Chapter 45
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Jameson
I pluck the last item out of a box labeled ‘Bathroom.’
I swing it in the air above my head. “You have to wonder what my grandmother was thinking when she packed up these boxes.”
Sinclair jumps to her feet to try and grab the shoe in my hand. “Denia wore that shoe? It’s not exactly her style.”
I lower the high-heeled sandal to within Sinclair’s grasp.
She’s got it in her hand before I have a chance to tease her more. I’ve been doing a lot of that lately. We’ve fallen into a daily pattern of work, dinner, sex, and then a couple of hours each night going through my grandmother’s belongings before we hit the bed again.
I’m more comfortable and content than I’ve been in years – maybe forever.
“This is an expensive shoe.” Sinclair taps the three-inch heel on her palm. “This designer died years ago, but these shoes have never gone out of style. A pristine pair like this could fetch a pretty penny at a consignment shop.”
I dig my hand in the box to retrieve the other shoe. “Is that what you want to do with them?”
Her head shakes. “I want to keep them.”
I glance at the shoes before I look down at Sinclair’s bare feet. “Denia was at least a size ten, Sin. You’re a seven.”
She wiggles her toes. “How do you know what size my feet are?”
Smiling, I sigh. “I’m always moving your shoes out of the way, so I don’t break my neck. It’s hard not to notice the size after all these years.”
She lets out a laugh. “That’s right. You’re trying to avoid death by tripping.”
I lean forward to plant a soft kiss on her lips. “You know it.”
She gazes down at the T-shirt she’s wearing. It’s one of mine. She slid into it when we crawled out of my bed an hour ago. The only thing under it is a thin pair of pink panties. I plan to rip those off of her within the hour.
I didn’t bother with a shirt. Sweatpants are all I need to rummage through boxes with the woman I adore.
She scratches her head. “It’s all right if I keep some of her things, right?”
I nod. “Sure. Yeah. Keep whatever you want.”
She lets out a small exhale. “I have a box in my room of stuff to take back to my apartment when we sell the penthouse.”
That’s a conversation that I want to have with her. I need to have it with her because I don’t want to move out. I sure as hell don’t want her to either. If we’re sticking to our original thirty day plan, I’m running out of time.
Before I can broach the subject of extending our deadline, she’s smiling at me. “Your grandma was glamorous when she was my age.”
I can’t help but return the smile. “Maybe, but she was never as beautiful as you.”
That lures a soft sound from her. “You’re kind of dreamy sometimes.”
I let out a loud chuckle. “I’m kind of dreamy sometimes? Try, I’m dreamy all the fucking time.”
She tosses the shoe in her hand at me. I catch it with ease. “You know it’s true.”
Her hands tug at the bottom hem of the T-shirt. “I know that you’re even more charming than I remember, Jameson.”
Both shoes tumble to the floor as my hands bolt to my chest. “That may be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
She closes the distance between us with tentative steps. “I always say nice things to you.”
In one quick motion, I’ve got her hands in mine, pressing against the center of my bare chest. “You do. You’ve always been good to me.”
Her eyes scan my face. “That’s because you’re my best friend.”
I swallow hard to silence the emotion building within me. “Am I back in the top spot?”
She smiles.
“I rank higher than Molly?”
She nods, but no words escape her.
I step closer. “What about Arietta? Where does she fall? Second or third place?”
She wiggles two fingers in the air. “She’s second. Maren is third. My friend Juliet is tied with Molly for fourth place.”
“Poor Molly.” I fake a frown. “I’ll meet Juliet, right? If she’s important to you, I want to meet her.”
She tilts her chin. “You might.”
“I will,” I insist. “I’m in Manhattan to stay. I want in on all your friendships. I want to meet Maren and Berk’s fiancée. I want to be your date to the wedding.”
“You sure want a lot,” she teases. “What do I get in return?”
I lean down to press a soft kiss to her mouth. “You get me for as long as you want me.”
I can’t hear it. I can only feel the movement of her lips against mine as she silently mouths one word. “Forever?”
“Forever,” I whisper as I kiss her again.