Page 55 of The Final Draft

“Only where you’re involved. I showed restraint this morning, or I would have been here much earlier. So not a morning-orgasm girl. Got it.” I’m not sure if her head shake is in disbelief or disapproval. Either way, she’s adorable as her blush colors her cheeks. I can’t contain my pleasure that I can do that to her.

Downstairs, Kat takes the bags and puts them in the back. Noodle looks up at the SUV with skepticism. Given that he needs a ramp to access the couch, even Noodle knows it’s not possible for him to attempt jumping into the car. With complete resignation, he plops down on the sidewalk. Unlike me, he concedes to an impossibility when he sees one.

Harper leans down to pick him up, and they get in the car. Noodle settles comfortably on her lap, and she absently pets hishead. Is her hesitation really that she’s not a morning person or she uncertain about me? Us?

I lean over and give her a quick kiss to test the waters after my orgasm comment.

“I apologize. I haven’t given you a proper good-morning greeting.” The kiss is sweet, gentle, innocent.

An evil grin slowly fills her face. “You call that proper?” She reaches out and puts her arm around my neck and pulls me in, giving me a kiss that is anything but sweet. This kiss feels like a promise of what’s to come. Maybe she’s a morning girl after all.

Noodle’s bark brings a giggle to her lips, and I reluctantly let her go. I meant it when I said I wanted to work on the book. It’s important to me she understands I want more than to get her in my bed. Although, to be fair, I definitely want her in my bed.

We get to my place where Noodle acts like the king of the city, making friends with everyone he meets. Well, almost everyone. You know who doesn’t like Noodle? Digsby. We meet Mrs. Dilworth in the lobby, and she is practically salivating to meet Harper. The introductions are short-lived when Digsby smells Noodle’s noodle. Damn, even dogs deserve consent. After a quick apology, we rush upstairs and double over, laughing when we enter the apartment.

I give Harper time to get settled and comfortable. She puts Noodle’s food and water in the kitchen and feeds him several treats. He’s snoring in his bed before I can even comment.

“He’s had a big day.”

“Apparently,” I chuckle. “How about you, gorgeous? What can I do for you?” I pull her into my arms, liking the way she feels tucked into me. Being with her is as natural as breathing.

With her cheek on my chest, I just stare, she looks so content. Wrapping her arms around my waist, she leans in, shutting her eyes as if savoring the moment. I could stay like this all day.

I give her a quick kiss on the top of her head. “Let’s get some writing done. Then maybe we can go to the park this afternoon.” If I kiss her on the lips, we’ll never get any writing done.

She releases me and looks around. “Where do you usually work? Dining room table? Couch? Counter? Office?”

“All of the above. What’s going to work for you?”

“Normally, I’m a kitchen-counter girl, but I can’t put my back to this gorgeous view.” She walks over to the French doors and opens them to the balcony. The cool fall breeze blows in, giving me chills. Not sure if it’s the cool air or Harper that has my body humming.

While she’s enjoying the view, I move the bar stools to the other side of the counter so she can look outside. Win-win. I slip into my office and grab my laptop, and when I come back to join her, she’s already typing away.

Our morning continues like that. Both of us typing, collaborating, reading, laughing. I make more progress in a few hours than I have in weeks. Harper is a talented writer, and her words flow with ease and elegance. At some point, she migrated to the reading chair and set up a cocoon of pillows and blankets. She’s made it her writing place. We complete several chapters and at this pace, we’ll finish well ahead of the deadline.

“It’s time for the s-e-x chapter,” Harper announces. Her hair is down from the clip, and she’s hiding her gorgeous face behind her curtain of hair.

I kneel next to her and tuck her hair behind her ear. “Are you blushing?” My thumb brushes along her cheek and the pink rises.

“No, I mean, I don’t know.” She shakes her head, her eyes looking anywhere but at me.

“Harper, look at me.” I put my fingers below her chin and lift her eyes to mine. Her doe-eyed shyness is adorable. I like this almost as much as her surprised look. “If at any point I make youuncomfortable, promise you’ll tell me.” She gives me a little nod. “Now here’s what I suggest. Let’s both write this chapter, and we’ll read them and decide which point of view we want to use. How does that sound?”

She bites her bottom lip while she considers my words, and it’s taking every bit of willpower I have not to kiss her, take her to my bedroom, and work out the sex scene in real life. But Harper still isn’t ready for that, and I mean every word I say to her. I want her to always feel comfortable with me.

“Okay.”

Good girl. “Okay. Are you ready to do that now, or do you want to take a break? We can grab some lunch and take Noodle for a walk.” At the mention of his name, he wanders over to us and jumps up, trying to get to Harper.

My phone vibrates, and when I pull it from my pocket, Harper glances at the name. By the look on her face, I imagine she’s picturing me with other women. “I’m going to take this call while you decide what you want to do.” I answer the call on speaker because I want to be transparent. I want her to see me for who I really am, not some playboy.

“Maddie, how are you?”

I’m greeted with a dramatic sigh. “Jet lagged. This press junket is exhausting. I just flew back from London, and man, are my arms tired.” Her laughter gets Harper’s attention.

I roll my eyes. Even though she can’t see me, Harper can. “Your jokes never get better. Hey, while I’m thinking about it, thanks for the restaurant recommendation in SoHo. We loved it.”

Harper looks up at me with that surprised look again. Maddie is Madelyn Reynolds, Hollywood It-Girl. She’s also an old college friend. We dated for a few months before graduation, but we were better friends than lovers and besides, I didn’t wantto move to California. We’ve stayed friends all these years, and she’s currently engaged to a reality-TV producer.

---