Page 179 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 2

I look up just as I push send. “Huh?”

The shape of Marlow is a silhouette with the dim light from the living room just reaching the doorway of my home office. She comes in behind me and starts rubbing my shoulders. “You’re tense.”

Taking a deep breath, I rest back and let the massage work in, closing my eyes and slowly exhaling. “Some days are better than others.”

“Is this a bad day?”

I cover one of her hands with mine and spin while pulling her onto my lap. She’s smiling, and even though there’s not much light from the city reaching in, I see the glimmer in her eyes that comes from within. “Today is a good day.”

“I agree.” Tilting her head, she whispers, “We didn’t discuss the living arrangement. Since we donated my bed to the shelter, I have nowhere to sleep?—”

“You have a bed. It’s right there across the hall.”

“That’s yours.”

I take her hand and bring it to my mouth to kiss.The palm. The top. Her wrist.And then our fingers fold together. “It’s ours. As long as you’re here, that’s your room, your bed, your?—”

“Jackson.”

I don’t know why that catches me sideways, but I feel like that’s what I’ve been waiting to hear for so long. “Everything here is yours for the taking.”

She dips down and kisses my cheek. “What are we doing?”

Although I’d like to play dumb, I can’t. I know what she means, and we had this conversation, which was followed by a trail of reasons we’re not meant to be just yet. I cup her cheek and run my thumb over her soft skin. “We’re adjusting the plan based on new information. That’s all. There’s no pressure to be more than we are.”

Bringing her legs up closer to her chest, she’s smaller when she’s uncertain and balled up in my lap, making me feel even more protective of her. “What are we?”

“Hey?” I tip her chin up. “We’re Marlow and Jackson. That’s all we need to be.”

It’s not the best answer, but it’s all I can give her, and what she needs to hear. I won’t pressure her because I don’t even know what I want. I didn’t expect her to be living here, but I can’t deny how good it feels to move in a new direction.

What happens happens and all that. “We’ll just play it by ear.” Standing up, I set her on her feet again. “It’s late. You ready for bed?”

“Bed? No. But I’ve been ready for you all day.” She takes me by the hand and pulls me from the spare room and into the bedroom. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she slides them down my chest and then even lower. With a snap, she releases the band of my jeans. Wearing a devious little grin on her face, Marlow starts to dip down to her knees. “Now, let’s get back to that thank you . . .”

CHAPTER 15

Marlow

The thud of Cammie’s handbag landing on the wood bench should have been an early warning sign for her mood.

“Rough day?” I ask, pushing the chips closer to her just in case she’s hangry.

“Yes.” She slides into the booth and rests her arms on the table. “Why am I the last to know that you moved in with Jackson? Hello? That’s huge news.”

“You’re not the last. I haven’t told Rad.”

“He knows because of Tealey.”

“Or Cade.”

“He’s the one who told me because Rad told him.” Sitting back, she crosses her arms over her chest. “By the way, Tealey is stuck working. The fundraiser committee called an emergency meeting. The caterer wants oysters, and apparently, they’re out of season in February or something like that.”

“Of course they’re out of season. Oysters spawn in the summer months.”

“How do you know that?”

I shrug. “I’ve been to a lot of parties. I never eat oysters out of season.”

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