RJ (HC Heroes Series Book 7) by Donna Michaels

Author:Donna Michaels [Michaels, Donna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-09-28T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Lori’s heart dipped into her stomach.

Was he asking her to look at the house to get her opinion? Or to look at it as in, “let’s move in together?”

She was okay with the first, but the latter scared her silly. Lori had flashbacks of jerkface and just like that, those invisible chains returned to tighten across her chest.

“Um…what for?” Darn…her voice sounded strained and distant.

His head tipped back and he released her. “Never mind.”

“Sorry.” She grabbed his arm as he stepped away. “Hang on. You uh…caught me off guard. I’d be happy to go and give you my opinion, but ultimately the house is for you, so your opinion is the only one that matters.”

His gaze narrowed and he stared at her for a few long beats before he placed his free hand over the one she used to grip his arm. “You’re wrong, Lori. You matter to me, so I value your opinion. I already know, whatever house I choose is going to be a place I want to share with you.”

She blew out a breath. “RJ…I’m—”

“It’s okay.” He cut her off and patted her hand. “I was going to add…sooner or later. But I won’t lie, I’m hoping for sooner.”

His gaze was open and earnest, and she felt like crap for having to shoot him down.

She swallowed past her dry throat. “I love being with you, but moving in…that’s a huge step…it’s too soon.”

He cupped her face with both hands and smiled. “I know. I understand. It’s okay, don’t stress.”

She exhaled another breath and set her forehead to his. “Thanks. I’m sorry.”

“No…” He drew back and frowned at her. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I appreciate your honesty. I didn’t mean to freak you out. It just hit me as we were walking that—”

The porch light suddenly flicked on a second before Dean opened the door. “Everything okay? The sun’s about to rise.”

“We’re good.” Lori smiled and waved, then turned to RJ. “We are, right?” she asked in a hushed tone, her heart pounding hard in her chest.

She might not be ready to move in with the guy, but she certainly didn’t want to move on, either.

“Of course.” Smiling, he grabbed her hand and walked with her into the house, but she couldn’t help but notice the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Several hours later she was at the bakery, trying to concentrate on the dinosaur she was supposed to shape out of modelling chocolate, but her mind kept rerunning the house conversation with RJ, so her dino looked more like an oversized, bipedal alligator.

She set the dinogator on her decorating table before standing to stretch.

What if RJ didn’t show up for dinner tonight?

He would, her mind insisted. After all, he’d shown up for his buns this morning, and surely, he wouldn’t have if he were upset with her. No. Things were good. They were good, so tonight’s routine shouldn’t change either.

On Monday nights, RJ brought pizza over and she supplied the dessert. Correction…Lori usually was the dessert.

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