Page 83 of Hello Handsome
She grinned and lifted onto her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”
52
AGGIE
After all theemotions of the day, I must have fallen asleep in Gray’s bed. Because when I blinked my eyes open in the morning, pale sunlight was coming through the sheers. My dress from the night before was bunched around me, surely full of wrinkles. Gray was cuddled against me just like we had in Hawaii, with a throw blanket covering us. Except now, there wasn’t the sound of waves. Just the birds chirping happily outside his window in the pale morning light.
A small smile brushed my lips at the fact that my dreams had become reality.
But my dreams hadn’t accounted for second-day clothes, unwashed makeup on my face, and what was sure to be some gnarly morning breath. So I decided I’d leave him a note and hurry home to freshen up before seeing him again.
I gently reached up to peel Gray’s arm off my waist, but just as I began to roll away, he grunted, “Where do you think you’re going?”
His words startled me, making me jerk in surprise, and then I looked back at him to see an amused smile on his face.
I shook my head at him with an admonishing look. “Don’t scare me like that. I just wanted to change so I’m not wearing this dress all day.”
There was a little fear in his eyes despite the smile on his lips. “You’re sure you’re not having second thoughts?” His tone was only half teasing. “I’ve messed up a lot over the years.”
That’s when I realized my big, strong man still had a vulnerable heart underneath it all. I lowered myself in the bed again to face him, to caress his face with a freedom I’d never felt before. I traced my finger over his cheekbones, feeling the rough stubble and small bumps from years in the sun. “You have no idea how long I’ve been dreaming of this moment.”
His brows lifted, genuinely surprised. “Really?”
I nodded, my face rubbing against the soft pillow. “Men have always made me feel like I mattered because of what I could offer them. You’re the only person who has ever offered me something first, starting with an incredible friendship. I know you’re not here to take from me, and that makes me want to give all the more.”
His expression softened before he leaned in to kiss me on the forehead. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
“Anytime,” I replied. “Now, I don’t want to horrify you with my morning breath, and your clothes won’t fit me.”
That gave him a chuckle. “Okay, okay. When can I see you again? I’d like to take you on a proper date.”
Why did everything he said make butterflies dance in my stomach? I was so happy and giddy. More than I’d ever felt when dating in my teens. “I’m working the afternoon shift today. Eleven to seven.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven then,” he replied. “I can’t wait to see you again.”
I bent down to kiss him because I couldn’t wait either. And once I started kissing him, it was nearly impossible to stop. Somehow, though, we managed.
I slipped on my heels and left his home, seeing the cosmos blended with sunflowers outside in the morning sun.
His home looked even more beautiful than before. I hoped he felt the same way.
When I walkedto my car after work, excited for our date, I found Gray waiting with a handpicked bouquet of cosmos, a light blue ribbon tied around the ends.
I smiled at him. “Our date can’t start now–I still smell like French fries.”
He chuckled, drawing me into a hug. “You act like I mind.”
I felt giddy hugging him back. When I stepped back, I said, “I want to look good for our date.”
His lips twisted to the side. “There’s just one problem with that.”
I raised my eyebrows, letting out an exasperated sigh. “Gray, if you back out now, I might need to have you hog-tied.” I was only half joking.
But he pulled something from his pocket and knelt on that craggy parking lot, dim save for a flickering streetlight overhead.
My brain short-circuited. My jaw dropped, and my hands covered my gaping mouth. “What’s happening?”
He flipped open the lid to the box and said, “You know, Ags, the second you left the house, I thought, ‘She should keep her clothes here so she doesn’t have to leave.’ Then I thought how nice that would be. Having you around. Seeing you every nightand waking up to you in the morning—when you’re not trying to sneak away.”
