Page 175 of Plus Size Player

“No, we haven’t.”

“Come here.” Scooping me into his arms, he kissed me. “I’ll be leaving here in two hours at the latest.”

“And I’ll be ready and waiting for you.”

He’d taken a couple steps backward when a question popped in my mind. I knew he didn’t have much time, so I hesitated, contemplating waiting to ask him later.

I swallowed hard. “If I was your escape from work and life, how does that look now that we’re working together and in a relationship?”

He stopped. “It looks like my fantasy.” He closed the gap between us in half a second. Hooking his forefinger under my chin,he tipped my head up and studied my face. “Nina, I was never running away from work and life. I was only ever running toward you.”

My heart skipped a beat.

Before I could respond, his phone started ringing again. He pulled it out of his pocket. “I have to take this.” Leaning down, he planted a sweet kiss against my lips. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I murmured.

“Hello?” he answered. “Get the projections together and get everyone in the conference room to review.” He pointed to the elevator to let me know he needed to leave.

“Okay,” I whispered. “Call me when you’re free.”

He kissed me and then nodded. “Start without me, I’m on my way,” he snapped as he walked away. “Get Remedy…”

The events of the day replayed in my mind as I watched him enter the elevator. Before the doors closed, I turned toward my car and brought my hand to my chest.

My heart was racing.

I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the window. Between my glassy eyes and upturned lips, my happiness was written all over my face.

The elevator dinged and I glanced over my shoulder.

And then did a double take.

“Nina!” Russ called out to me as he stepped through the doors. His long stride quickly closed the distance between us. “I forgot something.”

“What?” I looked around to see if he’d dropped something before meeting his eyes again. “What did you forget?”

“This.”

Grabbing my face, he pressed his lips against mine urgently. Warmth flooded my system as his kiss radiated throughout my body. I fisted his jacket, bringing him even closer to me. Our mouths moved hungrily over each other as he backed me up against my car. Soft, contented sighs rang out from us as we kissed harder, deeper.

“Don’t you have somewhere you’re supposed to be,” I murmured into his mouth.

Pulling away fractionally, he waited until I met his gaze before he spoke. “I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

My stomach fluttered. “What about your meeting?”

“They can wait.” He leaned into me, his lips brushing against mine. “This can’t.”

Russell Long was the manifestation of the love I always knew existed, but thought would be impossible to find. I’d been fostering men until they found their forever home. It never occurred to me that they were also fostering me until I found mine.