My Next Book Boyfriend (Book Boyfriend #1) Read online

  OH!

  Suddenly, I’m on my back, on the floor, his mouth on mine. I have to admit, it hurt a little when my back and head hit the floor, hard, but this is a good sign, right? He stops, pulling his mouth from mine and stares into my eyes.

  “Thank fuck.” My eyes search his, trying to figure out if that’s a good thing or not. He moves closer. I can feel the warmth of his breath against my overheated skin. I’ve not had this much physical activity in like – ever. “I’m so glad you said it.” Oh. Oh! He rests his forehead against mine and lets out a deep breath. “I was about to say those exact words earlier but thought you might think I was crazy.” Snort. Does he realize who he’s talking to? I move my hand up and around the back of his neck and we just lay here in silence. Suddenly, he moves back slightly and smiles. “Even though you said it, I wanted to so you know this means we both kinda said it at the same time.” My brows lower as I scrunch up my face, then we both burst out laughing. He pulls me into his arms, and we roll on the floor like drunken teens, laughing until my sides hurt.

  Finally, we both lay on our backs, side by side, and our laughter begins to die. Turning onto my side, I rest my head on my hand and look at him. He’s gorgeous. He’s mine. I reach out and rub his arm, his skin so soft. “You know, loving me could be dangerous.” Turning his head, he looks at me and smirks. “I mean, you could lose the usage of an appendage, or I could stab you to death with a fork or something.” He lets out a laugh. “It would be an accident, of course.”

  He turns onto his side, rests his head on his hand and takes my hand in his, raising it up and sliding his fingers through mine. “It is a dangerous job but I’m willing to take the risk.” He smiles, his eyes bright and playful. Then they change. Tender. Caring. “I love you, Coffee Girl. You’re mine.” He brings our hands to his mouth and kisses mine. Swoon!

  The rest of the evening was just as amazing. Well, there were no more “accidents”. Thank God! He grilled us some steaks, while I prepared a salad and foiled potatoes and veggies for him to put on the grill. We had a glass of wine with dinner, laughed a lot while eating, and then sat on the couch, snuggled together, and watched a movie on TV with a fire in the fireplace. It was – heaven. A lot of girls only dream of this. I was one of them. I lived my life through books – okay, I’ll always love my books, but now I get to live it in real life too. When it was time for bed, my eyes drooping as the credits rolled, he turned everything off, lifted me into his arms and carried me to his bedroom.

  I woke up to a lit room, that delicious soreness, again, and – bacon? Okay, most guys know the secret to a woman’s heart is through her stomach, well, that’s what I’ve read. But he’s gonna get me seriously fat with all this amazing cooking. Stumbling out of bed, I go into the bathroom and do all my business. After splashing cool water on my face and brushing my teeth, I look up into the mirror. There’s a glow on my skin, a brightness in my eyes, that I don’t remember being there before. It’s love. Or I’m pregnant. Nah! It would be too soon and besides, I’m on the pill – have been at an early age due to cramping, and he’s been protected with a condom. Double protection! I mean – I want to have kids, someday, especially with him, but right now I just want to enjoy him. Alone.

  Grabbing a hair tie from the drawer – oh, he also gave me my own drawer in the bathroom! I pull my hair back into a low ponytail. I smile at my reflection, feeling the happiest since Gram passed away. Going back into the bedroom, I look around, not finding one of his amazing smelling t-shirts, so I open a drawer in his dresser and take one out, pulling it over my head. It’s not his smell, but it’s clean. I smile as I walk out of the bedroom, his t-shirt so big on me, and stroll to the kitchen. I stop at the doorway, admiring the scenery. He’s standing at the stove, shirtless, wearing jeans. He does wear those so well. Trying not to trip over my own feet, I saunter up behind him and wrap my arms around his slim waist. God, I love touching his soft skin. He lets out a moan. A moan! I did that to him!

  “Keep that up, woman, and we’ll have a cold breakfast.” I smile, my face pressed into his back. He turns in my arms, and I look up into his eyes as he cups my face. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Like the dead.” I yawn.

  He hugs me, resting his chin on top of my head as he rubs my back. It’s soothing. I yawn again. “Let’s get a good breakfast in you.” My stomach takes that moment to growl. Loudly. He laughs and swats me on my behind. “Go sit down.” I head to the table, smelling all the aromas of food, making me even hungrier. “I just made ham and cheese omelets today. Hope you like those.” Just? I look at the set table, already filled with bacon, sausage, hash browns and biscuits with gravy.

  “Uh, you could open your own restaurant here,” I say while grabbing a piece of bacon and stuffing it in my mouth.

  He sets a plate down in front of me and sets down with his own plate. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Taking a bite, I moan when the delicious tastes hit my taste buds. “We definitely won’t make it through breakfast if you keep that up,” he growls. Growls! I can’t believe I elicit such amazing sounds and bossiness from him! Me! “Besides, we have a lot to do today.”

  Tilting my head, I give him a confused look because I am pretty confused. I knew we most likely wouldn’t be going fishing – ever again after that last time, so I thought maybe we’d be having a hike or a relaxing day together. “What do we have to do today?” Oh, maybe we’ll have some more snuggle time on the couch, not paying attention to the TV, or maybe we’ll just spend the day in bed. Yes, I love these ideas!

  “Driving lessons.” My face scrunches. “Ha! You’re adorable. Thought you’d get out of it, huh?”

  “Well, hoped.” I stick my tongue out at him. Kinda juvenile, right? Well, right now, I pretty much feel that way.

  He reaches over and covers my hand with his. “Look. This is the only full day we have here and where I’d rather it was spent in bed….” Exactly! “I want ample time to teach you how to drive.” He pulls his hand away, leaving mine cold. “And teaching you using my car will be perfect since I’m letting you drive it to the signing.” Wait! What? “Don’t look so surprised.” He winks. “Today, you’re learning to drive, and tomorrow we’ll cram for the written test. By next week, I’ll take you to go get your driver’s license. Plenty of time.” Please, tell me he’s kidding.

  “But…. you need your car.”

  “Nope. You can use it.”

  “I can’t possibly do all this in a week’s time.” I laugh, waving my hand. “I….”

  He laughs back. Okay, I really don’t find this funny, and I really don’t want to do this. “Yes, you can. It’s easy. You’re a very smart woman. Piece of cake.”

  He really has no idea what he’s gotten himself into.

  “That is the brake pedal and that one is the gas pedal.” He points down in between my legs. “Now, this is the shifting gear. D is for drive and….” I roll my eyes. He laughs. “Okay, I know this is stupid but I just thought it would be easier for me to show you everything.” Oh, you can show me everything, none car related.

  We sat here for what seemed like forever until he told me what each pedal, button and knob did. Then, he told me to start the ignition. My nerves shot up as well as my fear. I can do this!

  “Now, shift it into drive.”

  Thank God, he’d turned the car around so I didn’t have to start out in reverse. This is already getting on my last nerve and we haven’t even moved yet. My hand on the gear, I look over at him. “Can you please make sure your seatbelt is fastened really tight?” He rolls his eyes – oh my, I’m rubbing off on him but smile when he grasps it and pulls. Raising a brow, he nods. Here we go!

  An hour later. “You did great! I’m so proud of you.” He wraps an arm around me as we walk up the steps of the porch, my smile beaming, but my legs still shaking. He opens the door and we step inside. Turning
me to face him, he gives me a big hug. “I know you didn’t mean to hit that tree.”

  I let out a big sigh and look up at him. “Sorry about the dent in your front bumper.”

  He kisses my nose. “Look at it this way.” He shrugs. “No one was seriously injured or died.” I hold in my laughter, but it’s true. It could have happened.

  He turns us around, his arm still around me, and we walk toward the kitchen. “Now, lunch and then we hit the driver’s manual. Still lots to learn but I have nothing but confidence in you.” I roll my eyes but inside I’m actually kind of excited. Not about the learning but that I would actually be able to drive, if I want to. Until he brought it up – more like insisted, I’d never given any thought about getting my license.

  Lunch was amazing! The studying, not so much. I excelled in school. No problem getting A’s. But anything doing with driving? B-O-R-I-N-G! He’s tested me four times. Four times! On the same things, over and over until I’m about ready to shut his laptop on his hand. Okay, I wouldn’t really do that. I think. So to keep myself occupied, while he asked me questions, I studied his concentrated face. I’m so bored I start playing thumb war with myself.

  “Are we almost done?” I ask.

  “Are you some kind of a genius?”

  I look up from my hands on my lap and stare at him. I open my mouth and then tilt my head, trying to figure out how to answer without sounding like I’m bragging. “I just pick up on things quickly and remember them.” I shrug. I look back down, twisting my lips, as I try to win my thumb game.

  Suddenly, I’m lifted up in the air with a “whoosh” and “gasp”. I pull in the air that was quickly taken from me and look into the darkened brown eyes of Dreamboat. “You do not need to study anymore.” He kisses me, and I give him the air I’d just received. Gladly. My hands find their way into his hair as he swings me around and walks out of the room. “We really didn’t get any exercise today.” He pecks at my lips. “I mean, we need to keep you healthy, right?” I kiss him back.

  “Oh yes! Don’t want any mushy muscles or getting fat with all your amazing cooking.” I wink and snuggle my face into the crook of his neck.

  So – we went into his bedroom and had a ton of exercise. I feel so much better!

  That evening, after another fabulous meal and some more of that extracurricular activity (waggles eyebrows), we’re sitting out on the deck on a lawn chair. A blanket is wrapped around us, snuggling, my head rests against his chest, as I lay between his legs. Drinking a glass of wine, we’ve been enjoying the scenery until now as the sun has set we can only see with the lights surrounding the deck.

  “Tell me about your sister,” I ask, snuggling against him more. I take a sip of wine, my free hand intertwined with his.

  “Well.” He lets out a long breath. “She’s pretty soft spoken. Caring. Sweet. She’d give anyone the shirt off her back.” I feel his head move, and I look up into his eyes. “I dunno. She’s a girl.” He laughs, and I can’t help but let out one too. We’re quiet for a minute then he speaks. “Tell me about your grandmother. What was she like?”

  I smile. “She was amazing! She taught me how to cook, bake, made me do my homework – even though she sometimes had to be stern and take a romance book away from me.” He laughs and takes a drink of his wine. “Of course, that’s when I was older. When I was younger, she played Barbies with me, read kids books to me, made me keep my room clean, and gave me so much love.” He squeezes his legs around me.

  “And your mom and dad?”

  My body stiffens then relaxes. “Oh, you know – good ol’ Dad left before I was born and Mom thought it was more important to be off on her own. She didn’t even come to Gram’s funeral.” I sigh. “But it’s for the best. I probably wouldn’t even recognize her. Hell, she probably has had a whole slew of kids by now.”

  Jax sets his glass down on the glass table beside us and puts his arm around me, holding me tight. “Well, your gram did an amazing job raising you. I’m sure you miss her though.” I nod, his hand coming up and brushing back some of my hair that’s blowing in a gust of cool wind. I shiver. From the weather, yes – from his gentleness and caring touch, definitely. “C’mon. Let’s get inside where it’s warm. I think maybe I need to build us a fire.” Swinging his leg over me as I sit up, he reaches his hand down and helps me stand.

  “We could toast marshmallows!” He laughs starting to pull me inside. “Do you have marshmallows?”

  He opens the back door, and I walk inside. “Woman? Have you not seen my full pantry?”

  Oh, I’ve seen your pantry and I’ll raise you a Hot Tamale!

  Chapter 18

  By the time Jax put in a movie, a comedy, and we made s’mores in the fireplace – yes, I found everything I needed in his pantry, including graham crackers and chocolate bars, I had a full tummy, was a little tipsy from the wine, and fell asleep on the couch with my head in his lap. I know, I’m a lightweight. But we had the most amazing night. Talking. Watching the stars. It was romantic. It felt – right. He feels right. I still don’t know that much about him, his sister, or what all he’s been through but it doesn’t matter. He’s gentle, kind, caring, and takes all my klutziness in stride. I feel loved.

  After breakfast he gave me more driving lessons, even under my protest. At least this time I didn’t hit any innocent trees or wildlife, and I did much better. So much that he’s going to take me to get my driver’s license tomorrow and then we’re dropping his SUV off to get the bumper fixed. He said I don’t need to pay for it but I’ll find a way to sneak my credit card to the service guy. One way or another. We headed home shortly after lunch. I’m beginning to love coming to his cabin, even though the time seems to fly by too fast when we’re there.

  As soon as he parks in his driveway, I grab my bag from his hands, smiling as I tell him I can carry it – he spoils me so. I lean up on my toes and give him a kiss. He responds by smacking my bottom as I head to the sidewalk, telling me he’ll be over in a while, once he’s unpacked. I swear that my smile feels ingrained on my face. I walk to my condo and let myself inside. Willy comes scampering down the hall, his little nails tapping on the wooden floor. “Willy!” I scream as I drop my bag on the floor, squat down, and lift him into my arms. For the first time, he didn’t growl, and even licked my chin. Awwwww! I feel bad leaving him, again. Jax told me I should bring him with us next time, said we should take one of his sleeping castles and a ton of milk. He already knows Willy too well.

  There’s so much to do to get ready to leave for the signing on Saturday morning. I need to rummage through my paperbacks, see which ones I already have and make a list of those I’ll need to purchase while I’m there. That morning, we’ll need to get everything ready and boxed up to take with us, all the pastries, sandwiches, and jugs of our different coffees. Guess I should tell my staff about that, give them a little notice. Oh! And I need to check my mailbox, hoping the flyers they’re sending me are there! We need time to prepare!

  My phone starts ringing so I head to the kitchen, flipping on lights as I go, carrying Willy with me. “Yes, I survived driving lessons. No, I didn’t kill anyone. Yes, I had a wonderful time, and no, I’m not giving you all the deets.” It actually took Molly a little longer than I thought it would to call asking for all the juicy details of my weekend. I’m a little proud of her.

  “Ryland?”

  My heart lodges in my throat. “Yes?”

  Okay, so we all know when anyone calls you by your full given name it’s either because you’re in trouble, it’s a family member, or it’s really bad, bad news. I don’t think I’m in trouble. Gram is gone. Now, I’m scared.

  “How are you?”

  My face scrunches as I bend down, setting Willy on the floor. “Who is this?” I grab the counter, my knuckles white with my grip. I’ve got a very bad feeling about this.

 
“It’s….” She clears her throat. “It’s Angela. Clark.” I stiffen. “Your mom?”

  Anger overtakes me, sweeps through me like a tornado ready to tear through. “I don’t have a mom.” I end the call, my hands shaking and I drop my phone on the counter. Why in the hell is she contacting me now? After all this time? What does she want? She’s never been in my life, and she couldn’t even come to Gram’s funeral to say goodbye to her own mother. The anger that swelled inside me, like a tornado ready to rip through and destroy something, comes back with a vengeance. My phone starts ringing, vibrating on the counter. I smack it, not sure if I even want to pick it up. Closing my eyes, I take a couple of deep breaths. My curiosity is piqued. I want to know, why now? Why after almost twenty-one years she feels the need to come into my life? She sure as shit didn’t seem to care before. I pick up the phone, close my eyes, and blow out a breath.

  “What do you want? Kinda late to be calling me now!” I scream into the phone.