Page 36 of Heal You
I’m already in the city and I’d love to have lunch with you.Where should I meet you?
Morgan started to respond immediately.
Perfect.I’m outside La Casa right now.Fancy something to eat in there?
Jan would happily eat at a McDonald’s if it meant she was sharing space with Morgan Tate.
I’m on my way!
* * *
Satisfiedafter a beautiful and unexpected lunch with Jan, Morgan took her hand as they reached the second floor of the multi-storey carpark.It wasn’t something they could do in public—Morgan understood that—so while they were alone in here, she wanted to make the most of it.On so many occasions over lunch, she hadalmosttaken Jan’s hand, but Morgan would get used to less public displays of affection.She would have to if this was going to survive.Whateverthiswas, anyway.
“Thank you for lunch,” Jan said as she leaned in and kissed Morgan’s cheek.“I need to lie down now.I ate too much.”
“Me, too.”Morgan worked out in her head how long she could relax for once she got back.She was due to be in the bar at six, and it was only two now.“Maybe I’ll get the chance.Depends if anyone manages to stop me between walking through the door to the bar and reaching the door to the flat.”
“Is that an issue for you?Someone always needing something because you live above the place?”
“I think so, yeah.I’m kind of always just there, you know?I think people forget that I have a life that extends beyond the bar.”As they reached Jan’s car, she turned and rested against the bonnet.Morgan stood between her legs, drawing her into a kiss, smiling against Jan’s lips as she tried to pull back.“Babe, it’s fine.Nobody is around.”
Jan laughed.“You think I care if someone sees us?No.I’m more concerned by the fact I stink of garlic.”
Morgan lifted a shoulder.“I happen tolovegarlic.”
Jan hooked her fingers through Morgan’s belt loops and smiled up at her.“I don’t want to leave you now that I’ve spent some time with you.”
“Believe me, going to work is the last thing on my mind right now.”All Morgan wanted to do in this moment was lie down and snuggle up with Jan.The fact it had rained all morning and afternoon only encouraged that mood.Warm, cosy, content.Those were the things Morgan was striving for these days.“But I always love to see you turning up at the bar, so you know, keep that in mind.”
“I intend to show up at some point this evening—don’t you worry about that.”Jan wrapped a hand around the back of Morgan’s neck and offered her a slow, lingering kiss.“A nice cocktail, a great atmosphere, and the perfect view.What more could I ask for?”
“A lottery win?”Morgan said with a quirked brow.
“Where would we run off to if I did win big?”
“Anywhere we wanted to.”Morgan could happily daydream about that scenario for the rest of her life.“Somewhere hot.Somewhere with good food.Somewhere that makesyouhappy.”
“I don’t need a lot to make me happy, Morgan.This, right here, right now, makes me incredibly happy.”
Morgan’s brows drew together.“Standing in a cold carpark makes you happy?”
“If I’m standing in a cold carpark with you, yes.”
Oh, Morgan was never going to keep hold of this woman.It just didn’t seem possible if she allowed her mind to wander towards the future.Jan was worlds apart from anything Morgan could offer her.But for the time being, she would enjoy this.She would treat Jan the way she always should have been treated.“When you say things like that, it just reminds me that you’re going to break my heart one day.”Morgan drew a thumb across Jan’s bottom lip.“But when you do, promise you’ll go easy on me.”
“I don’t make it a habit to go around breaking people’s hearts.Other people have that covered already.”Jan dipped her head and toyed with one of the buttons on Morgan’s shirt.“I don’t know what the future holds, but I hope you’ll feature in it.”
“Yeah?”Morgan lifted Jan’s chin with two fingers, her pulse quickening when Jan looked up at her with those blue eyes.“You mean that?”
“I do.And if that doesn’t happen for some reason, please know that I’d never do anything to intentionally hurt you.”
“I know you wouldn’t.”Even though Morgan was still getting to know Jan—they’d kinda skipped that stage and gone straight in for the kill—she could safely say that Jan didn’t have the ability to intentionally hurt anyone.“I’m one of those people who prepares for the worst.It’s easier than getting carried away with something that makes me unbelievably happy.”
“I understand what you’re saying.”Jan regarded Morgan with a small smile.“I hope I can prove you wrong and this grows to be something beautiful.”
“Hey, I do, too.But Iammindful of what you’re going through right now.I think it’s important to remember that we’re not just two single women who found a connection.Even though I want it to feel that way, that’s not how it happened.We met one another when we were both having a rough time.You more so, but the point remains.”Morgan stroked a fingertip up Jan’s neck and smiled.“Youare more than I ever expected.Don’t forget that.”
“Come back to my hotel room with me and rest for a while.”
