High Society Secrets (The Sterling Wives Book 2), стр. 40
He took her hand and they tiptoed back downstairs to the kitchen. Clay opened that promised bottle of wine and poured them each a glass. Astrid traded him a candy bar from her sweater pocket. Amusement flickered in his eyes.
“You totally have my number,” he said, then popped it into his mouth.
“Do I?” She still wasn’t sure.
He cupped the side of her head with his hand, rubbing his thumb back and forth over her cheek, sending her heart racing. “You do. You were such a lifesaver tonight.”
“It was just some braids. I was happy to do it.”
“It’s more than that. You didn’t hesitate to drop everything, jump in your car and get over here.”
She leaned into his warmth as he pressed her against the kitchen counter, and she gazed up into his eyes. “I’d do anything for you or Delia. I care about you both deeply.” It was liberating to come out with the truth.
“I care about you, too. So much.” He kissed her softly, his tongue tracing the contour of her lower lip. “I want you to stay tonight.”
She wanted so badly to accept the invitation. His kisses and touch were everything...it would be so easy to say yes and ask him to take her upstairs. But she had to be sure he was thinking about what he was saying. She had to be sure this was real. “But Delia. I don’t want you to forget about the things you’ve tried so hard to protect. Your daughter. And your heart.” She smoothed her hand across his chest. “Those are not unimportant things.”
He pulled his head back, contemplative and even a bit brooding, showing her shades of the conflicted man he was when they first met. “I know. You’re right, they are important.” His eyes shifted to an even darker hue. The color had to be reflecting at least some of the struggle inside him.
“So take a minute to think about what tomorrow morning might be like when she wakes up and sees me in the house. Think about what you will say. If we cross that bridge, there’s no going back.” She sucked in a gulp of air, wondering if her inner conflict came close to matching his. “It’s okay if you tell me you’re not ready. But it’s not okay for you to tell me tomorrow that you want to return to sneaking around the office or meeting up at my place. I don’t want to force you into anything, but I do think I deserve that much.” She held her breath, not knowing how he was going to take the ultimatum. She’d suggested they take things slow, but she’d never meant for them to go backwards. She needed forward movement in her life now.
“You deserve more than that. So much more.”
What was he saying? Was he about to make his old argument about how he couldn’t give her what she wanted and needed? “What does that mean, Clay?”
Without warning, he swept her up into his arms. He looked her right in the eye, his eyes full of promises. Astrid’s heart was beating so fiercely she could feel it from her head to her toes. “It means that I’m all in.”
Twelve
Clay called Miranda on Monday morning as he was driving into work. “How’s the best sister in the world?” he asked over speakerphone.
“Excuse me? Who is this?”
“Oh, come on. You know who it is.”
Miranda tittered on the other end of the phone. “I know what the caller ID says, but you don’t sound at all like yourself.”
He sucked in a deep breath, preparing to send this bit of news out into the world. “I’m in love.”
Miranda gasped. “No!”
“It’s the truth.” Having made his confession, he told Miranda all about the weekend with Astrid staying over at the house. He told her how it had put all remaining shreds of worry to rest. Astrid did more than fit perfectly into his life with Delia, she made it better. He loved seeing the two of them together, talking, laughing and having fun. Beyond that, the moments when it was just the two of them were pure magic. Astrid made everyone around her happier, especially him.
“Oh, my God. I am so happy to hear this. What did she say when you told her?”
He hadn’t yet admitted his feelings to Astrid, but he’d said it to himself several times over the course of the weekend. It initially came as a surprise, but it had ultimately come naturally, which was exactly what he’d hoped for. He hadn’t pushed it. It made sense to both his heart and his logical brain. “I haven’t told her. Not yet. I need to find the right time.” He also had to decide what went along with those three little words. A ring? An invitation to move in? She’d wanted to take things slow, but right now, he wanted to step on the gas.
“Clay, I have been waiting to hear this for what feels like forever. I’m ridiculously happy.”
He pulled his car into the parking garage at Sterling Enterprises. “Well, good. I’m super happy, too.”
“I have to go check my email and get into the office, but let’s talk later, okay?”
“Sounds like a plan.” Clay climbed out of his car. He strode into the building and hopped on the elevator, fighting back an irrational desire to whistle. He was not the sort of guy who did that. The doors slid open when he reached the Sterling offices. “Good morning,” he said to Roz, the receptionist, stopping at her desk.
Roz peered up at him, bewildered. “Good morning, Mr. Morgan. Can I help you with something?”
“No. I just realized that I rarely take the time to thank you for everything you do to make the office run so smoothly.”
“Thank you. It’s nice to hear you say that.”
He started off down the hall, realizing he’d