Page 84 of Taking the Pitch
“It’s nothing, really. I just noticed that since we’ve met. You always call me Amelia, or Shortcake.” She pauses. Her finger traces faster over one of my tattoos. “Or Mills.” There’s a sadness in her voice on the last name. “But never Millie. I guess I’m just curious as to why?Everyonecalls me Millie.”
I pull back and reach under her chin, tipping it up so I can look into her eyes. “Because you’re Millie to everyone else. Tome, you’remyAmelia, my Shortcake, my Mills. And I don’t want to be just everyone to you. I want to besomeoneto you.”
The one.I think to myself.
Her eyes widen and her breath hitches. “Why?” she asks, like she can’t believe anyone would choose her.
“I think you know why, Mills. But we don’t have to talk about that yet. Let’s just spend time together and see where it takes us, okay?”
Her eyes flick down, and she pulls the corner of her lip into her mouth, worrying it with her teeth. My thumb pulls her lips out from between her teeth, and I trace over it, soothing the redness that’s already there. “I mean it, Amelia. We will go at your pace. Whatever that looks like.”
She nods her head, and I pull her back into my chest, wrapping my arms around her tightly. “What’s on your agenda for today? Besides the library and interview this afternoon.”
“I’m actually going to squeeze some writing in today after I shower. I’m finally feeling good about where I’m at with the story.” She picks her head up and looks at me, resting her chin on her hand that’s on my chest. “What about you?”
“Taking a shower with you and finishing the last few chapters of the book I’ve been reading.”
“Who said I was showering here?” she teases, giving me a smirk.
I swat her ass, making her yelp. “I did. Now get in the shower, woman.”
I’m about to throw her over my shoulder and carry her into the bathroom when we hear a ‘woof’ behind the closed bedroom door.
I drop my head and laugh. “Cock blocked again. Go get in the shower. I’ll join you after I’m done taking Bruno out and feeding him.”
She presses a kiss to my lips then, gets out of bed and walks naked to my bathroom. Pausing at the entrance, she looks back at me over her shoulder and says, “Don’t take too long, or I’ll have to take care of myself.” Then gives me a wink before sashaying her hips the rest of the way through the door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
amelia
Two orgasmsand five hours of writing later, Judd and I arrive at the library just as the dogs are getting there. I almost didn’t let Judd leave the house when he put that damn baseball hat on backwards. My vagina was screaming at me for one more round and I almost gave in. But the library needs us, so she can just wait until we get home later.
We make quick work of unloading and pottying the dogs, drying them all off the best we can with towels. The break in the weather was short-lived, and the rain is back in full force. But I can’t seem to bring myself to care because the last four days have been some of the best days I’ve had in a long, long time. And I know it’s because of Judd.
I’ve never been with someone who makes my soul feel alive and my heart at peace the way he does. The feelings I’m having both scare me and settle me all at once. Maybe, just maybe, Judd was right all along, and I’ve found my missing piece.
As if Judd knows I’m thinking about him, he looks up from where he’s currently sitting with Ruby and gives me a wink before going back to giving Ruby belly rubs.
“That boy is smitten with you,” Gladys says beside me, making me jump.
I bring my hand to my chest to slow the thundering of my heart. “Jesus, Gladys, you scared me.”
“Sorry, hun, I said your name.” She looks from me to Judd, and back to me. “Must have been distracted,” she teases, giving me a wink.
I feel the result of my embarrassment climb up my neck and heat my cheeks.
Gladys waves her hand dismissively. “Don’t be embarrassed, Millie. Young love is a beautiful thing.”
I open my mouth to protest but my spit goes down the wrong tube and I end up choking. After a few minutes of coughing and a cup of water that Gladys brings me, my coughing spell finally fades enough for me to speak. “We just started dating, Gladys. We’re not in love.”
Gladys places a hand on my shoulder. “Millie, can I tell you something my mother told me when I was dating my Peter?”
I nod. “Of course,” I tell her, patting her hand. Peter is Gladys’ late husband. He died about a year after my program started. He was ten years older than Gladys, which wasn’t as big of a deal as it can be nowadays. He was the sweetest man on earth and always brought Gladys fresh flowers every week and came to the library to volunteer when he could. When Peter was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and knew he didn’t have long, he asked me to help him set something up to make sure she still received her flowers every week after he was gone.
So, I did. I just never told either of them that I had the flower shop charge my account and I never will. She asked me once how Peter was able to do it because she didn’t see the charges coming out of their account. I shrugged and told her some things are just better left a mystery. Gladys lights up every time a new bouquet arrives. She brings the bouquets from the previous week to thelibrary to share with us and says it’s like a part of Peter is still able to visit the library.
“I had only gone on a few dates with Peter when I started feeling something for him. I thought it was just because the relationship was still new and exciting and would wear off over time.” She pauses. “Do you mind if we sit down, honey? My hip is acting up now that the rain is back.”
