Page 148 of The Temporary Fiancée
As I’m typing up a message, giving Riley the basic information, Reed emerges from his bedroom. His hair isruffled, still damp from the shower, but he’s dressed for work in slacks and a white button-down shirt. His sleeves are rolled up past his elbows, though—there’s always a tiny rebellion in his outfit.
“I made you some coffee,” I say, grinning up at him. “It’s in the kitchen.”
“Thanks.” He fastens his last loose button, then heads to the kitchen to pour himself a thermos. When he emerges back into the living room, he approaches me on the couch, leaning down to plant a kiss on my forehead. His breath smells like coffee.
For a moment, I want nothing more than to pull him down onto the couch beside me. The two of us could spend today exactly like we spent last night. I have a feeling he wouldn’t argue—that it’s what he wants, too.
But I’d never make him choose between me or his work. I know how passionate he is about both.
So instead, I smile up at him warmly. “I can’t wait for you to come home.”
“Me neither,” he says, giving my hand a squeeze. “This whole day is just an unfair interruption, isn’t it?”
I hum in agreement. “This feels like a dream.”
“In a good way, I hope.”
“In the best way,” I assure him.
He kisses me again, softly, then pulls away, throwing a last look over his shoulder as he heads for the elevator.
As the doors slide closed behind him, my phone vibrates in my hand—it’s Riley, responding to my lengthy explanation of what happened last night.
RILEY: Are you kidding me!?!? Omg!
RILEY: I’m so happy for you ahhh!
I grin at my phone. This is pretty much the same reaction I had when I learned that she and Cole had gotten together.
RILEY: Are you busy right now? We need to talk about this!
ME: No, I’m not busy. Come on over!
RILEY: On my way!
My bestie arrives half an hour later, and the doorman sends her straight up to the penthouse. The second she arrives, she rushes up to me and wraps me in a tight hug.
“I can’t believe it,” she exclaims. “You have to tell me absolutely everything!”
“I will, I will,” I say, laughing. “Come in—sit down. There’s some coffee in the kitchen if you want it.”
“You know what, I think I’ll take you up on that. It’s early, and I could use it!”
Once we’re both settled on the couch, a mug set on the coffee table for each of us, Riley curls up and turns to me.
“Okay, let’s hear it,” she says. “I want all the details.”
“Well, I told you the basics—we’ve been sort of having this no-strings-attached arrangement, but lately, I’d been feeling like it wasn’t as simple as we were pretending.”
“You mean you guys had feelings for each other.” Riley sounds practically giddy. “Of course you did. I knew it.”
“Well, you knew that I had a crush on him because Itoldyou.”
“No, that’s not what I’m talking about—I knew that you guys had feelings for each other. There were vibes between the two of you.”
“Whatever you say.” I grin, reaching for my mug. I scoop some sugar into the coffee and stir it, then take a sip.
“So what happened?” Riley asks. “Who made the first move?”
