Page 64 of The Addendum

“Ashley,” she murmured, our gazes locked on each other. “My name is Ashley.”

I lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed her knuckles. “A pleasure, Ashley. I’m Luc. I’ll be the one dating you for the next few months.”

“A few months?” she said dryly. “I have a time limit?”

I stepped closer, unable to stay away from her. “No. By then, we’ll be more than dating. Just thought I’d let you know.”

“Oh,” she said, ducking her head, hiding her expression.

I saw the smile on her mouth, though.

“Number, love. I need your number.”

She keyed in some digits and handed it back to me. I called the number, hearing the soft chirp of her phone.

“Now you have mine.”

She smiled.

“Are you tired?” I asked.

She frowned. “No. Do I look tired?”

“You look beautiful. But I think you look that way all the time.”

She shook her head. “I’m not tired, Luc.”

I liked hearing her say my name. I wanted to hear her groan it.

“Then I’ll wait, and we can go for coffee.”

She blinked, then laughed, the sound soft and feminine.

“Pretty sure of yourself.”

I lifted my hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. I didn’t understand this immediate pull to her, or even recognize my own actions with her, but I liked it.

“Should I back off?”

“No. I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”

I stepped back. “I’ll wait.”

We’d been together ever since.

Ashley shifted, her eyes slowly blinking open.

I bent my head and kissed her. “Hey, beautiful.”

“Hi. Have I been asleep a long time?”

“No, only about an hour. You were tired.”

“You wore me out.” She poked me in the chest. “You always do.”

I grabbed her finger and kissed it. “You never complain.”

She smiled, tracing her hand along my jaw. “Nothing to complain about. You always satisfy.”