Page 119 of Really Truly Yours

“Crazy good.” But I visualize her shaking her head, and my breath returns to hold mode. “Right?”

“Gray, I…I think I…I don’t think…”

Another flash spills enough light for my fingertips to find the ridge of her cheekbone. “Don’t think so much, Syd. Just…savor it.” I can’t help a smile, hoping she hears. “Trust me, not every kiss blows a fuse and knocks out the lights.”

She giggles, airy and honey sweet. Ah, for once, my words were right.

At a gentle nudge, she returns, fitting into my arms and filling me up. I wrap her waist and settle my chin atop her crown to wait out the storm.

I could stay this way forever.

Chapter 25

Sydnee

I bite down on my fingernail, a bad habit that has taken a turn for the worse since last night, and launch a glance at the coffee table. Yep, right where he left it sits Gray’s phone. In a kiss-induced fog, I failed to notice the device until he was long gone, long enough that I knew he wouldn’t return until morning.

At nearly noon, it taunts me. I showered and fixed my hair. That was three hours ago. He must have discovered its absence by now.

I guess I have my answer. There’s no way that kiss—uh, kisses—were to him what they were to me. Flip the situation, and I’d have been on his doorstep at sunup.

I should have gone to church regardless. It wouldn’t have hurt the guy to have to wait a minute anyway.

Right, Syd, Gray’s the one who couldn’t wait.

I chew a new nail. Gray’s fault, all the way. He’s floated me into deep waters and my muscle memory has forgotten how to swim.

Forgotten, as in never knew in the first place. A powerful undertow has sucked me into uncharted waters.

Oh. My. Gosh. My first kiss since I was a teen, and it was Grayson Smith.

Gray.

My face gets hot—or hotter. I’m not sure it ever returned to normal after last night.

What was I thinking?

Was I thinking?

Nobody-me kissed the most handsome pitcher in all of baseball.

He’s so much more than that.

I walk into the matchbox bathroom and flip on the light. My cheeks are red, my eyes bright. My heart isn’t visible, but it’s dancing and leaping in my chest. Are you really doing this, Syd?

This being surrendering. Surrendering to the moment. Surrendering to the possibility of something real between me and…a famous athlete?

Am I fooling myself? He could have any woman.

I swat the light off and press my palms to my cheeks.

But the answer is yes. I’m in. On the off-chance he didn’t come to his senses overnight, I’m signing up.

My heart bounces at the rumble of an engine in my driveway until an operative word registers. Rumble. Gray’s Range Rover purrs.

I wait at the open front door. In clean jeans and a clean t-shirt from some car racing event, Sam stomps his muddy sneakers off on the doormat. I resist the temptation to conduct the visit on the porch.

“What’s up, Nee?”

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