I pull into her drive and cut the lights, but don't move to turn off the truck or pull away from her. Instead, I put my arm around her and she snuggles closer, burrowing into my chest. I'll sit here all fucking night if she'll let me.
"I guess I need to go inside," she finally says.
"Nah, we're good right here."
She chuckles softly. "All night?"
"All fucking weekend if we stay right like this." I kiss the top of her head.
This causes her to pull away and look up at me. "What are we doing, Crew?"
Reaching out, I tuck a stray curl behind her ear. "Falling," I whisper. The word just falls from my lips without thought.
"That wasn't the plan."
"Plans change, beautiful."
She starts to speak, but Barry and Maggie pull into the drive, so she sits up and pulls away. "I'll see you Monday," she says, sliding toward her door. Before I can stop her, Barry is there opening it for her. I grip the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white. I don't want to fucking leave her, and it makes it worse to know he's here with her and I'm not. "Night," she says with a small wave before closing the door.
Fuck this. I hop out of the truck. "Berklee!" She stops and turns. "You forgot something," I say, not quite as loud, and it works. She heads toward me while Barry and Maggie head inside.
"What did I forget?" she asks, looking down at my hands.
"This." One hand on her hip, the other on the back of her neck, I pull her in to me and kiss her. I put all the desperation I feel into the kiss, my grip on her hip tight. I hold her to me, my hand under those beautiful curls, caressing the soft skin of her neck. I steal her breath as it mingles with mine.
Her hands on my chest, pushing back, has me slowing the kiss but not letting her go.
"Wow," she murmurs.
"Sweet dreams, beautiful." I kiss her one more time, just a simple taste of her lips before I reluctantly let her go.
"Night." She looks up at me wearing a dazed smile.
Leaning in, I give her yet one more kiss. "Night." I release my hold on her and watch until she's in the house before getting back in my truck and driving away without her.
IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT and I'm home alone. By choice, mind you. Maggie's on a date with a new guy she met through one of her sub jobs. He's a teacher too, so that sounds promising. Barry is . . . I don't really know, but he's not here.
I need the time to think about Crew and what's happening. He's says that he's falling, but what does that mean? Is his heart falling, or is he falling more in lust with this agreement we've made? My heart votes for door number one, but I won't let it.
I've just settled on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn and my Kindle when my phone alerts me to a message. My heart skips a beat when I see his name on the screen.
Crew: What are you doing?
I decide to show him, snapping a picture and sending it to him.
Crew: Wild Saturday night.
Me: Ha! Not hardly. A night in is exactly what I needed.
Crew: Me too. Next week being opening week and all.
Me: We're ready.
Crew: I agree.
I don't really know what else to say. He reached out to me, so I set my phone on the arm of the couch, grab a handful of popcorn and wait. I've barely stuffed my mouth full when my phone pings again.
Crew: Can I see you?
Be still my heart. If I've learned anything about Crew Ledger, it's that he rarely asks permission for anything.
Me: When?
Crew: Now. I'm a few minutes from your place.
Shit! I look down at my boy shorts and tank top. My hair is in a knot on top of my head and I have zero makeup on.
Me: You okay?
I need to ask because maybe there's something wrong. Maybe he needs a friend or there's an issue with the club. It can't be what I think it is.
Crew: No. I miss you.
Me: Yes.
My fingers typed those three letters and hit Send before I could think about what I was doing. Staring down at the screen, I realize he's on his way. I hop off the couch and barely avoid spilling my huge bowl of popcorn, my Kindle not as lucky as it clanks to the floor. I grab it and the popcorn and get them safely on the table when there's a knock at the door. Standing tall, I take a deep breath and head that way.
Opening the door, he's standing there, hands over his head, holding onto the frame. Neither of us says as word as he takes me in, my eyes on him while his travel over every inch of me. I watch his throat as he swallows hard before his eyes rake back up my body. "You're fucking breathtaking," he croaks out.
"You want to come in?"
He drops his hands and reaches for me as he steps through the door. "We alone?"
"Yeah," I manage to answer as his hands roam over my body.