Yours, B

It wasn’t Shakespeare, but it was pretty good for him, he decided. He took the note and snuck back into his bedroom, not wanting to wake the beauty still sleeping there. Quietly, he propped the note on the nightstand on top of a stack of books. Then, noticing her phone on the floor—it must have slipped from her pocket when he’d disposed of her jeans the night before—he set it next to the note. Next, he found his wallet and left a couple of bills on the stand as well.

He had one more task to do concerning Andrea—he needed her ring size. Searching for a measuring device, he settled on the dental floss he kept in the drawer of his nightstand. He ripped off a small piece then, ever so carefully, he uncurled Drea’s sleeping hand and wrapped the floss around her finger. She stirred and he froze. Fortunately, she settled again quickly and he was able to get what he needed. It might not be an entirely accurate measurement, but at least the ring wouldn’t fall off when he slipped it on her finger.

He looked at his watch. He had time still before he was set to be at Long’s Jewelers and a load of nervous energy that needed to be burned off. He’d love to wake up Drea to remedy that, but then all his plans would be disrupted. A stop at the gym would be the better solution. He could shower there as well and not have to worry about disturbing her at all. It took him all of ten minutes to don some exercise clothes and grab a suit to change into. He packed his shoes and socks into his gym bag and he was ready to go.

At the door of his room, he paused to gaze once more at the woman in his bed. She was nothing he’d expected he’d ever be attracted to and yet he was more into her than anything he could imagine. His chest ached with emotion, but it was the very best feeling in the world. He thanked whatever God might exist for bringing her into his world. If all went well, after today, she’d be part of his life for good.

*   *   *

Andy was awoken by the ringing of her phone. Endless ringing. She tried to ignore it—too sleepy even to think—but the caller was insistent. With eyes still closed, she reached toward the sound. Instead of making contact with her cell, though, she felt her hand knock against a stack of books. And then the books were toppling over. She should probably pick them up. Except the phone had stopped ringing now, so she could worry about the books later.

That was strange—she didn’t keep any books by her bed.

That’s when she remembered where she was. And with who. And what they’d done the night before.

Wow. Had that really happened?

The recollection was enough to make her sit straight up. She was definitely awake now.

Then the phone began ringing again.

With a groan, Andy leaned over the bed and found Puppy chewing on something on the floor. He took off with his prize when she shooed him. Whatever he had, at least it wasn’t her phone. Which was still ringing. She sifted through the pile on the floor until she found her cell. A glance at the screen told her it was Lacy. She pushed the TALK button. “What?”

“Don’t what me. You didn’t come home last night. I need to know that you’re alive.”

Andy should have expected full-on mothering mode. “I’m alive.”

“I hear that now.” There was a slight pause that Andy suspected her sister was using to calm down. “I’m guessing you can’t talk right now…”

Andy glanced at the empty bed next to her. A quick scan of the room and she was sure she was alone. “No, I can talk.” Though she wasn’t sure she wanted to. Lacy would want all the details of Andy’s glorious night with Blake and she wasn’t ready to share just yet.

“So? What happened?” Lacy’s admonishing tone from a moment before had been replaced with eagerness. “I thought there would be no sleepover.”

“I was obviously wrong.” So amazingly wrong.

“Isn’t that against your rules?” There was only the slight hint of I told you so to Lacy’s tone. Which was admirable, considering.

“It is.” Andy thought about the state of things now. “Or it was. I don’t really know if there are rules anymore.” After last night, she had a feeling all bets were off.

“That sounds intriguing. Tell me more.”

Andy opened her mouth to spill the details. Then she closed it again. Was it really fair to be pouring her heart out to her sister when she had so much to say to Blake? Even if it was, the fact was that Andy wanted to talk to Blake first. It was a strange feeling. She’d always shared everything with Lacy. And she still would. She just wanted some time first.

She cradled the phone under her cheek and stretched. “Look, Lacy, I just woke up. I haven’t had coffee. I haven’t even seen Blake yet this morning. Let me get my head functioning and I’ll fill you in later.” She stifled a yawn. “What time is it anyway?”

“About a quarter after eight.”

“Shit!” Andy sat up straight. “I’m never going to make it to work on time.”

Lacy laughed. “I’m sure your boss will accept your tardiness.”

“Let’s hope so. Like I said, I haven’t seen him yet.” There was always the possibility that Blake had decided to go awkward on her. She hoped not. After everything they’d shared it seemed unlikely. But the house was awfully quiet. Where was he?

“Well, get your pretty ass out of bed and go find him. I’m sure he’s just letting you sleep in after an eventful night. Am I right?” Her subtle attempt to pry wasn’t missed by Andy.

She rolled her eyes. “I’ll talk to you later, Lacy.”

“Fine,” Lacy said with an exaggerated sigh. “I had a late night myself with my gig and another one this evening so I’m going back to bed. I’ll see you for dinner?”

“You always do.” A part of Andy hoped that maybe her dinner would be spent with Blake. But the thought of dinner reminded her of his date with Jane that night. Would he still go? There was no way she could know without talking to him.

“I always see you at bedtime as well, and I didn’t last night so I think it was a fair question. Dinner, then. Love you.”

“Love you, too.” Andy disconnected the call and then noticed the red flashing light indicating her phone’s battery was low. She was amazed it wasn’t dead already since she usually charged it overnight. She tossed it back on the nightstand, stood, and stretched. Her body was delightfully sore. There were muscles she’d forgotten about that burned with the reminder of recent activity. And what fun that activity was.

With a smile on her lips, she bent to pick up the books and things she’d knocked to the ground. There was a Steve Jobs biography—that didn’t surprise her—but the remaining three were detective novels. Not just mysteries—the old-school 1940s kind, full of chain-smoking dolls and hard-drinking private eyes. Another Blake Donovan secret. Her smile widened as she replaced the books on the nightstand plus a couple of twenties that must have been lying on top of the books. How could she not be completely entranced with this self-built millionaire who loved pinball, Downton Abbey, and noir detective novels? The answer was she couldn’t.

The intensity of her adoration was what bewildered her the most. She didn’t merely admire him or find him fascinating. She also felt that other emotion—the one that she’d sworn to her sister was not going to happen, and yet here it was, totally happening in every fiber of her being and not just in the middle of sex. She loved Blake. Like, loved, loved him. Like, could see herself married to him with children and puppies and the whole shebang.

It was a completely exhilarating feeling that warmed her from head to toe, made her giddy like a teenager. It also frightened her a tad bit. But it was the sort of frightening that she was more than willing to face.

She found his T-shirt from the pile of clothing on the floor and threw it on. Eager to be with the man she loved, to kiss him and wrap her arms around his strong form, she set about searching for him. With Puppy at her heels, she peeked first in his office. Finding that empty, she followed the scent of coffee to the kitchen, assuming that was a good place to start. No Blake. But she found a mug and poured herself a cup before resuming her hunt.