Page 73 of The Proposal Pact
“It’s not you. I just don’t like kissing. Anyone, period.”
Huh…what does that supposed to mean?
“Could’ve fooled me today,” I mumble, and then louder I add, “I don’t know. I guess as much as it takes and when the situation calls for it.”
“How am I supposed to know when it calls for it? I don’t have that phone number.”
“Oh my gosh, my husband, the jokester.” I roll my eyes playfully and fall back onto the bed. “Don’t worry, I’ll kick you when you need to kiss me.”
“Fine.”
“Fine,” I repeat and snuggle into my bed, only to turn a minute later. Then turn again. And again. The sheet gets tangled around my ankles and I kick it out, but I still can’t get comfortable.
“Sophie! For the love of…can you stop tossing?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t sleep when my feet are cold. Everything bothers me then.”
“Jesus.” He sighs heavily. “What a little menace,” he mumbles.
“I am not.”
“Oh, yes you are.”
Before I can snark back, a large hand wraps around my ankles, startling me, and I let out a small squeak as Clover drags my feet over to his side.
“Wh-what are you doing?” I ask, the words rushing out fast.
“Trying to get some sleep over here,” he grumbles as he throws his warm, powerful leg over my cold feet, covering them completely.
“You…” I start but no other words come out.
“Wow, I think I deserve a medal,” Clover says, humor laced thickly through his tone.
“Why?” I ask, skeptical of his suddenly happy mood.
“I’ve rendered the mighty Sophie Lovinski speechless.” My heart skips a beat at the use of his last name again and even though I secretly like it—a lot—I need to set it straight.
“Levidis. I think you meant to say Levidis.”
Clover is silent for a second before I feel his body move just an inch closer.
“No. It’s Lovinski now. Better get used to that, little menace, we need to seem all coupley and shit.”
For the second time tonight, I’m glad it’s my back he sees, and not the dopey smile I’m wearing. When I woke up with a blasted headache and a dry mouth this morning, I never expected to have the day I did.
I never expected to have this grumpy sheriff ask me to marry him, let alone to actually enjoy this marriage so far. And my new husband, who’s not all that bad underneath all the scowls, tight jaws, and grunts.
“Hey, husband?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for the best wedding night.”
There’s no answer from Clover. Not that I expect one, but then his leg slides over mine just a bit farther, covering nearly the whole of mine and my heart thumps loudly in my chest as warmth cocoons it.
Thankfully, only the pillow and my closet wall bears witness to the smile I’m wearing.
I expect to toss and turn like I always do. For my body to fight sleep with all it’s got, but only moments later a different kind of warmth wraps around me. It’s soothing and comforting and the last thought I have before sleep claims me like a thief is thatit ishim…
