Page 28 of Promising You
“Check this out.” He flips a switch on the wall and a TV appears in the bathroom mirror. He takes a remote control from the counter and tosses it to me. “Try it.”
I point the remote at the mirror and start flipping channels. “This is crazy! But come on. Do people really need a TV in the bathroom?”
“It’s a want, not a need.” He comes over and takes the remote back, shutting the TV off. He takes my hand and leads me back to the living room. “I had them make you a concession stand for tonight.” He points to a basket of snack foods in the kitchen. “Obviously, I would’ve done a much better job but I didn’t have time.”
“It’s great. Thank you.”
“And . . .” He picks up a bottle from a silver ice bucket. “Fake champagne for our toast at midnight.”
“I think that’s real champagne.”
He reads the bottle. “I told them no alcohol. What the hell? I’ll call the front desk and have them replace this.”
“It’s okay. I actually want to try some. It’s New Year’s Eve. You gotta have champagne.”
“But, Jade, you don’t drink.”
“I’ve been thinking about that a lot and I’m not as worried about it anymore. I mean, my mom was only an alcoholic because of those pills that doctor gave her. The pills made her an addict. It wasn’t genetic. Her parents didn’t have problems with alcohol.”
“I know, but still. You’ve only had alcohol one time. And it didn’t end well.”
“That was totally different. This time I’ll be with you and we’ll just have one glass.” I take the bottle from him and set it back in the bucket. Then I drag him to the couch to sit down with me. “I’d rather have my first real drinking experience be here with you than at some college party. And it’s not like I plan to get drunk. It’s just a glass of champagne.”
“I’m still going to call down and get the nonalcoholic version just in case you change your mind.” He gets his phone out and calls the front desk.
When he’s done, I take his phone and set it on the table, then lean over and kiss him. “You’re a really nice boyfriend, you know that?”
“I just want you to have a great New Year’s Eve.”
“This is more than great. This is an awesome New Year’s Eve. What do you have planned for Valentine’s Day? On second thought, let’s skip that one. I’ve never liked Valentine’s Day.”
He nudges me. “We’re not skipping Valentine’s Day. It’s a holiday and I’m making you celebrate all of them. Even President’s Day. And Arbor Day.”
I run my hand along his soft, black t-shirt that fits snugly over his muscular chest. “So how’s your gunshot wound?”
He smiles. “It’s fine. And from now on, you should ask methat, instead of ‘How’s your chest?’ It sounds better. More masculine.”
I shake my head. “Whatever. Is it really better or are you just saying that?”
“It’s really better. In fact this morning I didn’t even take a pain pill.”
“Good. Because you were starting to worry me with the numb arm and then the constant pain.” I climb onto his lap, straddling him and giving him a hug. My actions cause movement in his pants.
“I’m just hugging you, Garret. That’s it.”
“I can’t help what he does. He’s got a mind of his own.”
I sit back, my gaze drifting from Garret’s bright blue eyes to his sexy smile. “I guess if your chest, or gunshot wound, is better, we could maybe try out the bed.”
He grins. “Or we could just stay here. Try out the bed later.”
“On the couch? That’s gross. People sit here.”
His eyebrows raise. “Like it hasn’t been done before?”
“Eww.” I start to scoot off his lap. He reaches around my lower back, keeping me on his lap and pulling me closer until I’m pressed up against him. He kisses me, then moves his hand to the back of my neck and takes the kiss deeper. My concerns about the couch quickly disappear.
After a few minutes, he stops. “Get up for a minute.”
