“Yes. Definitely.” She nodded, still appearing perplexed. “That sounds good.”
“I’ll drive.” He grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. He didn’t want her confused or sorry. He wanted her happy to see him, to have him back into her life.
“But my car…”
“We can leave it here and I’ll help you get it later,” he said, his voice firm. No way was she not leaving with him. He didn’t want to let her out of his sight for a good long time.
Preferably forever.
She didn’t argue, thank goodness. “Okay, that sounds good. Perfect.”
Perfect. Yes, he hoped this would end up perfectly. Otherwise he’ll feel like a perfect failure.
And that was the last thing he wanted to deal with.
Chapter Nine
Her apartment was small but cute. Decorated sparsely, but still with Reagan’s personality shining through, what with the framed photos on her bookshelf and the bursts of bright colors in the pillows that were scattered across her pale gray couch.
“Nice place,” he said as she shut the door behind him. The entire drive to her apartment building they’d made small talk, never saying anything important, which had driven him nuts.
All he wanted to do was confess his undying devotion to her, but they were still making stupid idle conversation.
“Thank you. It’s nothing outrageous, but it’s mine.” She walked ahead of him into the small kitchen, calling over her shoulder, “Want something to drink?”
“No.”
She turned on her heel and studied him, her eyes wide, her expression unsure. “What do you want, then?”
Did she really have to ask? Guess she did. Tired of messing around, he went for it.
“You,” he said softly. “That’s all I want Reagan, is you. I know I’m probably moving too fast and possibly freaking you out, but I can’t help it. Since we left Vegas I’ve thought of nothing else but returning to you. I worked on the movie, tried to lose myself in the character, but you haunted my thoughts, my dreams.”
The look on her face was nothing short of horrified. “Don’t tell me I…hurt you somehow with this role.”
“No, no, no. The great thing is, my character needed something to want. Something that was frustrating him because it was always out of his grasp.” Declan smiled. “That was you. You became the one thing I couldn’t have but I so desperately wanted. I channeled all of my energy into wanting you into the role and it…it fucking worked.” Beautifully, he might add, but he didn’t want to brag. More than anything, he didn’t want to jinx it.
But he was proud of the work he’d just completed. The movie was going to do well. He could feel it in his bones.
“Wow. So I guess I was sort of your…muse?” Her brow wrinkled.
“Definitely my muse.” He approached her carefully, not wanting to startle her. He had her in his arms only a few minutes ago when they were still at the ER. Now he wanted her back. “You’re my everything, Reagan. You might not believe me, but it’s the truth. That weekend was like…”
“The best weekend you’ve ever had?” she finished for him with a little smile.
“Yeah.” He grabbed hold of her waist and hauled her into him, her arms going around him in return. “I didn’t know I could fall for a woman so quickly, but I did.”
“I fell for you too,” she admitted, keeping her head bent as she ran her hands along his chest, heat sparking wherever she touched him.
“Are you still falling for me?” He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Because I’m still falling for you, Reagan. I want to get to know you better. I want to spend time with you and see where this takes us. Do you want the same?”
She pressed her lips together until she couldn’t contain it anymore and her face broke out in a huge smile. “Yes. Yes, I definitely want the same.”
He kissed her as his answer, his tongue delving, his hands roaming. She felt so good, all of those abundant curves nestled close to him. She wiggled against him, making his cock hard as steel, and he groaned, clamping his arms around her waist hard to keep her still.
“You’re driving me crazy,” he whispered when he finally broke the kiss.
“I’m only trying to get away from you because I wanted to tell you I need to change.” He let his arms drop and she stepped back. “Look at me. I’m still in my scrubs. I’m all sweaty and dirty after my shift.”