Chapter 56 #3
"No. It's not like that. It's..." I sigh. "It doesn't matter. I just wanted to look and feel different. Is there anything wrong with that?"
"Not at all," he says seriously. "You look gorgeous, but then you always look beautiful. Tonight, you just look a little bit more dolled up, I guess. I’m not used to seeing you like that.”
“I know. Me either.” I look over at Canyon. “So, Canyon, what are you guys doing tonight?"
"Daddy said we can watch a movie. You want to come over and watch a movie? Can she, Daddy?"
He looks at me. "I'd love it if you would come over and watch a movie. I mean, unless you have other plans."
I stare at him for a couple of seconds. "Well, my plans just blew up in my face, so no, I don't, really. What movie are you guys watching?"
"Daddy said I can pick," Canyon said. "But maybe we can pick together." She squeezes my hand. "That would be fun. And maybe you can sleep over, and then tomorrow we can have breakfast and..."
"Oh, I don't think I can sleep over," I say quickly.
Remington starts laughing. "Don't mind me if you want to sleep over. I have plenty of clothes that you can borrow, and I have a big bed," he says innocently. "You can share it with me if you want."
I lick my lips nervously. "Thanks for the offer, but I think I'm fine."
"If you're sure," he says, winking. "There are certain privileges that come with sleeping over."
"Oh, yeah. Like what?"
"Like pizza parties," Canyon says, jumping up and down. "Can we order a pizza, Daddy?"
"I think we can. Hey, Canyon. What if we just go home, choose a movie, and order a pizza, and then we get ice cream next time?”
“Okay,” Canyon says. “But can we get cinnamon sticks with the pizza?”
“Sure,” he says.
“Yay.” She starts skipping. “’I love you. You love me,’" she starts singing. "‘We're a happy family.’" She skips ahead of us, and I wait for Remington to say something else.
"I'm sorry your date didn't go well," he says in a low voice, and I look over at him in surprise.
"I thought you were going to tell me I told you so or something. What happened to your date?" I ask him pointedly.
"There was no date," he shrugs. "Obviously."
"So then, why did you..."
"Because I was hoping you would tell me that you were going to cancel your date and beg me to cancel my date and then we would hang out."
I stare blankly at Remington in confusion. "You what? Why would I do that?"
"Because I was hoping that you liked me." He shrugs. "I was hoping that you would be as jealous of my date as I was of yours."
I stopped suddenly. "Wait, what? You wanted me to be jealous?" I don't want to admit that I actually was jealous, but I'm totally blown away by his admission.
"Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't." He shrugs.
“I just know I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you, and well, I may have even had a dream about you.
I've even been thinking about your story and how I want to hear more about it, and...
" He shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe I just want to spend more time with you. "
"But why?" I say. "You don't like spending time with women, other than at restaurants, and..."
"Maybe that's because I hadn't met the right woman yet," he says. "Oh, my gosh. Did I just say that? That sounds so cheesy, doesn't it?"
"Maybe." I grin. "So, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I think I would like you to spend the night, Juniper.”
“You what?”
“I am saying that this is more than just a friendship, and you are more than just my assistant. You look absolutely stunning tonight. And once Canyon goes to bed, I would like to dance with you."
"You what? Dance with me like at a club?"
"No, I'd just like to hold you in my arms and move you across the room. Is there anything more romantic than that?"
"You want to be romantic with me? But..."
"I like you, Juniper, like more than just friends, more than just a teasing kiss or a delightful night of oral sex. I want this to be more.” His words sound stilted, and my jaw drops. "You're really making this hard on me."
"Really?" I grin at him. "How hard?"
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"Maybe," I say with a small wink. "Remember what I said? I can be just as dirty as you."
"So, then, you're going to stay the night?"
"I think so, but only on one condition."
"What condition is that? " he asks.
"That you have a condom." He gasps, his eyes wide.
"What? No, I..."
"Remington. I'm ready."
He gawks at me and licks his lips. "Are you sure?"
"I'm more sure of this than anything I’ve ever been sure of in my life." I lean over and give him a kiss on the cheek. "Tonight's the night. I want it to be with you."
"I'd like that," he says. "And trust me when I say you won't regret it."
"I have a feeling I won't," I say. "But you just need to remind me of two things."
"What's that?" he says.
"You just need to remind me that you like me as more than an assistant, and you're not just doing this to get me into your good graces to be a babysitter for Canyon."
He starts laughing then. "I can promise you both." He grabs my hand and squeezes. “I will be loving you just because you’re you.”