He keeps his eyes on the road as he navigates the rush-hour traffic. “There’s a good reason for that.”
“There is?”
He stops at a red light and turns to face me. “Yes.”
“What may that be?” I ask, keeping my tone light.
“I want you to move in with me.”
20
What? I can’t believe my ears. Did I just hear him ask me to move in with him?
Alex frowns. “You don’t look happy.”
He did say it then. I swallow hard, trying to wrangle my wildly spinning thoughts. “It’s not that I’m not enjoying spending time with you, but moving in together is a huge step.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Your point is?”
“I thought you weren’t the dating type.”
The light changes. He focuses back on the road and steps on the gas. “I told you that you’re different. I thought we were giving us a shot.”
“Yes, but isn’t moving in a bit hasty? We barely know each other.”
He changes gears smoothly, moving into the fast lane when we reach Ocean Parkway. “I know we’re right for each other. Why wait when I know what I want?” He gives me a sidelong glance. “Unless it’s not what you want.”
It meaning him. “It’s not that.” I chew my bottom lip, searching for the right words. “You’ve just sprung this on me a bit suddenly.”
His lips tilt in that sexy way that makes me want to kiss the corner of his mouth. “Unexpectedly?”
“Yes.”
He cups my hand where it lies on my thigh. “Take some time to think about it today. You can give me your answer later.”
“How much later?”
He flashes me a warm, reassuring smile. “Whenever you’re ready. I don’t want to rush you into anything you don’t want.”
The declaration eases my tension, and I relax back into the seat, even as my mind continues spinning. It’s a lot to process. We only met a few weeks ago, and he told me he doesn’t date. What was supposed to be a one-night stand has quickly turned into so much more. And I’ve been wanting more, but we’re moving forward in giant leaps.
“Just to be clear,” I say. “Does that mean we’re dating?”
“Yes,” he says as if the answer is obvious. “We’re exclusive and spending our free time together, so by general understanding, that makes me your boyfriend.”
Another rush of giddiness saturates my chest. “Then that makes me your girlfriend.”
He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my fingers. “Correct. You, Katherine Morrell, are officially my girlfriend. A first and only for me, may I add.”
His first and only girlfriend. I like that statement a little too much.
“Here we go,” he says, pulling up at the ER. “I’ll fetch you after your shift. We’ll have an early dinner so I can put you to bed. You need to catch up on your rest.”
“Thank you.” I’m already leaning over to kiss him when a thought hits me. “Wait.” I pull back. “How did you know when my shift starts?”
“I checked with the ER. As your boyfriend, your schedule is something I should know, don’t you think?”
I open my mouth to argue that working hours are confidential, but before I can get a word out, he cups my nape, drags me closer, and presses our mouths together. His lips are warm and soft, but the kiss is firm and demanding. Sparks ignite in my stomach, and in an instant, heat gathers in my core. A moan escapes my lips, betraying my arousal. He tightens his fingers on the back of my neck and deepens the kiss, making me forget where we are or why we’re here. I want to climb over the console and into his lap to relieve the ache building between my legs. I want to crawl inside him, and even then, it won’t be enough.
It’s Alex who keeps enough of a level head to bring the kiss to a halt and tear away from me. Brushing a thumb over my bottom lip, he says roughly, “I’ll miss you all fucking day long.”
If I smile any harder, my face is going to split. “I’ll miss you too.”
He stares at me for another moment before retracting his hand. “If I don’t let you go now, a lot of sick people are going to be short of a very capable nurse.”
The compliment makes me glow. I love my job and I enjoy working hard.
He plants a kiss on my forehead before coming around and getting my door. “See you tonight, Katyusha.”
“Later,” I say, all but floating on a cloud to the door.
When I glance back from the elevator, he’s still leaning on his car with his arms and ankles crossed, watching me through the glass doors. I wave, earning another one of his sexy, crooked smiles. The elevator arrives with a ping. People push outside. I get in with a large group, holding his gaze until the doors shut out his image.