“Do you… do you want to come in?” Hold me all afternoon. Fall asleep in my bed. Make me forget the world. “I’m still working on my portfolio. I could use your help.” Even if I’m not planning to start taking clients for a long, long time.
He runs his fingers through my hair. “Whatever you want.”
I want you.
I swallow the thought. Push it as deep as it will go. “We could get that amazing mint coffee first.”
“Anything.”
Not anything. Not by a long shot.
But something all the same.
Chapter 14
Ryan
We spend the afternoon walking along the beach.
Spend the night eating street tacos over hours of work on Leighton’s portfolio. Her shit is amazing, but it’s unfocused. She needs to pick a niche and own it.
I keep arguing she should do book covers.
She keeps resisting.
I don’t know why she doesn’t want to go after this.
But I’m going to figure it out. I’m going to convince her to do this.
It’s late when she gives up on work. But she doesn’t ask me to leave and I don’t offer.
Instead, she puts on Austin Powers and pats the spot on the couch next to her. “Promise you won’t ask again?”
I will.
But not here.
Not tonight.
I nod and take the spot next to her.
She pulls her knees into her chest. Rests her head on my shoulder.
She falls asleep in my lap halfway through the movie.
If feels right having her this close.
Intimate.
Terrifying.
Like she’s going to rip my heart from my chest and leave it beating on the floor.
That can’t happen.
Shit can’t change.
No matter what, I can’t lose her.