Page 80 of New Girl in Town
He nodded and slipped his arms around my waist. “Uh, yeah, definitely.”
I laughed and leaned close, relishing the strong feel of his arms around me. It was like a weight had been lifted off of me, or at least shared, and I was relieved I wouldn’t have to deal with Dylan alone.
“That makes me really happy to hear you say that. I just...” I paused, weighing my words. The day—no, the week had been an emotional rollercoaster, and I swallowed hard before saying, “It makes me happy to know that we still have a chance to figure out what this is.”
“Even if that makes you a cougar?” he teased, and I rolled my eyes at him.
“Technically, I’m a puma. I’m not old enough to be a cougar.”
“And you know this how?”
“Melinda,” I said with a shrug. “She would know.” It was no secret my best friend thought age was just a number aimed at ruining her good time, and I’d never known her to shy away from an attractive man just because he was a few years younger than her.
Grant hugged me close and kissed my cheek. “Fine. Do you want me to start calling you a puma?” he asked, and I pinched his ribs.
“Don’t you dare,” I sniffled, dabbing at the tears I’d missed. “God, I hate crying.”
“I hate seeing you cry, sweetheart.” He gave me a pained look that made me laugh again, but it hit home that this man truly did hate it. They weren’t pretty words or empty promises.
“I want this,” I told him. My voice wavered, but it wasn’t a whisper or half-hearted. “I love you.”
Grant’s eyes widened and he jerked back like all the breath had been sucked out of him, but then he reached for me, his arms holding me tight as he laughed. “I love you too, baby.”
He kissed me, his mouth gentle on mine.
“She loves me,” he yelled, turning to the cops with a raised fist.
“Yeah, man, we told you!” one of them hollered back as the others erupted in cheers and whoops. I blushed from the attention and waved a hand to the cops, who gave us a standing ovation.
“Come on.” Grant caught my hand and his lips brushed against my cheek.
“Where are we going?” I asked, following behind him as he made a beeline for my parked car.
“Back to the apartment. Mine, yours, I don’t care.” He turned and looked at me, blue eyes darkening with desire. “So long as I get you alone behind a closed door, I’m good.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m on board with that. Get out of the way,” I said, taking the lead and pushing him. I yanked open my door and had my car started and thrown into reverse by the time Grant managed to get in the passenger seat.
“I like it when you’re eager,” he said, leaning over and catching me a kiss that had me moaning and gripping the steering wheel.
“Is this us riding off into the sunset?” I asked, navigating out of the parking lot, but not before I caught sight of Dylan being led out of a cruiser and to the front steps. Grant’s lips pressed into a thin line, eyes on Dylan as we drove past.
“I’d say yes, but then you know what that means, right?” he asked, looking away from Dylan and back to me with a soft smile.
I shook my head. “No, what?”
“This is your happily ever after,” he said, but I shook my head no.
This was so much more than that. Our love was bigger than what it meant for me—it was a new beginning entirely, a path we had begun walking down together.
“No, this isourhappily ever after.”
