Page 86 of Heart Set on You

“That’s crazy. You have talent. Your photography is creative and beautiful. Every picture you take tells a story. I could go on and on.”

“Could you?”

“I can.”

“I’m sorry, I actually wasn’t listening to what you were saying. I’m distracted,” she says, her eyes on my pecs. “You without a shirt means I can’t think straight.”

I laugh, running my hand across my abs, teasing her, making her want me as badly as I want her right now. Wearing my sweatshirt, her hair pulled off her face, and she’s not wearing any makeup. She’s fucking breathtaking.

“Why is that?” I ask with a smug look on my face.

Rylee’s lips curve up. “You know why.”

“Remind me. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” she asks, clearly trying to hide her smile.

“I still want to hear it.”

“Because…” her voice changes to a more seductive tone. She blushes. “Your body is too much. It’s perfect. It does crazy things to me. Are you happy now?”

“Almost. So, what you’re saying is that you think I’m sexy.”

“Oh, enough already. You’re hot, Miles. I love your shoulders and how broad they are, and your chest and your arms and your hands... I especially love it when your hands are all over me. Not being able to touch you right now is torture.”

I groan. I know exactly what I would do to her if I could. “I want you so bad right now. You have no idea.” I get hot all over, thinking about sex with Rylee.

“I want you too.”

“Maybe there’s a way I can see you. I have an idea.” I sit up in bed, feeling like a light bulb just went off in my mind. Why didn’t I think of this sooner? “I’ll shave a day off my trip home and fly to Tennessee. It would only be one night but it’s better than nothing.” It’s my buddy’s 30th birthday and I’m flying home to Reed Point for the surprise party.

“Miles, that seems crazy. You’re already exhausted from work and flying across the country. You can’t keep going like this.”

“I don’t care, Ry,” I say, interrupting her. I am tired and it is a long flight just to spend 24 hours with her, but I will gladly do it. “I’m dying over here. I’ll take whatever I can get. I’ll have Georgia look into flights.”

Her face lights up in the smile that gets me every time. “Okay. Let me know what she finds. I’m not going to get my hopes up just yet.”

“I’ll find a way. This is happening.” I check the time on my phone, knowing I’m cutting things close. “I don’t want to go but I have to. Georgia is going to be knocking on my door soon. We need to catch our flight.”

“Okay,” she says in a voice just above a whisper. “Safe flight today. Call me when you land.”

“I will.”

There’s a pause. It feels like I should tell her I love her because I know without a doubt that I do. More than anything. I’m so fucking in love with this girl it feels like my heart might burst sometimes. But this isn’t how I want to tell her for the first time. I want to be able to say those three words to her in person.

“Ryls,” I say her name before she ends the call. “I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look.”

I watch as her breath hitches and her eyes are sparkling with something that looks a lot like love. Then they go teary. “I’m not sure how we are going to do this. I miss you so damn much. I want to kiss you so bad it hurts.”

“I know the feeling. It’s the same for me, Ryls.”

“You better go,” she says, wiping the corners of her eyes with the backs of her hands.

“I’m sorry. I’ll call you tonight.”

I hop out of bed with a newfound burst of energy and a smile on my face that I’m pretty sure is impossible to erase.

I know 24 hours with Rylee will never be enough with her, but I’ll take it.

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