Page 42 of Mister Curb Appeal
Her breath hitches. “Girlfriend?”
I swallow hard. “If you want to? I mean, I do. I want you, Lexi. I want to shout it from the rooftops—” She rounds the kitchen island before I can even finish, throwing herself into my arms.
“I want it, yes. I want that. All of it.”
I push her hair back, holding her in place with my hands either side of her face. Then our lips meet and everything melts away. Every fucking thing. It feels right. More right than it’s ever felt before.
The humming in my chest? Nope, that’s never happened before. The visions I have of us, our kids, our future pets? Nope, not a chance I’ve daydreamed about that. I didn’t even think I wanted kids. There’s a whole lot of firsts here for me, loving her is the biggest surprise, because I do. I love her.
“I fucking love you, Lexi Kennedy,” I say, not giving a shit how it sounds out loud. I’ve wasted enough time, and she needs to know.
Her lips part as I pull back, her cheeks pinkening. “You… you do?”
“I’ve never said that to anyone before.”
“Not even Melinda?”
I chuckle. “You’re bringing up my ex after I just told you I love you?”
She winces. “God, I’m sorry, Josh. That sounded really pathetic. It’s just, she told me what a great guy you were, and I already knew all of that, but when an ex speaks so highly of the person you love with all your heart?—”
My heart jolts and I swear I almost fall at her feet. “You love me back?”
“Yes!” she whispers. “Josh, I’ve loved you ever since that first day when you brought cupcakes to the office after you made that deal with Ali, and there was that mix up and they got sent to the office next door, then you ordered more when you found out.”
“That was three years ago.” I swallow hard. “You remember that?”
“Remember?” she scoffs. “You were wearing a peacoat and a Burberry scarf, it was a really cold day, and your hair was a little longer… and I sound like a complete stalker.”
I laugh out loud. “I think I still have that scarf. Maybe I’ll wear it for you again, with nothing else on.” I lift her up by the hips, placing her ass on the counter.
“I like that idea.”
“I like the idea of you sitting on my face,” I whisper.
She gulps. “Maybe we should skip breakfast, or we can warm it up later.”
I nuzzle into her neck. “You’re right, my dick is begging me to take you right this second.”
“Then don’t keep him waiting,” she pants, shoving her PJ pants down. “Since you’re my boyfriend now, I think we should christen the bench top, just to make it official.”
I laugh against her skin, joy spreading through me like wildfire. “I think that’s the best thing I’ve ever heard.”
Chapter Twenty
LEXI
The entire day is like bliss. The rain stops eventually, even when the clouds overhead still look threatening and mean, it seems as if the worst of it is over.
Josh and I spend the day in bed. Laughing. Talking. Having sex. Eating. Then more sex. This man is unbelievable. And he loves me. Oh my fucking god, he said it first.
We’re in such a love bubble that I truly don’t want to leave. This cabin has been a first for both of us, and a part of me feels sad we have to go. I don’t want to go back to reality. Reality is boring. But maybe it won’t be so boring if Josh really meant what he said. He’s my boyfriend, and he loves me, he wouldn't have said all of that if he didn’t mean it right?
We pack our things, Josh whistling while he does so, and me running around trying to fit everything back in my tiny suitcase. I will never pack light again. Packing light is overrated.
When I come back from loading up my trunk, I’m deep in thought, wondering what we’re going to do about the whole work situation.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Josh says, catching me by the hips as I squeal. I didn’t even see him on the porch.
