Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Never been in love before. That was a stunning admission from a man who’d been seen in the company of starlets, royals, and CEOs. Suddenly, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I didn’t want to hold back.
I scooted to the edge of my seat and cupped his jaw in my hands. “You’ve changed my life, too, Gavin. More than once. You saved my life before I ever met you in the flesh. Then again when you helped me discover that I was more than smart and capable Suzie. You helped me discover the woman I was meant to be.”
I pressed my forehead to his and sighed because I didn’t know how to do this, how to bare my soul to one of the most famous men on the planet. But I wanted this man, this chance. Right here and now.
“You gave me the family I longed to have, Gavin. You gave me back myself, and now I’m giving you my heart. I love you, too. With everything I am, everything I have to give, I love you.”
“Suzie,” he growled and leaned forward, pressing his lips to mine.
It was like we were kissing for the first time. His lips felt new, his tongue against mine was like undiscovered territory, new and exciting. A revelation.
I leaned into his kiss, accepted the love he poured into me and gave it back ten-fold because I knew, deep in my heart, that this was what it was supposed to be. Love. It was supposed to be exciting and all-encompassing. It was meant to make your heart feel so full you thought it might burst. But I knew it wouldn’t, because it was in the very strong, incredibly capable hands of one Gavin Ross.
He pulled back with a slow smile that heated me from head to toe. “I have something for you.”
I shook my head. “I don’t need fancy gifts, Gavin. All I need is you, as much of you as I can get.”
Gavin chuckled and tapped the tip of my nose. “That’s another thing I love about you, Suzie Q, you make me work hard as hell to impress you and I’m better for it.” He leaned back and dug into the duffel bag and produced a medium-sized box. “But it took me some time to track this down and I’m pretty sure you’ll love it.”
“That confident in how well you know me, rock star?” I removed the lid and groaned. “I hope this isn’t a little black dress that I’m at least a year away from being able to fit into.”
Gavin snorted. “Give me a little credit.”
I pushed away the tissue paper to find an envelope. I didn’t know what to expect, but the look on Gavin’s face forced me to slow my movements. I flipped open the tab and frowned. It was a photo or a document. I smiled up at him. “An autographed photo of my favorite musician?”
His lips pulled into a smile even as he rolled his eyes at me. “Guess again. Or, better yet, pull it out.”
I didn’t pull it out, I turned the envelope upside down and let the heavy paper slide out. “Gavin,” I gasped and put my hand to my mouth as the photo fell on top of the tissue paper. It was two faces I barely remembered. A wedding photo of a young couple, their features played along the outskirts of my memory. “Gavin, this is…” I had no words to describe what I was feeling.
“Your mother and father on their wedding day. The photographer, thank goodness, was a bit of a hoarder and when I told him what I was looking for and why, he dug into his collection and found it. Eventually.” His sheepish smile was adorable. It was absolutely heart-melting.
My eyes landed on the photo once again, my heart so full I could barely breathe. “They look so young. So happy and in love.” I could barely remember them, but this photo brought back the little bit I could. “I can’t believe you did this, Gavin. This is special and amazing, and it tells me you are exactly the man I think you are.”
“Aww, shucks.”
He was so silly and sweet and charming. I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed tight because I never wanted him to think he wasn’t worthy of my heart, my love. “I mean it. This is the most thoughtful gift I could have ever imagined. And the fact that you listened, well… I love you and I’m never letting you go.”
He flashed a satisfied smile and pushed his chest against mine. “I’m gonna hold you to that, Suzie Q.”
“Hold me however you want, Gavin.”
He smiled and pressed a chaste kiss to my cheek, keeping one arm around me as he nodded for the box. “It’s not empty yet, is it?”