Have I ever had a man wait for me?
No.
Have I ever had a man travel cross-country to apologize?
No.
Then again, I’ve never in my life had one sneak out before daylight with barely a farewell. Certainly never had one leave a stack of cash—both were a first. Both really unpleasant.
I’m no fool. I know he’s the kind of guy who is going to fuck up on a regular basis because he’s young and impulsive and says the dumbest shit, but his heart?
Lord, his heart.
He’s got a good one. I have no doubts about that.
I set the keys by my flowers on the counter next to the door when I step inside. Locking the back door behind me, I turn off the porch light.
The house is eerily quiet.
So quiet, I tiptoe up the stairs, thinking I’m being extra sneaky; maybe he doesn’t know I’m home yet, and I’ll catch him off guard.
It’s been days and days since I’ve given Duke a good scare, and he deserves one.
When I’m at the top of the stairs in front of my bedroom door, I begin unzipping my shirt in the back, prepared to peel it over my head and toss it to the floor super sexy like.
I half expect Duke and his hot, naked body to be propped up on a few pillows to greet me, waiting to go down on me to show his appreciation. I don’t want to be as bold as to say I deserve it but—
I kind of do.
Oh relax, I’ll return the favor…
Shirt untucked, my lips curve into a smile when I enter the room, eyes homing in on the man who shocked my entire group of friends by crashing our girls’ night out in a Jerry Maguire-style apology.
Sort of a grand gesture if I’ve ever seen one.
Duke is tucked beneath the covers, only the top half of his torso revealed, his bare chest slowly moving up and down.
Tan chest sprinkled with hair.
Thick arms, one hand tucked under his chin as he…
Sleeps.
Seriously?
He fell asleep?
It’s not even ten o’clock!
Kicking off my shoes and setting them near the closet, I climb onto the bed on hands and knees, leaning over to kiss him on the forehead, gauging to see if he’ll stir.
He doesn’t.
In fact, he begins to snore like a hibernating bear, and I’d feel like an asshole for waking him up just to tell him I’m home.
Ugh.
I climb back off the bed so I can go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, and remove my makeup. After taking everything off, I return to bed, hitting the lights before climbing under the covers.