Page 67 of Gone for You

“What’s that saying about doth protesting too much?”

I want to deny it but he’d see right through me. He knows me better than that. Instead, I wink.

He bends his elbows, kissing me on the lips.

“I like you dreaming of me.”

I briefly consider telling him how often I dream of him but hold it to myself. Maybe soon I’ll be brave enough to admit everything I feel for him out loud, just like in my dreams.

“Do you dream of me?”

“Every second of every day.”

Emotion clogs my throat and I have to swallow it down. I’m jealous of his openness and ability to lay it all out there.

“You’re too good to me.”

“It’s exactly what you deserve.”

“One day I’ll believe that.”

“You’re damn right you will,” he growls and then he’s kissing me, making me think that maybe he’s right.

Chapter 34

Ethan

“Honey, I’m home!”

“Oh my gosh. You did not just say that!” she shouts back, humor filling her voice.

I drop my keys on the counter and take off my coat, hanging it on the hook by the door that leads to the garage and kick off my shoes.

There’s a pot on the stove and I lift the lid, inhaling the delicious aroma of bubbling tomato sauce. She’s killing me slowly, that’s what she’s doing.

It’s only been four days since Olivia strutted her sexy self into my office. Every single day, I’ve gone to the bar happy just knowing that she’ll be there when I return. I long to see her smiling face. Smell whatever she’s cooking – even breakfast at two am like we’re back in college – hear the sound of her fingers typing away on her computer, anything to prove to me that this isn’t a dream. It’s a reality that I’m quickly falling in love with. Basically, my vision of our normal.

I round the corner to see her sitting on the couch, legs criss-crossed, laptop sitting on her lap and hair up in a crazy bun on top of her head. Placing my hands on the back of the couch, I lean over, she tilts her head back and I kiss her lips. “Hi,” I say, still hovering over her.

“Hey.”

“Everything go okay at The Goat?”

“Yup. We’re fully stocked after you yahoos drank us under last weekend.”

“Don’t include me in that mess!”

I know she wasn’t drunk. I had one eye on her the entire night and know she was sipping on Coke after her one and only drink. I wouldn’t have let her drive to my house if I hadn’t known she was safe.

I rub my thumb across her cheek and wink then tilt my head toward the kitchen. “Your famous marinara you’ve been bragging about?”

She giggles. “I wasn’t bragging about it.”

“You were. I seem to remember you telling me that your marinara sauce could win awards.”

“You’re such a liar!” She playfully shoves me. She’s right. I am. Never once did she mention it. “Anyway,” she rolls her eyes. “I was writing an article on best date night meals and had a craving.”

“Does this mean I’m finally getting a date night with you?”

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