Page 130 of Mr. Flirt

A little guilt snuck into my psyche as I closed the gap between us, nodding and looping my arms around his waist. I looked into his eyes and flashed a meek smile.

“I have a confession, Shep.”

“Your name isn’t Lucy?” he teased, looking into my eyes.

I chuckled and shook my head. “I was essentially on a dare last night. I don’t even know how it all worked out, but the next thing I knew, I agreed to meet Cliff at the bar to make you happy and keep your friends.”

“What? How would that ever make me happy? Seeing you with Cliff put me at the end of my rope. I seriously contemplated selling the company and living out of a shack on some island.”

I giggled, knowing Shep was more of a cabin-in-the-freezing-snow type. I set my cup of coffee down on the dresser.

“It doesn’t make a lick of sense now, but when Mike and Brendan were in my office babbling about how you’d only be happy if you saw me happy because you’d broken me, and—”

“That part is true. The thought of destroying your trust killed me.” He shook his head and sucked on his bottom lip for a split second. “But I don’t ever remember lamenting to my friends about wanting to see you hook up with someone else.”

I breathed him in, loving the smell of soap and Shep. “And yet, it worked.”

“It sure did.” Shep laughed and pulled me into an embrace. “I don’t know whether to hug ’em or punch ’em.”

“Maybe both,” I said, resting my head on Shep’s chest.

The steady rhythm of his heartbeat created a sense of calm I craved.

“I have a confession, Shep.”

He loosened his hug and looked down at me.

I drew a breath and smiled. “I love you, Shep. I think I fell in love with you weeks before we even slept together, but I was too busy trying to build a case in my head as to why you were wrong for me in every way.”

Shep chuckled. “Oh, the old Mr. Wrong trick.”

I traced a heart on his chest with my finger as his arms slid along my back. “You make me laugh and remind me that life isn’t so serious.”

“Maybe a little too much.”

I shook my head. “I wouldn’t want you to change. I love you the way you are.”

“So, you don’t hate love any longer?” Shep asked.

“I don’t hate love. I hate endings.”

Shep’s fingers ran through my hair as his lips hovered close to mine. “Then how about we never end?”

His words created a hum within my body that vibrated my world into one of pure need.

“Being with you is like implosion therapy. I didn’t have a chance. I only knew that wicked side of love where hearts tore each other apart and demanded things no sane person would ever ask for. But with you, I couldn’t shut off my heart. There was no other option than to fall in love with you, and I went in head first when I should have gone in heart first.”

Shep kissed me softly, and my body heated instantly from his touch.

“I love you so much, Lucy. I hope you know that I’d never intentionally do something to hurt you, but if you see red flags, tell me, and I’ll try to change them to white.”

“Because you surrender?”

“Wholly,” he whispered.

“How do you always know the right words to say?” I asked, smiling as his eyes stayed on mine. It was like he was taking me in just like I was to him. I didn’t want this moment to end.

“I’m Mr. Flirt.” He grimaced. “Too soon?”

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