Page 213 of The Virgin Romance Novelist Chronicles
Henry:Can you please let me know you’re alive? You’re scaring me, love. You won’t answer my calls or my texts.
Succumbing to his wishes, because I didn’t want him barging into Delaney’s party, I texted him back.
Rosie:Sorry, I’ve been busy getting ready for the party tonight. I’m good. I will see you later. Have fun with Derk.
His text back was instantaneous.
Henry:Jesus, Rosie. Was it that hard to text back? I’ve been worried about you.
Knowing I wasn’t going to get anywhere with my makeup until I settled his worry, I set my brushes down and picked up my phone.
Rosie:Sorry, I didn’t want to wake you this morning, and I wanted to make sure this party is perfect.
Henry:I wanted to talk about last night.
Rosie:Maybe we don’t. Let’s just forget it and move on. I would rather not rehash the most embarrassing moment of my life.
I could feel myself start to get emotional, but I kept it in check. I already had one eye done, and I wasn’t about to ruin it.
Henry:We’re going to have to talk about it at some point. Things happened last night . . .
Rosie:Yes, I know. Listen, I don’t have time for this. We can catch up later. Have fun tonight.
My phone signaled another text message, but I ignored it and tried to match one eye to the other with my liner skills. Doing a smoky eye with a cat-like eyeliner was the one thing I could claim as a talent . . . that and the ability to embarrass myself—and the man I love—at the drop of a hat.
Nailing life in the mortification department.Want to know what an awkward sweat feels like?Hang around with me, I’d get those armpits pooling in no time.
I should probably start charging people to be in my audience. I was bound to do something shameful for others to talk about for weeks after.
I was applying mascara when my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and saw Henry’s name. Irritated he wouldn’t leave me alone, I answered tersely. “What?”
“Whoa, that’s quite a way to answer the phone.”
“I’m sorry.” I really wasn’t, but I didn’t want to get into a fight right before Delaney’s party. “I’m just really busy right now, trying to put everything together. Do you need something?”
“Yeah, I need to see you.”
Before I knew what was happening, Henry came through the door of the locker room, holding his phone to his ear and a small present in his hands.
I couldn’t help the sigh that escaped me. He was dressed in a pair of black jeans, black Converse, and a button-up black and white gingham shirt with the first couple of buttons undone, showing off his well-defined chest. He was freshly shaven and his hair was styled perfectly to the side. He was the most gorgeous man I had ever laid eyes on.
“Hey, love. You didn’t give me a chance to give you this before you left.” He held out a present for me. It was in a little white bag with yellow tissue paper sticking out the top.
Smiling, I took the present from him and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. He didn’t let me get very far, because he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me in for a deeper kiss. I took this moment to revel in the way he felt pressed against me. He was being so sweet right now. Maybe he really did want me to be around, and wasn’t planning an escape route to try to get away from the crazy as quickly as possible.
Then again, he probably didn’t want to set off the crazy right before the bachelorette party.
Either way, I gripped the back of his neck and stood on my toes allowing my tongue to explore his mouth. Our kisses grew heavy, and for a moment, I thought he was going to lift me up on the counter and pull down my leggings, but before that fantasy could become a reality, he stepped away and wiped his mouth with his hand.
Well, that was rude.
“What? Did I slobber on you? Don’t want my lips all over yours?” There it was, the devil tongue. I was certain I’d pop out a creature of hell, and every time I said something uncharacteristic, I blamed it on the baby.
“No,” he said, taken aback. “I just didn’t want lipstick on my lips when I went to a bachelor party.”
“Mm-hmm,” I hummed sarcastically before ripping the tissue paper out of the bag. Whatever was in the bag must have been wrapped in the paper because the bag was completely empty.
“Um, the present is on the ground.”
