Authors: E. L. Todd
Seductive Guest (20 page)
The joy in my heart disappeared. “Okay…”
“I’ve fallen head-over-heels for you. I’ve been looking for the right girl for a long time, and I went through them faster than a carton of eggs. You came into my life and gave me hope that I could find someone to love, to cherish. If I’m not the right guy and you have any doubt, then walk away. Because I can’t lose you again. I just can’t.”
My eyes burned with tears. “You’re the one.”
Emotion moved into his eyes and his hands found my hips. “You’re mine?”
“I’ve always been yours.”
He pressed his forehead to mine while he held me close. “Then I’m yours too.”
“We can start over?”
“No. Let’s pick up where we left off.” He picked me up and placed me on the table next to his pack of beer.
“Maybe we should wait until we’re home…”
“Jett has fucked a lot of girls at my place. He’ll understand.”
“Well, you aren’t going to fuck me, right?”
His hand fisted my hair and he tilted my head back slightly, forcing me to look at him. “No, I’m not. And I’ve never had before.”
River walked inside and shut the door. “Sweetheart, I’m home.”
“Finally!” I left the kitchen table and ran to him. My arms moved around his neck. “Why are you home so late?”
“Game went into overtime.” He smirked while he looked down at me. “But if this is the kind of greeting I’m going to get, then I’ll be late more often.” He kissed the corner of my mouth.
“I guess I’m excited because I’m horny,” I said honestly.
His grin widened. “Yeah? I can help with that.” His lips found my neck and gave me a few kisses.
“Before we get into that…” I stepped away and headed back to my computer at the kitchen table.
He growled. “What a tease.”
“I got a huge job working for a publishing house. I’ll be a book cover designer.” I was practically hopping on my toes.
“Seriously?” His eyes were wide.
“Yep.” Then I started jumping up and down. “I’m so excited.”
“Congratulations, sweetheart.” His arms moved around my waist and he smiled down at me. “I’m proud of you. You deserve to do what you love.”
“It wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for you. Thanks for letting me live here…”
“You earned it with all the sex you gave me.”
“It was still really sweet.” I moved into his chest and hugged him. “But now that I have a full-time job I guess it’s time for me to leave…” There was distinct sadness in my voice, like I didn’t want to be anywhere but here.
“And go where?”
“Get my own apartment.”
“Hmm…that’s an idea. But I have a better one.”
“Yeah?” I said it a little too enthusiastically, like I was praying he would ask me to stay.
He smiled. “Live with me permanently.”
Joy radiated through me. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. You think I’d ever let you leave?”
“I guess not…”
He kissed my forehead. “This place is too big for one person anyway. I need a woman to keep me in line.”
“And I need you to cook for me.”
“And make you come,” he blurted. He shut my laptop. “Now, let’s celebrate in the bedroom.”
“What are we celebrating? My new job or the fact I’m staying here?”
“Neither,” he said. “We’re just celebrating.”
***
“If these pie-eating contests become a regular thing we’re going to get fat.” We finished our small dinner then waited for the pies to come.
“Not if we keep throwing them at each other.” He had a wicked grin on his face. His eyes sparkled brighter than they ever had before. His hair was slightly messy because I ran my fingers through it too many times when we were in bed. His t-shirt was old but it still made his body look nice.
“We’re going to be banned from this place.”
“I always leave a generous tip.”
I nodded. “Now it’s all making sense.”
River watched me closely, like he was searching for something.
“What?”
He kept smiling. “I used to be jealous of the guys and what they had. But now they should be jealous of me.”
My eyes softened.
“I have what I’ve always wanted, and I’ve never been this happy.” His fingers brushed mine before he pulled them back to his side of the table.
“I’m happy too.” Hiring River was the best decision I ever made. I realized that I found Prince Charming instead of settling for a stuffy CEO.
The waitress brought the pies. “Alright, good luck.”
We stared at the pies then each other. River slowly moved his hand to edge then hit the timer.
We both dug into our food, but River just shoved his pie into my tin.
“You’re such a cheater.”
He took a few bites then shoved the entire pie into my face. Bits of whipped cream got on my clothes and in my hair. I gasped as he crossed the line and wiped everything out of my eyes. Then I threw his pie in his face. It made a noticeable splat noise as it collided against his cheeks.
He pulled it off and wiped the goo off his face. “Is this a pie-eating contest or just a food fight?”
“You tell me.” I scooped a handful and threw it at him.
“That’s it, brat.” He moved from his seat then joined my booth. “I’m going to get you good.”
“This is so crossing the line!” I threw more at him.
River moved to the floor next to the table and got on one knee. Then he pulled a box out of his pocket then quickly opened it. “I want to throw pie in your face for the rest of my life. Marry me.”
I was just about to throw more food in his face but my hand stopped and everything fell into my lap and I gasped. “Oh my god…”
I could distinguish his smirk even though his face was caked with cream. “You going to say yes or what, sweetheart?”
“Oh.” I extended my right hand. “Of course.” Then I realized I gave him the wrong hand. “Wait, this one. Is it the right one…?” I pulled it back again.
River snatched it then slipped the ring on. “Thank you for saying yes—even though it took you long enough.”
“I’m sorry.” I moved into his arms on the floor. “It’s such a beautiful ring.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
People in the restaurant clapped and whistled.
“Best proposal ever.”
He smirked as he pulled away. “I knew you would like it.”
“I love it, River.”
“So, you’ll have kids with hippie names with me?” he asked.
“Waterfall and Mountain,” I said. “Should we start making them?”
“That sounds like an excellent idea, fiancé.”
“I like the sound of that. Fiancé. But I prefer husband.”
“Soon enough, sweetheart. Soon enough.”
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Alpha Series
Sadie
Elisa
Layla
Janet
Cassie
Hawaiian Crush Series
Connected By The Sea
Breaking Through The Waves
Connected By The Tide
Taking The Plunge
Riding The Surf
Laying in the Sand
Forever and Always Series
Only For You
Forever and Always
Edge of Love
Force of Love
Fight For Love
Lover’s Roulette
Happily Ever After
The Wandering Caravan
Come What May
Again and Again
Lover’s Road
Meant To Be
Here and Now
Until Forever
New Beginnings
Love Conquers All
Love Hurts
The Last Time
Sweet Sins
Lost in Time
Closing Time
Southern Love
Then Came Alexandra
Then Came Indecision
Then Came Absolution
Then Came Abby
Abby’s Plight