Page 40 of Instant Heat
Then we cried when we flipped through photo albums.
Then we laughed some more.
By the time we disappeared into the guest room on the second floor, my cheeks ached, and my heart felt full. So incredibly full. I was still smiling when Griffin came to a standstill in front of me. Gently, he took my face in his hands, eyes roaming over my features. "I couldn't have done this without you."
I swallowed thickly at the sincerity in his voice. "Of course you could."
He inched closer, lips brushing mine with every word he whispered, "I'm glad I didn't have to. You mean a lot to me, Rae. Hell, I think I might even—" his chest expanded with the sudden deep breath he needed.
But I got it.
Because I kinda sorta loved him too.
19
GRIFFIN
"Just one more kiss."
I grabbed Rae by the wrist, tugging her back to me before she had time to get into her car.
"Seriously, I'm going to—" Her little protest dissolved into nothingness the moment I slanted me mouth over hers. A happy sigh blew over her lips and settled somewhere inside me heart.
"Mhmmm." She drew back, peering up at me through thick lashes."What was I saying again?"
Me hands gripped her hips."That we should just skip work and go back to bed."
"You're bad."
I nipped at her neck."But you love it."
Laughing, Rae pushed at me chest."We're going to be terribly late if you keep this up."
"Fine," I said. Me tone over-dramatic as I took a step out of her personal space."Text me when you get to work so I know you're safe."
She waved me off."Stop it. The Home is ten minutes away. Nothing bad is going to happen between now and then."
I was about to tell her otherwise when she pushed onto her toes and stole the words from me tongue. When I moved to deepen the kiss, she pulled back and quickly hopped into her Mazda.
With a sharp shake of me head, I braced me hands on me hips."Little minx. You're so going to pay for that."
Rae's lips twitched as she turned the key in the ignition. Once her engine sputtered to life, she turned to me; her eyes raking over me body in a way that left no doubt as to what she was thinking."I'm counting on it."
And then she was gone. Pulling out of the driveway, leaving me to stare at her disappearing taillights with a stupid grin on me face like some lovesick fool.
Which I definitely was.
I was still grinning like a damn idiot when I walked into the station fifteen minutes later. It finally felt as if life made a hell of a lot more sense. Like the anvil had been lifted from me chest and I could finally breathe easy again.
And Raelyn Brooks was at the center of it all.
***
"You guys have plans on Saturday?" Nathan asked from his spot in front of the stove. Usually when he was on breakfast duty, we could expect a decent spread of eggs, toast, bacon, and whatever the hell he could throw on the plate.
I was already salivating.
Coffee in hand, I parked me arse on the stool to the side of him."No plans yet; why?"
