“How can you say that?” I asked, shocked.

He shrugged.

“If I hadn’t almost died, I would never have been in the Mended Hearts support group.” I frowned. And that was a bad thing?

“And then I wouldn’t have met you, Einstein.” He bumped his shoulder into mine.

“Yeah. I guess there’s that,” I conceded.

“And you, Corin Thompson, make everything worth it.”

My heart thrilled at his words. They really did.

He put so much in perspective. He worded things in a way that made me think.

He made it so easy to be optimistic.

To have hope.

I grabbed ahold of his jacket collar and pulled him roughly toward me. I all but attacked him with my mouth. We kissed deeply. So deeply. Teeth and tongues and bruised lips.

“Can we go? It wouldn’t be rude, would it?” I asked. I wanted to go somewhere and be alone with him.

I needed it desperately.

“I’ll call Candace later and explain you weren’t feeling well,” Beck suggested. I nodded, kissing him again.

When we came up for air, his eyes shone bright in the dark. “Come home with me. Stay with me tonight,” he begged.

“I don’t want to be anywhere else,” I breathed.

Chapter 18

Corin

I woke up the next morning wrapped in Beckett’s arms.

Which sounded way more romantic than it really was.

Because I can honestly say there is nothing romantic about a full bladder and morning-breath paranoia.

He had me pinned to the mattress with his great, big man arm and no amount of wiggling and shoving could move him. This guy was one deep sleeper.

I looked down and realized I was still fully clothed.

There was absolutely no hanky-panky last night, ladies and gentlemen.

But there was a whole lot of cuddling and then some hardcore passing out.

I glanced at the time on Beckett’s alarm clock and saw that it was already 9:30. I had to be at Dr. Harrison’s office in an hour. I never slept in so late. It was a good thing the studio was closed until noon today, otherwise I would already be late. And I was going to make a conscientious effort not to leave so much up to Adam. His words yesterday hit home.

“Don’t go,” Beck murmured, reaching out for me.

As tempting as he was, my full-to-the-point-of-bursting bladder took precedence.

“I’ll be right back,” I promised, sliding out from underneath the covers.

I hurriedly pulled my dress down so that it covered my ass. Beckett had rolled onto his back, his hands behind his head, and he watched me with a dopey smile on his face.

“I really like waking up with you,” he said, his voice husky with sleep.

I flushed all over. What girl doesn’t like being told that by a good-looking guy? Especially one that looked at her as if she hung the moon.

“Ditto,” I replied.

Did I really just ditto him?

Beckett cocked his eyebrow and looked beyond amused.

I all but ran to the bathroom before I had an embarrassing accident in front of my boyfriend. And as natural as I felt around Beck, there were limits to that easiness.

I closed myself in the bathroom and quickly took care of business. Then I squeezed a glob of toothpaste on my finger and swished it over my teeth. I found some mouthwash underneath the sink. Score!

I gargled at least a half a dozen times before I was satisfied that I wouldn’t kill Beckett with my lethal breath.

I tried to tame the unruly tangles in my hair but I only ended up with a head full of knots. I really hadn’t thought out this whole spending-the-night thing.

Last night had been so intense. So overwhelming. After we got back to Beckett’s apartment I had all but collapsed. I was exhausted. Emotionally. Physically. I couldn’t stay upright a moment longer.

He had picked me up and carried me back to his bed. He had taken off my shoes and gently, tenderly tucked me in.

Then he had crawled under the covers behind me, pulling me into his chest. He kissed the back of my neck, smoothing back my hair, not saying a word.

I fell asleep faster than I had in years.

And I had no nightmares. No terrorizing butterflies. No anxious dreams of being trapped in a coffin.

Only blissful nothingness.

I took a quick stock of how I was feeling. It was my normal routine.

And I felt…

Okay.

No aches. No pain. No swollen anything.

I felt…

Normal.

I left the bathroom, a little spring in my step. Beckett was sitting up in bed, looking at his phone. He put it down when I came in and gave me a smile to end all smiles.

He made me feel so goddamned beautiful.

It was a real talent.

“Come here.” He crooked his finger and I all but scampered back to the bed.

“How do you look so good first thing in the morning?” he asked, framing my face with his hands after I sank down beside him. His thumbs caressed my cheeks and I beamed at him.

I beamed!

“Oh shush,” I dismissed. But I liked it. A lot. Corin Thompson, who never knew a compliment that didn’t make her want to die of embarrassment, was actually preening at Beckett’s words.

“It’s true. You are so fucking gorgeous. I don’t think you have a clue how amazing you are. Inside and out.”

“Don’t you have to get to work?” I asked.

“I texted my boss letting him know I’d be in a little late today. I was hoping to spend the morning with you.” He kissed me softly on the lips, and I didn’t think about morning breath or the fact that I hadn’t had a shower.

“I wish I could. But I have a doctor’s appointment. So actually, I’m going to need you to run me home in a few minutes,” I told him regretfully. For the first time I wished I could cancel the appointment. I didn’t feel the need to go.

I wanted to stay right where I was.

Beckett frowned. “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you want me to come with you?” He sounded so concerned. The worry was etched on his face.

I shook my head. “I’m fine.” And it was true.

I really was fine.

What in the world had happened to me?

There must be some sort of crazy mojo in that bed of his.

It was incredible what a good night’s sleep could do for the psyche.

And a wonderful man to wake up to.

“Maybe I’ll go check out those photography classes I was looking into,” he said more to himself.

“Photography classes? That sounds great!” I remarked excitedly.

Beckett flipped me onto my back and leaned over me. “Let’s blow off everything and stay in bed all day. I can think of better uses of our time.”

He started kissing the side of my neck and I turned into literal goo.

“Don’t distract me with your lip weapon. I need to take a shower and get changed. Come on. Up and at ’em.” I wiggled out of his grasp.

He let out a big sigh. “You suck, you know that?”

I leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. “If you’re a good boy, I’ll make it up to you later.”

Beckett’s eyes lit up. Horny promises would always work, it seemed.

“Yes ma’am!”

And we laughed.

Because that’s what we did.

We made each other happy.

—

“Corin, hello. How are you feeling today?” Dr. Harrison closed the exam room door behind him and sat down on the swivel chair in the corner, pulling up my file on his computer.

How was I feeling? That was the million-dollar question.

Because today I felt pretty good.