Page 61 of Gone for You

“Good,” he says, clearly pleased with my acceptance of him offering me the use of one of his house keys. “Use it tonight. Rex is gonna close up and then, we’re finishing this.” He points to his desk and I shudder. Ifinishedtwice already but I know from experience with Ethan, he’s got a lot more where that came from.

Leaning into him, I wrap my arms around his trim waist and kiss his sternum, rubbing my nose against him and inhaling his masculine scent. Like whiskey and timber and outdoors. It’s sexy and almost erotic.

“I need to tell you something and I hope you’re not upset.”

“Such a good lead in,” he jokes.

“I know, ugh. I’m sorry.”

“Hit me with it.”

“I told Owen.”

“Oh yeah? What is it you told him?” he doesn’t look the least bit worried. In fact, he looks rather pleased.

“That you and I have been talking.”

Now he doesn’t look so pleased. “Talking?”

I nod, rub my lips together. “Yeah. I didn’t… I wasn’t sure what else to say but it felt wrong to not let him know that…”

“That what?”

“That I’m staying with you this week?”

“Is that it?”

I shrug. I’m so insecure when it comes my heart and it ticks me off.

“Want to know something?”

“Sure.”

“I think we’re more than justtalking. But I know you’re worried. I listened when you told me about your parents’ marriage falling apart and how you’ve been unlucky in love in the past. I get it. But your heart is safe with me.”

He wraps his arm around my neck, pulls me close and kisses the top of my head, letting his words soak into all the crevices around my heart. The one that he promises is safe with him. A big part of me trusts him, believes that he’s not leading me along. “Come on, let’s go get you a drink. I got that peach whiskey you asked for that first night. I haven’t even tried it yet. Figured it’d be better with you.”

It’s the little things like this that continue to break down those walls I’ve so diligently built after my parents’ divorce. After I fell for the wrong guy not once, but twice.

“You did?”

He nods, grabs my hand and I follow him out of his office. His hold is strong, possessive and I love it. He’s so sure of us, never doubting that I’ll soon get over my fears. Then… we’re back in the crowd. I hate it. I hate sharing him. Maybe those walls are closer to coming down than I thought.

Chapter 32

Ethan

“How’s it going, Eth?”My eyes jerk from the draft beer I’m pouring to the soft voice across from me. Lily. Bright blue eyes twinkling and shining with happiness. I slide the beer over to the man sitting in front of me, take the cash he placed on the bar top while telling me to keep the change, and make my way out from behind the bar and wrap her in a loose side hug.

“Hey, stranger! I hear congratulations are in order. Look at everyone here to celebrate for you!”

“Oh shush. It’s not a big deal.”

“You’re getting married. Of course it’s a big deal!”

“Well, yeah,that’sa big deal but tonight is just… whatever. I don’t like a lot of attention. This,” she gestures around her, “is not what Drew or I really care about. We just want to get married.”

My gaze immediately drifts to the table I know Liv is sitting at. After we left my office, it took me a good fifteen minutes to get my hard on completely under control. It didn’t help that I kept hearing her laughter and I couldn’t get the vision of her coming apart underneath me from my head. Either head, apparently. “I feel that.”

---