Page 28 of The One With The Secret Crushes

"Nope. But you can figure out what you want to change when you move your stuff in. And before you second guess this, I saw the way you looked at my house the other night. You have ideas." He waggled his finger at me.

"I'm not second guessing anything. I just don't have much that's mine to move in." I'd spent the last decade traveling, moving from one city to another.

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "That's not true. You have family photographs and your favorite bookcase. You have things."

He was right. I still thought of all that as Dad's. "I will redecorate in my mind while you shower."

"Good girl." He winked and sprinted up the stairs.

Home. Was this home? I ran my fingers along the kitchen counter and then toured the living room more closely. The gaming chairs the boys used were lined up beside the television. I wasn't a big gamer, but I loved the warmth I always felt when the house was full and the boys were goofing off.

I could picture us sitting in front of the fire on a cold day, swaddled in blankets while we read or watched a movie together. My bookcase would go there along the wall and my mother's sofa table lined with photographs fit perfectly too. It was like this house was waiting for me to complete it.

Yes, this was home, just as it was always supposed to be. I really believed that.

"I like that smile." Scott came straight to me for a kiss. It was quick and simple and perfect. "Hungry?" He was like a different person with wet hair curling around his ears. Instead of his usual uniform of jeans and a flannel he wore sweats and a plain t-shirt.

My mouth watered—and it had nothing to do with the mention of food. "I could eat." Our picnic lunch was light. Cheese, crackers, and nuts mostly.

"Then I'll cook for you." He took my hand and pulled me to the kitchen with him. "The menu tonight consists of fish caught by me." He waggled his eyebrows. "Have I proven my worth yet?"

I liked silly Scott. "Your ability to catch our dinner is impressive."

He waved at the ceiling. "I also provide shelter. A comfortable bed. I promise to be a generous lover."

"Yes, yes, I get it. You're all that is man. You can feed me, provide a home, and drug me with orgasms. I'm sold." There was no sense fighting the inevitable. I loved Scott and the only thing I wanted in this world was to finally have him.

I watched him whip up a quick meal that was so delicious I almost cried. It was seriously better than any meal I'd ever had in a fancy restaurant. "You could probably make a killing in a bigger city."

"Maybe. It's all a crapshoot. Location, traffic, reviews, the whims of social media...I could be a hit and then crash and burn. And where would I be then? A failure in a town that isn't mine? No, I'd rather take what I know and craft a lifelong business out of my community, something I can weather the storm in and can call home if it all goes down in flames because no matter what, Lost Creek is home."

I took the last dish from him and set it on the rack to dry, then slid onto the counter, beckoning him to me. When he was cradled between my thighs and my arms were around his neck, I sighed. Just touching him had me relaxing every muscle in my body. "Even with Aunt Sharon's meddling book club?"

His laugh rumbled his chest as he dropped kisses on my shoulder and the side of my neck, working his way up to my lips like we did this all the time. "Those meddling, murderous little book nerds are part of the package, yes. Can you live with the lost boys?"

I tensed. "Where are they anyway?"

His hands coasted down my sides to grip my hips, pulling me against him. "They've been warned away for the night."

I melted. "Then yes, I can live with them. It's nice knowing they take some direction."

"They always listen when I yell." His voice was rough and it made my insides flip and clench.

"Do they now?"

"I can be quite demanding."

"Is that so?" If we were just a little closer and had less clothes on...

"And quite convincing." His hand slid under my shirt to span my back.

I arched and gasped at the jolt of sensations it set off in me. "Scott."

"Andyouare quite responsive," he growled. He drew a single finger down my spine and the way my inner muscles clamped down made it feel like he was driving inside me.

I shivered. "This is incredible."

"I've had a long time to think of all the ways I want to worship you." He bent down and lightly bit the swell of my breast through the t-shirt.

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