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And I was in for a day of staying off my feet. Carly had sent me more books, but reading them reminded me of a kind of passion I’d had so briefly and then lost. Both in the past and now, even though it was two different kinds of passion.
I missed Adam’s company. I didn’t know how to help my kids. I missed hanging out with Deacon.
Maybe TV would help distract me. It was rare for me to just sit and watch, especially during the day, but losing myself in someone else’s drama might remind me that mine wasn’t so bad.
Every commercial seemed intent on reminding me that today was Valentine’s Day. That I should be celebrating love. That if I didn’t get and give fancy presents, I wasn’t loved. I’d been sans-Valentine for years. Why did the reminder hurt so much today?
Because I was having sex with a man who didn’t want anything else. I wasn’t supposed to be falling for him, but I might be. And at the same time I was absolutely enthralled with his best friend. For the first time in years I thought I might have more with someone…
I should’ve known better, but my heart ached regardless. The TV played in the background. Who were Harmony and Spencer? Where were Luke and Laura? How freaking old was I?
The doorbell rang and I grabbed my phone to see the cam. The sight of Adam standing on my front porch made my heart leap into my throat then plummet into my shoes. It was tempting to tell him to come in, but I didn’t trust myself to not do something stupid once he was in here.
That didn’t mean I could stand to send him away or stop watching him.
“I’m pretty sure you’re in there,” Adam said. “And if you don’t want to see me, I get it. But I’d really like to see you.”
Me too.The reply lodged in my throat.
He held up two plastic bags. “I bought lunch and Valentine’s Day gifts.”
“You don’t have to bring me presents in order to visit.” I winced as the words slipped past my lips.
He smirked at the camera. “I know. I’m awesome all by myself.”
I smiled in spite of myself. Letting him in would be so easy, and those words meant so much more than it seemed like on the surface. “What about Deacon?”
“What about him? You were right—this is about you and me.”
I hovered my finger over the button that would unlock the door.
“Okay, I was prepared for this,” Adam said. On my phone screen he set down the bags he was carrying, and pulled his phone from his pocket. A moment later, the tinny strains ofCareless Whisperflitted through my door and phone speaker, half a second out of sync with each other.
“What are you doing?” I laughed.
“Boom boxing WHAM! outside your house, a la Deadpool.”
How was I supposed to ignore a grand gesture like this? “I guess you can come in.” The offer may have sounded casual but my heart was fluttering in my chest.
Adam strode through the front door, set everything on the table, and knelt on the floor next to where I sat on the couch. He cradled my face in his hands, searching my face. The way he pressed his lips to mine was tender enough it made my heart ache all over again, but an intensity flowed between us that stole my breath and made me want to linger here forever.
He pressed his lips to my forehead, then rested his forehead in the same spot against mine, never letting go of my face. “I don’t know what this is, but I know I enjoy your company so much, and I want more of you. Let’s see where this goes. Be my Valentine?”
Sayingyesseemed like a big mistake.
Sayingnowasn’t an option, though. “Yes. I’d love to.”
“Perfect.” Adam stood. “Lunch first or dessert?”
“Dessert.” That was my default answer when he was around.
He reached into one of the bags, and pulled out an egg carton. My curiosity turned to delight when he plucked out a large chocolate covered strawberry. “Open up.” He pressed the sweet to my lips.
I tried to delicately bite into it, and the moment the chocolate hit my lips, I knew I’d failed. Bits of candy crumbled and juice dribbled down my chin. I squealed in surprise and failed to keep from making a mess.
Adam leaned in and licked my chin clean. I wasn’t sure if I should giggle or moan.
We managed to make it through one strawberry, but I was pretty sure we lost a quarter of the chocolate in the couch cushions. That was going to be a pain to clean up.
