“One day. You’ll have to take me to your next trivia night or whatever.”
Ash closed her eyes. She didn’t want to think about there not being a whatever or a whenever. Her chest filled up with that painful twisting again. For one more night, she wouldn’t go there. She didn’t want to ruin what she felt at the moment, which was, crazy enough, perfectly at peace, so she shut her mouth and pushed the yawning void of doubt off into a not so distant future. There was plenty of time for worrying.
At the moment, Trace’s hand just felt really, really, amazing in her hair and the sound of his heartbeat beneath her ear was absolute enchanting perfection. She had no reason to open her eyes, so she kept them closed for just a minute more.
Just one more minute like that, with him, at peace, and she’d be ready to let the real world in again. Just one more minute… just one…
CHAPTER 14
Trace
The first early rays of dawn were just starting to filter into the bedroom when Trace cracked an eye. He realized, first, that he wasn’t at his house. It was obvious, since the hairy body of a cat was currently perched on the pillow. That big, warm, fuzzy body overflowed onto his forehead and the purring was probably what woke him up.
Okay, so someone probably wants their breakfast.
He remembered Ash falling asleep last night. She must have been exhausted. She looked so peaceful there in his arms that when she drifted off, he didn’t wake her. Beyond worn out himself, body aching and his heart doing all sorts of crazy things, going to war with his mind and what was supposed to be common sense, he’d closed his eyes and that was it. Lights out.
Ash was still draped over him, her arm flung out, her head on his chest right above his heart. She slept soundly, her shoulders rising and falling with each deep breath. She was beautiful, her flawless skin hued golden by the sun’s rays. Her dark hair spilled out over him and the bed and her lips were pushed up into a sexy sleepy pout.
He could tell that it was early. He wasn’t in a panic to wake her, even though they hadn’t discussed their game plan for the reunion. He knew Ash would be fine. She just had to have faith in herself. All that easy confidence from the night before, when she was comfortable with her family, and the courage she’d shown in messaging him, the force that she was, a woman who chose to live her life on her terms and was proud of it, she just needed to channel all of that.
If not, he’d be there to kick whosever ass he had to kick.
That was the game plan.
He smiled like a fool. It didn’t even occur to him that after the reunion she’d really have no need of him. She might have sent him a message about a plea for a fake boyfriend, but there was nothing fake about his desire to be with her.
His arm tightened around Ash’s dainty shoulders and held her closer. She didn’t stir. She was his. He’d known it from the second he walked into that coffee shop and saw her sitting there, with two paper cups, because she’d ordered for him. Hell, he probably knew it right after he’d read her message. It just got better. Every single minute that he spent with her just reinforced in his mind how much he didn’t want to let her go.
Trace savored the time he had with her, those stolen minutes. He promised himself that he’d remember them forever, no matter what came after the reunion, and he didn’t care one bit that it sounded cheesy as fuck, even in his own head.
As the sun’s rays grew stronger and warmer, he knew he had to wake her.
She’d asked him the night before if he believed in a love like her parents’ had. He hadn’t before. He’d very much doubted that he’d ever find someone who could see him for himself. Then he met Ash, and right from the start, he was just Trace. She’d given him her friendship, her unguarded moments, her care, her worry, her family. She gave him everything he wanted and didn’t know was possible and didn’t dare hope for.
And it had been a week.
How much better could it get?
She’s mine. She might not know it yet, but she is and I’m hers. I’m not letting her go.
It was time to dial up the charm. He was playing for keeps as of the minute that reunion ended.
As the purr machine above his head kicked into high gear, Trace gently shook Ash awake. She sprang up so fast she nearly smashed her face into his.
“Whoa there. I promise I’m not here to hurt you. I’m just an innocent bystander who fell asleep in your bed.” He pointed up towards the cat, who hadn’t moved off his forehead. “And I think someone is sending me not so subtle messages about getting his food.”