Page 39 of One Night Bride
I slapped his chest playfully. “You don’t like it? I think it’s right up there with ‘honeypoo.’”
“Point taken.” He chuckled again. “Maybe we both need to come up with better nicknames.”
I held up my finger. “I’ll think on that. In the meantime, I need to write my client back and let her know I am, indeed, dating someone.”
Remington stilled, knowing this was a monumental move for me. “I like hearing you say that. I like knowing I’m your someone.”
And just like that, everything melted into a puddle of affection for the cowboy lying in my bed. He was trying so hard and I’d been pushing him away at every turn. Well, besides sexually. I’d welcomed him well enough on that front, but emotionally, I’d kept myself locked up tight. The lock was gone now, my heart cracked open and vulnerable. It was scary, just like I knew it would be, but damn, it was also exhilarating.
We both paused as we heard a noise downstairs.
“Is that the front door?” Remington whispered, sitting up like he meant to go charging out there unarmed.
I put a hand out to stop him, listening. “I think I heard a car door.” I scrambled out of the bed and went to the window where I could see a part of the driveway below. A few seconds later, the headlights of Izzy’s car backed out of the driveway and off into the night.
“That’s really weird. Izzy never goes anywhere.” I frowned, wracking my brain to see if I’d forgotten she told me she had something to do. Pretty sure I’d remember if she had something going on this late at night.
The bed creaked as Remington sat back down. “Are sisters always like this?”
I spun around, thinking he made my bedroom furniture look too small for his bulk. If he was sticking around, I’d have to consider making this bedroom more his style. Or at least a blend of our two styles.
“Like what?”
He shrugged and the side of his lips tilted up. “Like, up in each other’s business all the time.”
I huffed, but a smile won out. “Yes. That’s exactly how sisters are. They’re in my business and I’m in theirs. You and Ruger aren’t that way?”
He chuckled. “If he tried, I’d punch him in the nose.”
I shook my head and came back to bed, curling up next to him like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Nope. Sisters definitely don’t do that. We rely on psychological warfare.”
“That reminds me. I need to win your sisters over too.” Remington wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head, completely serious.
I grinned into his chest, wanting to squeal about my boyfriend—no, husband—wanting to win over my sisters. I hadn’t picked this man to be married to, but fate had stepped in for me. And handed me the best gift I’d ever received.
We talked for another hour about our businesses, sharing, encouraging, and suggesting solutions until both of us got sleepy. We stayed locked together all night, our brains mulling over so much while knowing the other person was right there. And despite the lack of sex, it was the best night of sleep I’d gotten in years.
18
Remington
“Just open it.”
Esme sat there with a cup of coffee in front of her, staring at the silver box tied with a white bow like it might bite her. Her hesitation was making me nervous. The last few days had been absolute bliss. Working during the day, listening to Esme with her clients, and nights in Esme’s bed with very little sleeping going on. I may have originally been looking for a doormat wife to take my name so I got out of ranching, but I was finding an actual partner in life was far more appealing.
It was like the second Esme made up her mind to give us a chance, everything had changed. For the better. For the perfect.
I was falling hard and fast in love with this woman and I wanted our date to reflect those feelings. I’d put just as much effort and thought into our date as I did my nonprofit this week. I cared about both, but I was starting to see that succeeding with my business would ring hollow if Esme wasn’t there at my side. This dating we’d agreed to needed my full attention.
“I thought we’re going on a date, not getting each other presents,” Esme said, letting go of her mug to finally touch the box.
I shrugged. “This is part of the date.” She was going to find out soon that when I wanted something, I went after it. She wasn’t the only overachiever in the room.
Esme narrowed her eyes at me, but her lips tipped up in a curious grin. The curiosity must have gotten to her because the next second she was ripping off the ribbon and lifting the lid to peer inside. White tissue paper blocked her view, which she lifted carefully before freezing.
I’d taken a huge chance with this date and I hadn’t considered what to do if she flat-out refused my plans. My thumb tapped out a rhythm on the tabletop.
She reached inside and pulled out a flannel shirt in red and black, the perfect coloring for her creamy white skin and jet-black hair. Esme gave me a weird look but kept digging. Next was a pair of blue Levi’s.
