Page 79 of Always a Roommate
“Out,” I said to the waiter who was filling water glasses. “Now.” He scurried away, and I shut the door behind him before turning on Shane. “I’m working.”
“I know.” His eyes never left my face, and the stare unnerved me.
I ran a hand over my high ponytail, just needing something to do with it. “Shane, today is a big deal.”
“I know.” He stepped toward me, but I stepped back. “I made a fool of myself today, coming to this wedding and having to take my shirt off to sneak in.”
“I don’t understand why—”
“It’s my turn to talk. You had yours, giving me a speech you didn’t let me respond to.” He breathed heavily, taking another step forward. “I’m not a grand person, Rae. I don’t have fancy clothes or even the money to buy a house anymore.”
“I never—”
He held a hand up to stop me. “This gesture is as grand as I get.”
A grand gesture. My mind went back to the hurricane and everything he’d said about never wanting to make a grand gesture or make a fool of himself.
“You infuriate me too, Rae. You always have. I may not have spent my life wanting you like you did, but the last month has been pure torture. Even when we barely spoke to each other, when you avoided me, I wanted you. I didn’t see it at the time. You told me you’d grown up and I know. I tried to fight that realization, but you make me want to chase.”
He closed his eyes as if fighting with himself. “It’s an irrepressible feeling.”
I smiled at that, at the memory. “Like you’re going to fall apart if you aren’t with me?” He’d said he hadn’t had it in him to feel this way.
He nodded. “The kind of feeling that makes me want to jump in front of bullets.”
“And face family holidays,” I completed for him.
“Even though we already do that.” We were so close now, a breath away.
“It’s a metaphor, doofus.” It had been my metaphor.
He leaned down, his eyes searching mine. “And the Halloween costumes.”
“Matching and ridiculous and—” His lips slammed down on mine, stealing all my words, the ones spoken and unspoken. They were wrapped up in this kiss. Energy thrummed through me, reaching all the way to my toes.
Shane yanked me closer, his hands holding me upright. “I love you,” he breathed.
I smiled against his lips. “Well, that’s good. I’d have to avoid you after making a fool of myself if you didn’t.”
“Not a fool. I needed a thump over the head.”
I gripped his arms, looking down at his bare chest. “Seriously, do you just take your shirt off every time you plan to kiss me?”
His lips quirked up. “If I did that, I’d have to go through every day without a shirt.”
Stretching up on my toes, I kissed him again. “I don’t really see the downside in that.”
“Rae.” Sarah walked into the room and stopped. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Her face went bright red as she backed away.
My forehead fell against Shane’s chest as I laughed. “She’s going to tell Drew.”
“Will you get in trouble for your boy toy sneaking in?”
“Boy toy?” I raised a brow. “Never say that again. I’ll go with my moody man, but no. Drew is more likely to make fun of me than get mad. Plus, didn’t you say he let you in?” I pressed my lips together as I looked at him. Only Drew Stone would let a guy into his wedding reception without a shirt.
Just then, Drew appeared in the doorway, also shirtless. I had to keep my jaw from dropping open.
“Um, Rae, I sort of need a change of clothes.”
