Page 82 of Lessons in Lemonade

She stops at the foot of the bed and glares at me. “You know I don’t want your money.”

“I know that, but I want you and me, together, forever. Like you said, you love that home—you’ve told me so repeatedly—and we’ll need the space.”

“Forever can be a long time.”

Sitting up so my feet are now hanging over the edge of the bed, I reach for her and drag her back over so she’s standing between my legs. Running my hands up her hamstrings, I squeeze her tiny little ass before I settle them on her waist. She’s looking down at me as I look up at her, and she sees that I mean it when I say, “Forever will never be long enough.”

“Sometimes you really do know how to say the perfect things,” she whispers, wrapping her hands around my face to tilt my head back even more.

“It’s easy when I have the perfect girl,” I tell her, staring into her gorgeous eyes.

Pressing her forehead to mine, she rolls her head back and forth then slides her cheek next to mine before she seals our mouths together in the most delicious, appreciative kiss. She ends it too quickly, but at least I know there will be more, and soon if I have anything to say about it.

“What am I going to do with you?” she murmurs against my lips.

“Well, it’s really pretty simple—I mean I am a simple guy.” I suck a little harder on her bottom lip while running my hands up and down her back, and then I stop them on her ass, pulling her a little closer. “I told you on the day we met, don’t you remember? The two Fs, food and fu—”

“Stop right there.” She jerks back, covers my mouth with her hand, and I chuckle.

“Why? It’s the truth,” I mumble behind her fingers just before I lick her palm. She attempts to snatch it away, but I grasp her to me and lock my legs around her.

“Wanna know my truth?” she asks, gray eyes flaring, attitude present with each word.

“Always, sunshine. Always.” I’m still grinning; I can’t help it.

She then surprises me by smearing her wet hand across my face, and this time I openly laugh.

Lying back, I pull her down on top of me. Her elbows frame my face as she glares down at me, but my affection for her has expanded so much when I didn’t think it possibly could any more.

“I love you,” I tell her, and the glare drops only to be replaced with tenderness and reverence.

“And I love you,” she says, threading her fingers in my hair.

“Do you love me enough to make me some breakfast?” I ask hopefully.

“What do you want?” She drops down so her face is buried in my neck, and I wrap my arms around her to hug her.

“Biscuits and gravy?” I mean, if I don’t ask, I’ll never get it, and doesn’t that just sound so good right now?

“Always starving for Southern, aren’t you?” She shakes her head, and I hug her tighter.

“I can’t help it. You’ve bewitched me. I can’t get enough of your Southern food, or my Southern girl.” I kiss her temple and she sighs.

“I like it when you call me yours.” Her breath is warm against my skin, and I force myself to stay focused on what I’ve just asked for—her feeding me food instead of herself.

“Well, you are mine. You’ve always been mine.”

She rises up, her hair tickling my face, and she smiles down at me. “And for that—for not giving up on me—I will make you your breakfast, even though I’d rather be sleeping.”

She climbs off the bed and finds my shirt on the floor. I watch, completely enamored as she slips it on and rolls up the sleeves. It’s so long on her she could put on a belt and wear it as a dress, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s sexy as hell.

“We can sleep after that. Just think about how much better it’ll be with a full stomach.” I stand and rub mine animatedly.

Her eyes travel down the length of me, and I watch as she tightens her hands into fists before she turns for the door. “If you say so.”

“I do say so.” Grabbing my boxer briefs off the floor, I tug them on while telling her, “Listen to your best friend—he knows what he’s talking about.”

With those words, she stops moving and turns back to look at me. “You are my best friend. That hasn’t changed.” If she’s nervous about this, she shouldn’t be.