Page 88 of Only for Love

He shakes his head. “Mazie’s a friend. A close friend who’s crazy, and it’s her thing. She says she’s my fiancé. It gets her in places. She knows about you. That’s just her. Crazy fuckin’ Mazie. I’ve got no secrets from you.”

Oh, boy.I have a doozy for him that involves a stage name and six-inch heels. “I—uh—”

“Forget about her,” he says.

“Okay. Trying to forget.”

“You can quit this job right now if you want. I’m going to make this right by you. Starting with you not working nights.”

I’m exhausted. I want to go home, crawl into bed, maybe even with him. But that would leave Jan in a lurch. “I can’t walk out on a shift.”

“Fine. But you don’t have to come in like this again.” His face is so serious, so solemn that I almost believe that our fairytale might one day come true.

“I have to work, Gray. Bills pile up fast. Faster than I can keep up with them, even with help.”

“Not like this you don’t.”

“If you really want us, you have to know my reality. Forget our chemistry and the… the…” I don’t know how to describe what I feel between us.

He tucks close to my ear. “The need to take you to bed? To have you right this goddamn second?”

If I was hot and bothered before, call me primed and ready. Heat crawls up my neck, and I nod. “If you want more than that, I’ll break it down for you, explain what responsibility means and then—”

“Fuck that. I accept. Sign me up. All of it. I want you.Both.”

I can’t breathe. “You’re so certain?”

“No doubt.” The conviction pouring off him is intense. His eyes are deep, his voice low.

I swallow against the emotion tightening my throat. “Is this really happening?”

“Not sure why you have to ask after last night. But yeah, baby. We’re a go. Put a ring on it. Count me as yours. Tell me that we’re together. No worries over outsiders, no questions from family. It’s you and me and Cally.”

My heart seizes. Every bit of me hurts for wanting this so badly. “How do you know this will work?”

He smiles. “You’re not saying no. So, how doyouknow?”

Easy answer. “Because I had you with me every day you were gone. I lived for you. I danced for you. I breathed and dreamed so that one day when you came back, it’d be like you never left.”

His mouth skirts up to my ear. “You danced for me?”

Shit. Shoot. Shit.I’ve said too much. But the truth just pours out. “I have something to tell you—”

“Emma, honey.” Jan snaps from behind the counter. “Reunions are great, but the tables are stacking up.”

I take a deep breath and look around. No way are tables stacking up. No one’s taken a bite—they’re all watching the Emma-Grayson show. But tips will suffer if tables don’t order and turn over, so Jan’s point isn’t lost on me. “Right. Okay.” I inch back. “Want some pancakes or something?”

He tilts his head. “I’ll take off. But I can pick you up after your shift?”

“No. Don’t do that. But…” I bite my lip and remember the promise not to care about my questioning, doubting family. “My birthday’s tomorrow.”

He smiles. “Well aware.”

“Would you come over with me? Mom and Dad are having a little get-together.”

His eyes bounce, hesitant for a second. “Absolutely.”

“Cool. Alright. Okay.”

Grayson kisses my cheek. “Better get back to work. And don’t think I’ll forget that you’re going to dance for me.”

Oh, baby. Don’t think I will forget that,either.

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