Page 62 of Bryce

“I can’thelp it. I hate change.” She admitted in such a disgruntledtone that it had him laughing and drawing her into his arms.

“I know. You’rea tidy sort, wanting everything in its place.” He stroked herback and the coils of her hair. “Sometimes change is good.”

“Sometimes theyare not.”

Shifting slightly, hetugged her chin up, blue eyes holding hers. “Answer me thishonestly. Despite the changes, do you regret any of them? Do youregret us?”

“No.” Sheanswered immediately. “No. I love you.” She bit her lipand had heat moving around inside him. “I really do, and itscares me. I can admit to it.” She took a deep breath.“Everything is going to change.”

“Yes.”

She eyed him for amoment and blew out a breath. “Screw that.” Moving in,she seized his lips and had his brain blowing through the top of hishead.

*****

“Relax.”

“People arestaring at us.”

He looked around thesmall, intimate space and brought his gaze back to her. She lookedlike a deer caught in the headlights.

And she was adorable,so much so that he wanted to suggest they skipped the meal entirelyand go back home where he could ravish her. The dress she had on wasa plum-colored jersey type that molded her curves lovingly.

She had donesomething to her hair that had it neat at the front and cascadingdown her back. Her lips were coated in the same color as her dress,and he was finding it rather difficult to keep from hauling heracross the table and taking a bite.

“Not more thanusual.” He was amused at the way she fidgeted with the utensilsand her glass of water. “You know these people.”

“Yes. Marty andSue have been here for years and they are nice people. I thinksomeone took a picture.”

“And?”Reaching across the table, he took her hands, prying her fingersloose.

“We will be inthe papers.”

“Okay.”

She gave him afrustrated look. “It’s easy for you.”

“Not really.”Lifting her hands, he kissed her knuckles. “I happen to like myprivacy.” Her tapered brows lifted and made him laugh.

“Especially nowthat I am having dinner with my favorite girl.”

“I am not agirl.” She muttered. She had spoken to William, and he hadtaken the news about her and Bryce pretty well, which told her thathe had not been invested as she thought. That stung a little.

“Baby, what’sbothering you?”

“My mother.”

“She called?”

“No. But shewill.” Her fingers curled into his. They had finished the mealand had decided to skip dessert.

“She alwaysmakes me feel inferior. I was never good enough, never pretty enough.Always on me to try and lose weight. Exercise. Eat right. God!”She blew out a breath. “I am a grown ass woman, and I can stillhear her nagging in my ear.”

“It neverreally goes away.”

His quiet voice hadher staring at him, and she sighed. “And you can relate.”This time, she was the one who made the contact. Lifting his hand,she placed it on her left cheek. “I’m sorry.”

“With you, I amwhole. With you, it does not matter. None of it.”

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