Page 101 of His Forever Girl

“That’s what I’m hoping for.”

AFTERLUNCHWITHGIGI—where Tess bought all the drinks—and an afternoon of finding the perfect black dress and killer pumps covered in black lace, Tess walked into Two-Legged Pete’s. She looked about as good as she ever had. The dress was tight, classy and made her legs look awesome. Or maybe it was the shoes that did that. She’d sprung for a manicure and the technician had even applied her makeup after suggesting a few things to do with her eyes.

As a result, Tess knew she didn’t look like the girl Graham had met at Two-Legged Pete’s that Monday night months ago.

“Hot damn, you look good, girl,” Ron declared from behind the bar where a string of customers lined up. The place was busier than usual, but Tess found Graham immediately. He’d turned and watched her as she entered the bar, a beautiful smile on his gorgeous face.

“I try sometimes,” Tess said, with a flirty smile. As usual Ron ate it up as he reached for the gin. “How’s that little one?”

Ron set down the Hendrick’s and reached into his back pocket. Tess pointed toward where Graham sat and Ron raised his eyebrows. “Okay, then. I’ll show you later.”

Tess made her way down to the very end of the bar where sitting right next to the trivia machine was her new boss.

And, God willing and the creek didn’t rise, her new man.

Graham hooked his foot around a stool against the wall and pulled it over close. “Would the lady like a seat?”

“She would,” Tess said, sitting.

Graham smiled and she remembered the last time they’d sat in this very bar. There had been an aura of mystery, of excitement, of crazy attraction. All of that was still there, but joining those feelings was a certainty she’d found the right man for her.

Finally.

Ron set the drink in front of her and slid Graham another of what he was having. “I suppose you two want to watch baseball,” he said with disgust.

Graham hadn’t taken his eyes off her. “Nah, man. We’re good.”

“So I see. What started months ago seems to have ended,” Ron joked, and swaggered off to wait on more customers and drive up the tips for him and his new family.

“He’s wrong,” Graham said softly.

“Oh?” Tess asked.

“It’s a new beginning. The one we should have had after that night.”

“Well, I’m wearing my black dress.”

“Very well, too, I might add,” Graham said, his eyes sliding down her body. “Very, very well.”

She wanted to say so much to him, and yet at the same time she wanted to say nothing at all. She was so tired of all the drama. Complicated was so overrated. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too.”

“I want to start over—with a clean slate. No more grudges, blame, or wounded pride. No more embarrassment over who we are.” Tess reached out and touched the rugged hand cupping the sweating tumbler.

Graham turned his hand over and clasped hers. “Agreed. I’m ready to start clean.”

“And I’d also like to say thank you.”

He arched a dark eyebrow. “For what? Telling Miles the truth? For hiring you? Everything I did was aboveboard. You’re deserving of all those things.”

“No, though those things are nice.” She swallowed the anxiety that cropped up. She needed to just say it. Do what she’d said she would do when she told Monique she couldn’t work for Upstart… when she’d strolled into the warehouse she’d vowed never to step into again months ago. “I wanted to thank you for loving me in spite of my being a complete asshole.”

Graham started laughing.

Tess gulped. “I mean, I love you. I shouldn’t necessarily presume you—”

His mouth shut her up.

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