Page 102 of RomeAntically Challenged
She looked up at him through her lashes. “I can turn on some music.”
“We can just sway all night for all I care.” He pulled her close and their bodies brushed as they moved together. So incredibly slow it was more like swaying while their feet took the tiniest of steps, and they barely moved at all.
But inside, Annie’s heart was moving things around, making room for Emmitt, because she could no longer avoid the reality of this whole situation. Annie’s journey of one had merged with his the moment she threw her shoe at him and he’d smiled.
She should have known then that she was going to fall, because he’d seen the irrational side of Annie come out in one of the most imperfect moments of her life, and instead of walking away or placating her—as so many other people had—he’d been intrigued. And the more of Annie she let out to play, the more interested he became. Now she was standing in front of him, covered in her many failed attempts at being a true Walsh woman, and all he wanted was to dance her around his kitchen.
So instead of just sliding her arms around his neck, she rested her cheek against his chest and finally,finally, gave in.
He groaned, and his embrace tightened. “And you slay me when you do that,” he murmured against her ear, then slowly turned her in his arms.
“Then maybe I should do it more often.” She pressed closer, tucking her body into his. He groaned again.
Around them the air felt magical. A gentle hum started at every point of contact they shared, softening her heart until it lifted a little white flag of surrender. No longer able to deny her feelings, Annie closed her eyes and gave her heart completely over to his care.
Unaware of how long they swayed in each other’s arms, she felt tipsy on romance when he whispered, “I don’t know how I will ever be able to thank you for everything you’ve done for me and Paisley.”
“Thank me?” She looked up and,pow, he was the one who was doing the slaying. Stripping away her fears, her uncertainty, her insecurities until it was just Annie swaying in his arms. “Emmitt, everything that happened tonight was a result of your willingness to really hear what Paisley was saying and meet her on her terms.”
“I never would have gotten there without your advice.”
“Advice is easy to dole out. You were the one who put it into action.”
And she couldn’t have been prouder or happier for him.
“It wasn’t just the advice, but for you being you. You didn’t hold back when I was totally blowing it with Paisley, you helped me out with the dance when I was in over my head, and you even made my kid’s year when you agreed to host and chaperone her party.”
“Co-host,” she clarified—against his lips. And since she was already there she figured she might as well steal a couple—dozen—kisses. “And how could I say no when she buttered me up with my very own extra-large pepperoni and green olive pizza? I wonder where she got that idea.”
“Goldilocks, you had your own pizza because everyone else knows you don’t put green olives on a pie,” he said, their gazes locked as if magnetically charged. “Plus, I know a bunch of ways to butter you up, none of which include food.”
Her body revved its engine, waiting for her to wave the white flag so they could do the damn thing. “It’s just a party, and it will be fun. Although I wonder who’s going to chaperone the chaperones?”
“We can take turns. You chaperone me while I try to seduce you, and then I’ll chaperone you while you try to seduce me.” He smiled. “Ah, I see the problem.”
“I know.” She stopped and, going up on her toes, planted one hell of a kiss on him. “How about we give up the whole pretense of a chaperone.”
“Thank Christ,” he growled against her mouth, and without breaking his hold he lifted her into his arms and carried her down the hallway.
“What are you doing?” She laughed.
“What I wanted to do the first night I met you. Make love to you in my bed, then wake up and do it all over again, until neither one of us can move.” He tossed her onto the mattress, disposing of his tie and shirt before covering her with his body. “You have a problem with that?”
“No, but I, ah—” She tried to sit up, and he froze.
He came up on one elbow. “Don’t shut me out,” he whispered, dropping a tender kiss on her lips.
“What? No.” She touched his face, and he leaned into it. “I’m not shutting you out. It’s the opposite. I wanted to talk about something before we had sex again.”
“Does it concern you and me and anything that is going to happen in this bed?”
She shook her head.
“Good.” Pushing her hair back from her eyes, he traced the line of her lower lip. “Goldilocks, I have spent the past month talking it out with everyone in my life, dealing with more emotions than I knew existed, and worrying about everyone and everything to the point of exhaustion. But tonight, it all felt like it came together, and for the first time in a long time everything feels right and good and how it should be. And to make things even more perfect, I was able to come home and share it all with this amazing, sexy woman who gets me.”
Annie’s throat tightened and her eyes swelled with emotion.
“Usually, the problems I cover are either too big to solve or too small to matter, but with you, Goldilocks, it feels just right. So unless there is anything pressing that requires more talking or for you to leave this bed anytime soon, please just kiss me.”
