Page 77 of Love You Like That (Excess All Areas 4)

He kissed her and felt relieved when she eased against him.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome. Now let’s tell the landlord we want this building. Then I’ll get us take-out from The Great Kathmandu on the way home.”

“I’ll get the take-out. You’ve paid for everything today,” she said.

“Nah. I got this.” He glanced down at the chipped black nail polish on blunt square nails. “Shit, my nails are wrecked after building the bookshelves.”

“Okay, I have a deal. Why don’t you get the takeout, and I’ll give you a manicure after dinner? It’ll give me something else to think about, and your nails will get done.”

“For real?” Alex asked.

Zoe nodded, tugging at his hand. “Sure. You might be better with eyeliner, but I can apply polish without it pooling at your cuticles.”

As he let her lead him outside, something a lot like contentment rippled through him.

They’d been there for each other. Her, while he faced his dad. Him, while she faced her demons. They’d stood in the old, draughty building and crafted a vision of the future that might let some children feel at home. And she accepted him fully, even down to his love of black nail polish.

And he wondered if relationships ever got much better than that.

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