* Kellan *
After the most physically and emotionally fulfilling sex of my entire life, I quickly passed out with Allie snuggled in my arms and a giant smile on my face. A few hours later, my eyes snapped open as a strange
shiver ran through me.
I was already in love with her. I’d intended to keep things casual and slow, but there was absolutely no denying what had just happened between us. These feelings could not be explained in any other way.
It was definitely love. And my gorgeous Allie was clearly feeling it as much as I was.
And there was another thing. I couldn’t think of her without imagining her as mine. Permanently.
It was completely the wrong time to be thinking of a life-long commitment. I was only thirty-one, and supposed to be focused on my business. I’d just been watching my brother go through all kinds of weird crap because he fell for a woman too hard and too fast.
Turning my head to nuzzle my lips across the top of Allie’s hair, I forced myself to take a deep breath and relax. She wasn’t like that.
Allie wasn’t manipulative or controlling. She didn’t want me to be anything that I wasn’t. Since this was her first relationship, there was no way that she would want anything serious immediately.
I forced myself to go back to sleep, but kept waking up every hour or so. Maybe the controlling part of my mind didn’t want to enjoy the process of falling in love with this beautiful, incredible girl.
Finally I noticed that her bedside clock said seven-thirty, so I rolled slowly out of bed without waking Allie. Reaching out to tuck a wavy piece of hair away from her delicate face, I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. I needed to relax, and just let our relationship happen.
Grabbing my clothes, I got dressed in the living room, then rummaged in her kitchen. I was on my second cup of coffee, reading the news on my phone on the couch, when her door opened.
“Hey, sleepy girl,” I said.
Allie looked so precious in a rumpled old t-shirt and baggy shorts that weren’t hiding her curves. “Hi.” She darted into the washroom, and I sat back to look around her living room.
Tons of books, knickknacks, a few photos. Everything was very cozy and warm, and it was clear that purple was her favorite color. Then I noticed a stack of notebooks on a shelf, surrounded by a mug of pens, some weird little patterned tape rolls, and colored markers.
Standing up, I meant to take a closer look at the strange glitter tape, but when my knee hit the coffee table, a notebook flipped onto the floor.
Picking it up, I smoothed out the page that had bent when it fell. I didn’t mean to, but my eyes leapt to a few lines.
Manifesting a man. A solid relationship.
Boyfriend material, husband potential.
Owns his own business, or has a career. Must have some direction in life.
A go-getter who takes care of things.
Setting the book back on the table, I turned just as Allie was coming out of the washroom.
“I should probably go,” I said quickly. “I have to check on the deliveries for all three bars.”
“Oh, all right.”
I wasn’t sure whether she was disappointed or not. Slipping my shoes on, I gave her a quick kiss, then wrapped my arms around her. Her body felt so good against mine. So right. But what if she wasn’t?
I needed to tell her that I was completely falling for her. But if I wasn’t what she was looking for, was it even worth getting both of our hopes up? If she was looking for an instant husband, I could not be that for her.
“Have a great day, gorgeous,” I murmured, giving her one more kiss before rushing out the door. I really did need to check on the deliveries, but first I went to the gym for a few hours to drive the worries straight out of me.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
* Allie *
I wasn’t sure whether Kellan had been acting a little odd when he left so quickly, or whether that was normal with him. Or with men.