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Shane
He followed her inside, thinking more about what was underneath her dress than what he’d brought for dinner. Hearing those words, I love you, from her mouth only made him want to solidify his feelings.
He loved Leah and he wanted her to know. The flowers and dinner were just a start.
Leah walked to the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of wine. “To celebrate.”
“That’s what dinner’s for,” he said, setting the bag on the counter.
“You’re not the only one who got a new job.”
“What?”
Her lips curved in a sly smile. “Well, a job offer. I haven’t decided yet.”
“When did this happen?”
“Today.” She rolled her eyes. “When you weren’t there.”
He pulled her into his arms. “Don’t be mad. I wanted to surprise you.”
“You did.”
“That wasn’t it—or not all of it,” he said. “There’s more.”
“More? I don’t know if I can handle more.”
He ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth, trying to get her to open. When she did, he mingled his tongue with hers, drawing out a quiet moan. “I was offered a job from a publisher. One that’s close by.”
Her unfocused eyes locked on his. “What? How close?”
“Five miles away. Close enough to still be near you. If that’s what you want.”
“If that’s what I want? Shane—”
“I still want to be near you. I know the internship is up and you might be moving on. But…” He kissed her again. “I don’t want that to be it. I still want to be with you.”
He waited, almost afraid for a moment that she’d turn him down. But she’d told him she loved him—that had to mean something, right? Even if they ended up living in separate states, they could make it work.
“I want to be with you, too,” Leah breathed, wrapping her arms around him. “I want to be near you.”
“What about your job offer?”
“It’s with Kara. So I can stay at the same place.”
He eased back, narrowing his eyes on her face. “Kara offered you a job?
“Yes.”
“And she didn’t offer me one?”
Leah laughed and kissed him. “She must have been really impressed with me.”
“And your storytelling skills. You’re getting really good at that romance thing.”
She grinned. “Romance, yes. But I had a good teacher.”
He backed her to the counter. “You did. So are you going to take it?”
“What?”
“The job. Are you going to take it?”
Leah angled her head at him. “I think so. I want to be there and do what Kara does.”
“Live the fantasy,” he said.
She smiled and started to undo the buttons on his shirt. “I think I’ll start living the fantasy right now.”
“Oh yeah?”
“As long as dinner can wait.”
“Dinner can wait,” he said, taking her hand. “I can’t.”
“Where are we going?”
“The bedroom.”
Leah laughed and tugged on his hand, getting him to stop. “I forgot to mention that living the fantasy starts right here.”
He looked around. “In the kitchen?”
She pulled off her shirt and tossed it aside. “In the kitchen.”
Shane’s dick hardened and he gripped her waist to set her on the counter. He could handle kitchen fantasies—and fantasies everywhere else, too. He’d met his match in Leah and the only thing he regretted was not betting her sooner.
Leah rushed to take off the rest of her clothes, but when she reached for him again he caught her hands. “Hold on.”
“I can’t,” she panted. “I need you now.”
“One more thing.”
“No more things. I’m done with surprises.”
He laughed, but held her still. “I want to move in together.”
That made her stop moving. “Really?”
He kissed her. “Really. What do you think?”
“Yes. I think yes. Soon.”
“You’re just horny. You want me to live here so we can do it in the kitchen, and the bedroom, and the bathroom.”
She chuckled. “And on the balcony.”
“You’re an exhibitionist now, too?”
“I’m any fantasy you’ve ever dreamed about.”
He groaned and hurried to take off his pants. “Then let’s get started.”
She pulled him to her. “Let’s.”