“Good thing Matt doesn’t spoil you, huh?” Laughing, she poured some cat biscuits into a clean bowl, washed the dirty dish and headed for her bedroom.
Unusually, Matt wasn’t in the bed. Realising that he must have gotten up early and left for whatever reason - she knew he wasn’t working that day - Lori headed for the shower. By the time she returned Matt was reclining back in the bed, his dark hair tousled, his grin lazy, and his eyes holding a wicked gleam.
“Got plans?” Lori asked, secretly pleased to see him.
Somehow her days didn’t end or start right without Matt being in there somewhere. He had the power to make her smile, laugh, and yes, do naughty things that made her blush if she thought about them while at work. He also made her feel safe and protected, he made her heart warm, her days brighter, her nights sweeter, and she couldn’t imagine life without him.
It was this last thought, a sudden fear that had her dropping her dressing gown and scurrying across the room to leap into the bed.
“Now that’s the kind of greeting I’m talking about.” Laughing, Matt kissed her soundly.
Arms around his neck, she hugged him hard.
As though sensing her slight distress, he pulled back a little to look at her. “Hey, hey. Are you all right, love?”
How could he know her so well? “Of course.” She smiled at him, not wanting him to know how silly she was being. “Just a little tired, you know.”
He studied her. “You’re sure?”
“Yep.”
Dougie chose that moment to jump onto the bed and she rubbed his head before he settled at the side of the bed, stretching out impressively. “This feels so perfect.” She rested her head on Matt’s shoulder. “I never want it to end.”
“Truly?” he asked softly.
“Truly.”
“Then make yourself more comfortable.” He flipped the doona back and patted the area between his thighs. “Let’s snuggle.”
More than happy to comply, Lori climbed over his leg and settled down with her back to his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Lean on me, love.”
Within no time she was resting back against him, safe and protected in his arms, his back against the headboard. With the doona around their waists, the bed warm and snug, Dougie purring like a motorcycle about to fall apart, it was just perfect.
Matt’s fingers stoked through her hair. “Happy?”
“Immensely.”
“You know what we need?”
“What?”
“A bigger bed.”
“Because Dougie takes up so much space?”
“Yep.”
She grinned. “Agreed.”
“We also should make room in your wardrobe for my things.”
“We should?”
“Yeah. Hanging them over your chair means I have to iron my uniform shirts.”
“Poor baby.”
“And we should make room in your garage for my car.”
“Getting a little presumptuous, aren’t you?”
“I pay rent next door when I practically live here.”
“True. Very true.”
“And I was thinking…” He played with her fingers.
Eyes half closed, she nestled closer against him. “Yes?”
“We should make this legal.” The words were accompanied by something sooth and cold sliding onto her finger.
Had she heard right? Opening her eyes, Lori stared at her finger. Was that a…?
Leaning forward over her shoulder, his lips brushed her cheek. “Marry me, Lori.”
Stunned, she could only stare at the diamond engagement ring adorning her finger. “Marry you?”
His hand moved up to cup her cheek, turning her head to face him. “I want this to last forever, too, Lori.”
His words sank in and she pushed back enough to look up at him. “You want to marry me?”
“I love you.”
Those simple words accompanied by the look of complete love in his eyes sank right into her, touching her heart and bringing forth the love she’d kept hidden.
“Oh, Matt.” Reaching up, she touched his jaw.
For the first time, he looked uncertain. “You will marry me?”
“Matt, I love you. I have for a long time. I just didn’t say anything because I was afraid I’d scare you way.”
“Scare me away?”
“Everything was so perfect, I didn’t want it to end.”
His eyes warmed. “It’s never going to end, love. This is just the beginning.”
Lowering his head, he kissed her. Not hard, not fast, just a slow, gentle kiss that was so caring, so loving, that Lori felt as though her heart would burst.
Lifting her arm, she slid her hand behind his nape, tugging him down so she could deepen the kiss.
“I love you, Lori,” he whispered against her lips.
“I love you more, Matt.”
“Impossible.”
“Really?”
“Bet your sweet arse on it.”
She laughed.
One twist of his body and Matt had her on the bed beneath him. Framing her face with his hands, he smiled lovingly down at her. “Besides, I’m saving you from the town gossips.”
“Oh, really?” She ran her hands down his back, enjoying watching his eyes darken with desire at the simple touch.
Oh, how she enjoyed touching him.
“Yep. Mrs Hubble is starting to get scandalised at me being here at indecent hours.”
“Is that what you heard?”
“I can tell. She looks at me. I feel dirty.” He winked. “Very dirty.”
“Guess I’m slipping from the sweet, shy girl who never does wrong into a girl just as dirty as the local paramedic.”
“Just lean on me, love. We’ll be slipping together, but I won’t let you fall.”
“Promise?”
“Bet your sweet arse on it.”
“My, you do have a way with words, Mr Winters.”
“I can do a lot with my mouth, Miss Mackay.”
“I wasn’t aware we were talking about your mouth.”
“What can I say?” His grin was darkly wicked. “I’m great at multi-tasking.”
####
BIO
Angela Verdenius lives in Australia, where she is ruled by her cats, adores reading, and thinks a perfect day is writing and drinking Diet Coke, followed by reading or a good horror movie.
To date, she has written numerous novels in sci-fi romance series and BBW contemporary romances, 2 novellas, and several short stories, one of which is a zombie story she had great fun writing. Her books have won many reviewers’ awards, as well as having been on the Fictionwise best-seller list and winning the Golden Rose Award.
For more information about Angela’s books, visit:
Her website at http://www.angelaverdenius.com/
The lighter side of life on her blog http://angelaverdenius.blogspot.com/
And her Author Page at Amazon.com
Keep reading for listings of books available in ebook and print.
OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR
The full length novels below are available in assorted ebook formats as well as paperback.
The short stories and one novella is available in ebook only.
BBW Romances
Big Girls Lovin’ trilogy
Doctor’s Delight
Cop’s Passion
Vet’s Delight
The Lawson Boys duet
The Lawson Boys: Alex
The Lawson Boys: Marty
The Virgin Sex Queen
The Mackay Sisters duet
Call on Me
Lean on Me
Heart & Soul sci-fi/futuristic romance series
Heart of an Outlaw
Soul of a Mercenary
Heart of the Betrayed
Love’s Sweet Assassin
Soul of a Hunter
Love’s Bewitching Thief
Heart of the Forsa
ken
Soul of a Witch
Heart of a Traitor
Soul of the Forgotten
Love’s Beguiling Healer
Heart of a Peacekeeper
Soul of a Predator
Love’s Winsome Warrior
Heart of a Smuggler
Soul of a Guardian
Love, Heart & Soul Moments
Shattered Soul
Novellas - Operation Seduction (BBW) (ebook only)
Blast from the Past
Short Stories - Zombie Hospital (ebook only)
Perceptions (free) (ebook only)
Lean on Me (The Mackay Sisters) Page 23
