“If we do something like this again, we should probably wait until no one’s around.” She sounded slightly disappointed.
“Buttercup, did you enjoy knowing someone could come by at any minute to interrupt us?”
Her head pressed further into my neck. “Maybe.” Her muffled reply had me chuckling.
“I’m sure we can find other ways to keep that excitement alive while not doing this during work hours,” I suggested.
“Okay.” She sighed and looked at her watch. “But we really should get more work done before we leave today.”
I swatted her ass when she stood.
She giggled and moved further away.
And while I tucked myself back into my pants and zipped up, I couldn’t help but stare at her. Everything about Ellie captivated me.
Her family had no clue how amazing she was. They thought she wasn’t enough. They were blind to the brilliance in front of them.
But I saw her. God, help me, did I see her.
Chapter Twenty-Five
ELLIE
Dinner from the little Italian place on Main Street sat heavy and satisfying in my stomach. Garlic, basil, tomato—the scents still hung heavy in Drew’s kitchen. I picked up my dish from his brand new kitchen table and carried it over to the dishwasher. As I slid it into place on the bottom row, I groaned and rubbed my belly. “That was so good.”
His laugh caressed my ears, warm and rich. Then he was behind me, his hands on my hips, nudging me back against the gleaming granite-topped island. Drew brushed his mouth over mine. “TV?” he asked softly, his lips grazing mine.
I hesitated. I wanted to curl up against him and watch mindless fluff, but my laptop weighed on me more than the food did. “I should work on the last few chapters. My deadline to turn in the first draft is close.” After years of inconsistent writing, the story had begun to flow better these last few months since working for Drew. And that was definitely not a coincidence. He helped me believe in love and friendship again. It was finally time to cross the finish line and make this dream come true.
“Okay.” He kissed me again. “What do you need from me?”
I blinked. I didn’t even know how to answer. No one had ever asked me that. Not my ex, not my family.
My throat tightened.
Drew cupped my cheek, thumb brushing back and forth until I leaned into it. “Ellie?”
“No one’s ever asked me that before,” I whispered.
“Then let’s fix that. Quiet? Noise? Music? Candles? Snacks?” I pressed against his chest, soaking in the comfort of his acceptance, and listened to his thudding heartbeat.
“Noise. Snacks, always.” I tried for lightness, even as I melted into him. “Water and coffee, too.”
“Done.” He ran his hand up and down my spine; the simple gesture was soothing and arousing all at once.
He wasn’t even trying to be sexy, and my body still hummed with need, craving him and his touch.
“What do you think about working on the couch?” he asked. “I’ll work beside you.”
“That sounds great,” I replied. Can you work with the TV on?”
“Three siblings,” he said. “The TV is just background noise.” He kissed the top of my head—my kryptonite. That one simple press of his lips made me feel wanted in a way no one ever had. It said,I want you. I want to comfort you. And I want to be close to you.It was the perfect low level intimacy.
“How about Hallmark movies?” I suggested.
His grin made my stomach flip. “I’m game. My sister, Wyatt, and I would watch them with my parents all the time.”
“Not Marc?”
