Page 58 of Runaway Bride's Guide to Love

She shrugs, her eyes averting down.

Nope. Not happening. Not anymore.

I take my free hand and tip up her chin. “No hiding. Say what you want to get off your chest.”

“I hate that I keep talking about him,” she says. “I don’t want to talk about him. I don’t want him anywhere near my thoughts. Yet, there are things that come up every day that makes me realize how much I let slide. Or how much I let him walk all over me. And put me down, even if it wasn’t with words. And I hate it.”

“I know you don’t want to think about him,” I say. “But think of it this way. Every time you realize anything about that relationship, just think of it as one more thing you’re reclaiming. One more piece of you that you’re taking back.”

“Wow. I never thought of it like that.”

“Well let me help.” I inch a bit closer to her, taking my fingers and tracing down the side of her face. “I think you’re funny as hell. Witty. Impeccable timing. A little dry and dark, but that’s my kind of funny.”

I thought I felt good this morning. Nope. That’s nothing compared to how I’m feeling now as Stella’s smile grows with every word I say.

“I’m going to take it he didn’t think you’re funny,” I continue. “Which to that I say, fuck him. You’re Stella Banks—let that sarcastic wit fly. Claim it.”

She nods. “He told me it wasn’t ladylike. And that the other wives I’d be around don’t crack jokes.”

I shake my head and roll on top of her, my erection starting to grow as our bodies make contact. “Then I think you were hanging out with the wrong kind of people.”

“I agree.”

I lean down to kiss her, and I can’t help but notice the familiar feeling that washes over me. Like this is something we’ve been doing every morning for years.

What is this woman doing to me…

I need to rein this in, but I don’t want to stop it. Far from that. But on the other hand, feelings like this seem like a dangerous thing.

Boundaries. That’s what we need. Rules. Regulations. If Iknow what the rules of the game are, then I know what I can and can’t feel.

Yes. Brilliant idea, Emmett. Ten out of ten. Actually five bonus points for coming up with that before coffee.

I slowly pull away, which leaves Stella a bit confused, considering my dick is hard as a rock right now and begging to be set free.

“Everything okay?”

“Yes,” I try to say with some sort of authority so she doesn’t get worried. “It’s just…before we…”

Why am I having trouble spitting out these words? I’ve had a version of this conversation plenty of times with other women, and I’ve had no problem laying out the expectations. Yet with Stella, I don’t know what exactly to say. “I think we should put some ground rules on the table if we want to…”

“Have sex again?”

I laugh at her bluntness. “See? It’s all about the timing to land the joke.”

She sits up and brings the sheets with her, covering her chest. I can still see her peaked nipples through the white cotton, which does not help my focus for this conversation.

“You’re right,” she says. “Last night was a bit spontaneous. And a bit emotionally charged. But I meant what I said. I’m not looking for anything serious. I’m not in a place to handle anything like that.”

I feel my shoulders relax. “And I meant what I said—I’m not a long-term relationship kind of guy.”

“Well, then, it looks like we’re perfect for each other,” she says with a devilish smile.

She’s right. In the past, I’ve always wondered if women were pacifying me when they said they were okay with no commitment. With Stella I have no worries that’s the case.

“So, we just continue what we’re doing,” I say. “And then when we leave Florida, we’re back to normal? You go your way, I go mine.”

“And when we see each other at functions involving my brother, we’ll share a secret smile, knowing we’ve seen each other naked.”

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