Page 14 of American Beauty

“You’re killing me, babe. Let’s hear it.”

She takes a breath, dragging it out, and I’m certain she’s doing it on purpose––making me wait.

“There’s a chance Soul Sync might send me back to Australia to help with the new team.”

Everything inside me jolts awake. I sit up straighter, my pulse kicking up, a rush of adrenaline sharp and immediate.

“That’s amazing!” The words leave me fast, unfiltered, because fuck, it is amazing. The idea of her being here, of closing the distance, of having her in my space again sets my whole body buzzing.

She’s supposed to be here with me.

“I’m trying not to get too excited since nothing is certain. But it’s a possibility right now.”

“Possibilities have a way of turning into reality, especially when you want something bad enough.”

She smiles—that easy, tilt-your-world kind of smile that never fails to wreck me. “And you want this bad enough?”

I don’t hesitate. “More than the air I breathe.”

There’s a special kind of spark in her eyes. “I’m excited…reallyexcited. But I don’t want to get my hopes up too soon.”

“Sure, that’s understandable.”

I believe it deeper than blood and bone that this is where Magnolia is supposed to be. And I won’t let her go again. I made the mistake of letting her slip through my fingers once. I told myself I was doing the right thing, that I was giving her space to figure things out, to decide for herself if we were worth fighting for.

But fuck that. I already know the answer.

And when she comes back, she’s not leaving again.

She stretches, and the movement draws my attention to the soft curve of her neck, the way her blouse shifts and hugs her perfect tits.

“So,” she says, tilting her head. “What have you been up to without me there occupying your every free minute?”

I’m a bloody sorry sap missing her like it’s a full-time job. Every hour, every minute, hell—every bloody second she’s not here feels off-kilter. I’m not fine. I’m wrecked. But no way I’m handing her all that mush on a silver platter. Not yet.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

She narrows her eyes. “Yes, I would like to know. That’s why I asked.”

“Nothing interesting––working, venting my frustration in the gym. Mostly missing you.”

Those full, pouty lips of hers press together like she’s trying not to smile. “You miss me, huh?”

I hold her gaze. “Every damn second. But you know what I can’t stop thinking about?”

She reaches up and thumbs the diamond pendant resting against her collarbone. “Tell me.”

I let the moment stretch, my voice dropping lower. “Your touch. The feel of you.”

Her breath catches a little, enough to make my cock twitch in response.

And that teasing smirk returns, slower this time. “Yeah? Is that so?”

She shifts, her body language changing, softening, her playfulness turning into something warmer. Darker.

“Hold on a second.”

She disappears from view, and the screen goes dark. I thumb the screen of my phone, wondering if we lost connection. “Babe, are you still there?”

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