She said goodbye and hung up, putting the phone back on the nightstand. When she turned to face me, she was wearing a stunned look and nothing else.
“What was that about?” I asked.
“It was one of the agents I sent my manuscript to.” She still seemed more shocked than excited, her cheeks pale and her expression tight. “They want to sign me as a client. They think they can sell my book to a publisher.”
“Really?” I sat up. “Wow. Congratulations.”
“I can’t believe it. They’ve only had the manuscript for two weeks. I assumed I’d have to wait months for an answer.”
“They must have loved it.”
She finally broke a smile, the movement slow and uncertain, like the shock was gradually starting to wear off but she wasn’t entirely sure whether she could let excitement take its place.
“They wanted to know what I’m working on now.” She grabbed a T-shirt off her dresser and pulled it on. “That’s good, right?”
“They’ve clearly recognized your brilliance.” I was trying not to be distracted by the fact she was wearing nothing but a T-shirt that barely skimmed the top of her thighs, but honestly? A large part of my brain was entirely devoted to thoughts about how sexy she looked.
“I didn’t know what to tell them. I mean, I thought about telling them my romance novel idea, but maybe they want a sequel to the murder book. I was afraid to suggest anything in case I said the wrong thing.” She bit her lip, widening her eyes in sudden panic. “What if I can’t write another book? What if I only had one in me?”
“Don’t worry about that. I know you can do it.”
She was still chewing her lip, still looking worried. “If I take the job in Chicago, I’ll have to do lots of overtime. They’ll expect me to prove myself all over again, which will mean getting in early and staying late. I might have to work weekends, and I want to spend any spare time with you. How will I be able to write a whole new book?”
“This is good news. Enjoy it. I promise we’ll figure something out.”
She nodded, starting to pace up and down next to the bed. Her breasts bounced under the T-shirt and I got tantalizing flashes of the tops of her thighs. She had extremely nice thighs. And the part where they met the rest of her body was even nicer.
“This is my dream.” She lifted both arms, making her T-shirt rise in a very tempting way. “I mean, this is what I was too scared to dream about because I never thought it would happen. This isn’t just a dream, it’s… what’s bigger than a dream?”
“Destiny?” I suggested, remembering what I’d just been thinking about her and me.
“Exactly. And now I have a one-in-a-million chance to make it happen. Do you know how hard it is to get an agent, especially one that good? It’s impossible. Nobody gets one. And I really mean nobody.”
“That proves how brilliant you are.”
I wanted to tell her not to go to Chicago and to write another book instead, but I wasn’t sure my motives were pure. If she didn’t go to Chicago, we’d get to spend more time together. I was trying to be impartial, but it was hard when I had a chance to convince her to stay.
“What do you want to do?” I asked.
“I want to write books.”
“More than you want to be a journalist?”
She nodded. “I think so. I know I want to make the most of this opportunity. And if I stay here to write, we’ll get to be together.”
“The thought had occurred to me,” I admitted. “But I don’t want to hold you back, or convince you to do something just because it’s what I want.”
Her smile was slowly getting wider and more excited. “I’d kick myself if I didn’t give this a serious shot.”
I smiled back. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”
“And although I’m doing it for me, I have to admit you’re a factor, because I’d be miserable without you. And I’m serious about us. I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. We can make sacrifices for each other if we want to, and if we do, it’s okay. It feels right.”
She was pacing again, and it was almost like she was speaking to herself. I lay back on the bed, my hands behind my head. Her expression was intense as she analyzed all the angles. I loved how smart and passionate she was. And did I mention how much I loved the crease between her thighs and her buttocks?
“Thanks to the lease for Mack’s Place, I’ll have enough money to live on while I write.” She muttered it, not to me, but to the wall she was pacing toward. “I wanted to spend the money on Dad’s kitchen, but if I stay, I’ll need enough for food and expenses.”
“Move in with me and rent your place out,” I suggested.
She stopped abruptly, swinging to face me. “What?”
“Move in with me.”
Her lips parted. Then she swallowed. “But is it too soon?”
“Honey, you’re wearing my ring. We may not be officially engaged yet, but we will be. Soon.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you, or not pulling my weight—”
“Stop.” I sat up, throwing off the bed clothes. “I don’t want you to worry about taking advantage, or owing me anything. Everything I have, you now have too. Period.” I raised my eyebrows. “Oh, and by the way, about the money? We have a lot of it.”
She chewed her lip, her expression uncertain. “I know we’re partners now, but we should ease into that kind of stuff.”
“Nope.” Getting out of bed, I pulled her against my naked body. She was warm and soft in my arms and I experienced a moment
