Page 43 of The Billionaire's Runaway Bride

It’s impossible for anything not to be fine right now.

Once she slips out of the room, I sit up and rub my face. I can’t wipe away the smile on my lips. Last night feels like a dream, and I want to cling to it for as long as I can.

I know it wasn’t easy for her. She hesitated at the door. She’s tried to rebuff me each chance she could. When I found her at my door last night, she wasn’t standing there eager and giddy, desperate to run into my arms.

She debated it long and hard. While I’m ecstatic that she came around and admitted that she wants me—and acted on it—I’ve got to be careful. I’ve got to be delicate around her and still let her pick the pace. It’s not the way I usually handle women, but Lauren isn’t just some random fling.

As I sit here still grinning like a fool, I already want her again. And again. It’s that impatience to be back in her presence that urges me to get up and seek her out.

I wonder if I’ll ever cease looking for her.

After I dress, I reach for my phone on my dresser and glance at the screen as I exit my room.

A text is waiting, and out of mild curiosity, I check it out.

Dalton: Good news. Just saw something about Felicity admitting she arranged your party house to burn down. What a bitch! Someone could have been hurt! That’s arson, man.

I blink, stunned a bit at this mention of something I should’ve been on top of. Since I came here to the Goldfinch, I haven’t really thought about the scandals and issues I left behind. Maybe that was the whole point, I consider as I head downstairs. The goal of lying low wasn’t to stir up more shit, it was to let the scandals and issues fan out so everyone could forget about them and move on. I have. I have with alarming speed and ease, too. Since I met Lauren, I forgot all about my issues, too busy exploring this deep interest in her.

“Morning,” I reply when I find the women in the kitchen. Lauren stills, and Marian smiles.

I don’t care. I pause at my girl and lean down like I’m going to kiss her lips as she remains frozen, her coffee mug lifted halfway to her lips. But I pause before I can bring my mouth to hers, teasing her and feinting a reach for a muffin on the plate.

Marian giggles, grinning at me. “You’re in a good mood.”

She doesn’t seem shocked at how I almost kissed Lauren, and I can’t see how she wouldn’t have already guessed Lauren and I might get together. Half the time, I think she’s trying to make it happen.

Lauren blinks as a blush covers her cheeks, and I bite my lip to hold back a smile. She’s awkward, no doubt about it. But it’s cute. It doesn’t bother me one bit. I’m on cloud nine and nothing can bring me down.

“What’s going on today?” I ask, hoping Marian has thought of something I can do with Lauren. After having her to myself all night, I’m not sure I can stay away.

Lauren clears her throat, snapping out of her stunned state of freaking out at my arrival and the way I almost kissed her in front of Marian. Maybe she thought she would’ve had more alone time with the older woman. Girl talk and all.

“I actually have a lot on my to-do list. I’ll be busy.”

I smile, refusing to be disappointed that she’s trying to put distance between us. I’d be surprised if she wasn’t. It’s nothing personal against me.

“You do?” Marian glances at me then raises her brows at Lauren.

“Yeah. You do?” I bite into my muffin.

She glances at me, almost seeming peeved that I’m not upset. “Yep. Lots.”

“Like what?” Marian asks calmly.

“Well, uh…” Lauren furrows her brow, tracing a loop on the tabletop absently. “I wanted to start by cleaning up from the painting yesterday.”

Marian shrugs. “I saw you put away the supplies before you headed to the creek.”

“But I can, um, pick up the paint splatters that have dried up.”

“Out of the grass and bushes?” Marian struggles not to giggle.

Lauren nods, proud. “Whatever I can find. I can tidy it all up.”

“It’ll rain tomorrow,” Marian reminds her. “Let nature wash it away.”

Lauren snaps her fingers. “There ya go. If it’s going to rain, I should mow before it’s too wet.”

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