Page 204 of The Path to Loving Him
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“I . . . I don’t want?—”
“You won’t regret it. Just fucking say it.”
She shifts, and after a few seconds, she finally says, “I’m falling in love with you, Ryland.”
Fucking music to my ears.
I press my forehead to hers and whisper, “I’m falling in love with you, too.”
Her teeth pull on her bottom lip, and she kisses me again. This time, it’s softer, more subtle, and as she lies there with mestill inside her, I start to grow again with every gentle swipe of her tongue. Before we know it, I’m starting to move inside her again.
But this time, it’s different.
This time . . . we’re making love.
Ryland:I love her.
Hattie:Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!! I freaking knew it. I saw this coming a mile away.
Aubree:Aw, really?
Ryland:Yes. I fucking love her so goddamn much. She spent the night last night. She’s upstairs sleeping while Mac watches a show and I make pancakes. She’s everything. We told each other we’re falling in love.
Hattie:What a freaking weekend. I get engaged, and you fall in love. Aubree . . . are you pregnant? Maybe round out the trifecta here.
Aubree:Definitely not pregnant. Sorry to disappoint, but Wyatt did tell me that he wanted to invest in a new pair of loafers, so maybe that’s a new addition to the family.
Hattie:No.
Ryland:Loafers are essential for a fancy man going on book tours.
Aubree:That’s what he told me. He then spent an hour shopping online to no avail. So seems like you two had better nights.
Hattie:Much better nights. Want me to go into detail?
Ryland:For God’s sake, no.
Aubree:Boundaries, Hattie, have them.
Hattie:Just trying to see how close we are.
Aubree:Not that close. Share with Maggie.
Hattie:Oh, I will, but back to Ryland. This is so exciting. So . . . does this mean I might hear wedding bells for you two?
Ryland:It means that I want to take things further, that I want her to spend more nights here, see how Mac reacts, and go from there. But yeah . . . I think I can manage this. I think I can have her and still take care of my responsibilities.
Aubree:I think so too.
Hattie:I love this for you, Ryland. And I know Cassidy would have loved this as well. Not to get emotional, but she’s been on my mind lately, especially with the engagement. I think she’d be proud of all of us.
Ryland:I think she would too. She would have loved Gabby, and she would have loved the way Gabby treats Mac.
Aubree:She would have.
Hattie:So are we going to celebrate your newfound love? Maybe throw a party?
