Page 58 of A Storybook Wedding

“It’s not just the speed with which you wrote it—although that is incredibly impressive—it’s the manuscript itself,” he says. “It’s really good.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Really. I think that, despite your silly New Year’s email idea, you might actually find an agent to represent this, and if you do, it’s going to be out there in the world for everyone to read. So I’m just looking out for you when I ask you if you’re still in love with Bryce, because if you are, he’s very likely going to find out.”

“And if I’m not?”

“Well, if you’re not, then you might just want to give him and Jamie a heads-up that you wrote a book based on your time with him but that most of it is purely fiction and that neither of them should worry that you still have eyes for him.”

“I don’t have eyes for him,” I insist.

“If you say so.”

“I don’t!”

“Okay!” he says.

“What do you care if I do anyway?” I ask.

“I don’t,” he insists.

“Good.”

“Great.”

I roll away from him again, frustrated, although I’m not sure what exactly just happened. “You read the whole thing in one day?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he says. “Like I said, it was good.”

“Well,” I say, letting the word hang in the air between us. “Thanks.” I reach out and turn off the lamp on my nightstand.

“You, CJ Allerton, are going to be a big deal someday.”

I smile into the darkness. “You think so?”

“Yup,” Nate says. “I know so.”

I say nothing. He closes his laptop and sets it on his nightstand, then turns his light off as well. He settles deeper into our bed. I take off my glasses, fold them, and place them carefully on top of my TBR stack.

I’m not one hundred percent sure if it’s in my head or if it’s Nate’s actual voice speaking, but the last thing I hear before I fall asleep is barely a whisper.

“You already are.”

I smile, breathe, and drift away.

CHAPTER 10

Nate

The next morning, I wake up to find CJ’s legs entangled with mine’s cuddling up to one of her two pillows, hugging it tightly, but her legs, with the loose flannel pants pushed up from the bottom, leaving her calves and shins exposed—and God, they’re so smooth—are all wrapped up in mine.

My dick is extremely hard.

There won’t be any way for me to hide that in basketball shorts, so I quickly extract myself from her, peel myself out of the bed, and immediately head for the bathroom before she can see any of what I’m experiencing this morning. I’m sure the sudden movement is waking her up, and I would love to just lie there and watch her sleeping so peacefully for a few minutes longer, those full lips pursed as if they’re begging to be kissed, but I can’t help it. I’ve got to get out of this bed.

In the bathroom, I decide to just jump right in the shower and handle this business before CJ’s any the wiser. It doesn’t take me long; I had an extremely hot dream about her, and knowing she’s just on the other side of the door makes me feel a little like a deviant, which I’m not entirely against. I’m careful to rinse away the evidence and follow it up with an actual shower for the purpose of hygiene. Then I towel off, brush my teeth, shave, and come out of the bathroom with my towel wrapped around my waist.

“Morning,” she says, still lying in bed.

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