“Can’tlet her leave disappointed,” he said with a slight shrug. “I mean, she didn’teven shower,” and with that, he pressed his hands to my cheeks, bent at the waist,and touched his lips to mine.
Iwondered if my heart would ever get used to this. His gentle affection and thehonest rejoice of my soul. I could barely hear Brooke’s squeals of glee overthe humming that coursed through every bone in my body, every vein andnerve-ending, and when he pulled away, I took a moment to open my eyes. Tofocus on not being too disappointed as he stood up and away.
“OhGod,” Brooke gushed, her fingers flying over the screen of her phone. “I’msending that picture to Trent. You guys … oh my God, you guys are the mostadorable thingever. I can’t believe this isfinallyhappening.Trent is going to lose his fucking mind.”
Devinlaughed. “Oh, great. Guess I’ll expect that phone call in about five minutes.”
Shestood up and grabbed the store keys from the table. “Okay, I’ll go open up. Youguys can be free to consummate this thing, create beautiful babies, plan thewedding of the century, whatever yougottado, butI’m warning you; you better be in work tomorrow. Trent just grabbed us a newkitchen table from a worksite and I need my day off to break that thing in.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Devin
“So,” I said,after Brooke left, “what doyou want to do today, on our first official day of being a couple?”
Thethought felt strange and fresh: us, a couple. It was good, and nothing had everfelt better.
Kylieshook her head, crossing her arms. “No, we’re not allowed to be like that.”
“Belike what?”
“Likethings are different between us,” she said, looking up at me, and I laughed.
“Baby,whether you want them to be or not, thingsaredifferent.” The pet namerolled so easily off my tongue.
“Actually,the only thing that’s changed is that you only kissmenow, nobodyelse,” she argued, and without a moment’s hesitation, she stepped forward andstood on her toes. Silently asking with her head tipped back, and my mouthobliged.
Iwould never deny her again.
Isnaked my arms around her waist. “So … since nothing has changed, I guess we’llsleep in separate beds?”
Herfeatures wrinkled with uncertainty. “I haven’t even thought about that. I mean,I haven’t even thought about what I was going to eat for breakfast, let alonewhere I was going to sleep tonight.”
Ichuckled. “That’s fine, because I already know where you’re sleeping. One lessthing youhave toworry about. But can Imake a suggestion?”
Hercheeks flushed with excitement and the sweetest smile stretched over her lipsas she tipped her head back further, those gorgeous blue eyes meeting mine.“What’s that?”
“Iwant to buy a new bed,” I confessed, one side of my mouth lifting into asheepish smile. “If we’re doing this, I want to start fresh. I don’t want tosleep with you in a bed where I’ve been with other women, or in your bed, whereother assholes have done the things I want to do with you.”
Hereyes warmed with her affection, her arms wrapped around me. God, being held byher was a powerful thing. “Wow,” she said breathlessly, stepping forward topress her cheek to my chest. “You don’t waste any time, huh?”
Iquestioned momentarily if I had pushed too much, too soon. It hadn’t even beentwenty-four hours and I was already professing my love and demanding we buy anew mattress to sleep on together. My chin touched the top of her head and Iconsidered backpedaling. Giving her time to adjust to the knowledge that shewas it for me—this,thiswas it for me. It was my dream to be hers, andI was done living half a life.
Butbefore I could take it back, I felt her smile. She squeezed my waist, and said,“We’ll use my room. It’s bigger, and we can get a California King bed. Then,your feet won’t hang over the—”
Mychuckle interrupted her, and she took a step back. “What’s funny?”
“Nothing,”I said, kissing the top of her head. “I just love you.”
Thoselittle words slipped past my lips. They felt more natural than breathing. Theyfed my soul, fed my voice, fed my lyrics and the strings on my guitar. Sheexhaled softly, melting against my chest.
“Ilove you too, Devin.”
?
I was handingthe salesman my credit card when Kylie’s phone rang. She pulled it out of hermessenger bag and checked the Caller ID.
Ittook three seconds for her face to drain of color.
