents. Do they even know who I am?”

Shane’s brows furrow, and then a grin spreads across his face. “Of course they know about you.” He shakes his head. “I’ve told them all about you, and Taylor has, too, and they can’t wait to meet you. They texted that after we leave the hospital, they’d love to go to breakfast.”

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