by Haley Travis
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When I walked into the pub and saw Jenny at the back booth, I nearly burst into tears again, thinking of how Nolan had begun cuddling me the second we had sat down there last week. I couldn’t believe it had only been a week. I couldn’t believe how much I missed him already. I couldn’t believe how upset I was that I couldn’t be what he needed.
There was already a glass of white wine, a cup of tea, and a glass of water sitting beside her. “I didn’t know what you’d want first,” she said with a smile.
Sliding into the booth beside her, I gave her a hug. “Thank you,” I said, taking a sip of tea.
“Listen,” she said. “Nolan came over to my place earlier for a chat.”
“What?” I was completely floored.
“Hey, when a big guy shows up at your door practically begging for your help, you help him. Sharolyn, he adores you. He’s a mess without you. I think you should give him another chance.”
“It’s not about me,” I said quickly. “He needs a high society girlfriend. He needs somebody who can look glamorous, and throw parties, and give toasts. He needs somebody who has a wine-tasting expert on speed dial just in case they need them.”
“Sweetheart,” a deep voice said from my left side. I turned as Nolan sat down beside me. “I could hire someone if I wanted to plan an event. If there is anything the studio needs me to do, they can take care of that.”
I could feel my chin trembling and couldn’t stop it as my eyes filled with tears. “I know I’m going to end up being forced to do things I can’t do, and I’m going to let you down,” I croaked.
“Oh, baby, no.” Pulling me to his chest, he held me close while I tried to stop myself from crying. I felt Jenny’s hand on my back, and turned to her.
“You ambushed me?” I didn’t know whether to be angry or touched.
“No, honey,” she said gently. “I just know that your nerves sometimes shut you down so you can’t think straight. So I’m here to help you.”
“Problem-solving time,” Nolan said, sitting back and holding my hand. “No emotions, no fear, just logic.”
I raised an eyebrow, looking back and forth between them. This was odd. But they both seemed so determined. “Okay.”
“Imagine a scenario that would cause you to react with fear, and we’ll think of a solution,” Jenny said. “For example, if Nolan asked you to be his date at a wedding, and not knowing what to wear made you nervous, you could always call me for fashion advice, or I’d take you shopping.”
“See?” Nolan said. “Now that I know you don’t want photos taken, I’ll know to wave them away.”
“I don’t mind, usually, I was just already frazzled,” I said.
“Now that he knows you’re a bit jittery sometimes, you’ll both know what sorts of questions to ask,” Jenny said. “He can walk you through things. Tell you ahead of time who is likely going to be there, who you’ll be meeting, and where you’re going.” She turned to Nolan. “She handles things a lot better if she can do a mental run through ahead of time. It calms her down.”
“Thanks,” Nolan said. “See? All we have to do is talk everything through.”
“But I can’t help you,” I said. “Your partner should be able to help you.”
Jenny laughed, rubbing my back for a second. “Such a people pleaser. Listen, Sharolyn, let the guy take care of you, okay? You’re always taking longer shifts, giving up your seat, giving money to your sister, and taking care of everyone else in your own little ways. That’s amazing and kind, but it’s okay for you to have limits.”
“Absolutely,” Nolan agreed. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, and I wouldn’t expect it of you. And please don’t think this TV show is some sort of pinnacle of my career. I’ve done a lot of things, and I’ll likely end up doing a lot more. Money is not a problem, and there will always be something new on the horizon.”
“You’ll find things to help him in your own way,” Jenny said. “You always do.”
“Sharolyn, maybe you can be my reading coach,” Nolan said, smiling down at me. “You could keep me posted on the latest bestsellers, book trends, that sort of thing. So I could fake being smart.”
I finally laughed out loud, breaking the tension. Jenny patted my shoulder, then grabbed her purse. “I’m going to leave you two to chat. I’m a phone call away, alright?”
I turned to hug her. “Thank you,” I whispered in her ear.
“He adores you. He’s amazing. Let him love you,” she whispered back. I nodded, waving as she left.
Turning back to Nolan, he leaned in slowly, cautiously. I met him halfway, kissing him gently.
“I’m sorry–”
He placed a finger over my lips. “Never be sorry for feeling however you feel. But next time, please come to me. As long as we’re always talking, we’re going to be incredible together.” Grinning, he drank half of my wine, then left some money on the table while I took just one sip. “Let’s get out of here,” he said. “I don’t want to get you kicked out of your favorite restaurant, and I can’t keep my hands off you anymore.”
Nolan’s arm locked around me as he turned away from the direction of my apartment. He kept grinning down at me. I still couldn’t believe how gorgeous he was, or that he was interested in me at all. But now I trusted it. For him to have gone to the trouble of consulting Jenny, he must really believe in us.
CHAPTER TEN
* Nolan *
I bundled her in a cab to my place, realizing that she hadn’t even seen it yet. She seemed a bit dazzled by my two-level gray brick house, which I didn’t think was that impressive compared to my brother’s, but it was more than enough for me. And now, Sharolyn. But before I even let her look around, I took her hand and led her straight to the bedroom.
“Baby, I felt sick when you left without me last night,” I said, sitting her beside me on the bed. “Please promise me that if you ever need to leave something like that again, you’ll come to me, or wait for me in the lobby and call.”
She nodded. “Okay. I’ll try not to worry you again.”
“Thank you.” I cupped her face between my palms, locking her eyes so she couldn’t look away. “I need you, Sharolyn. To love me. To be mine. To let me love you. You’re all I’ve ever wanted in a woman and so much more.”
She nodded, unable to speak. Her bottom lip was quivering.
I smiled gently. “I love you.” My thumb glided along her lip, and she flashed that saucy grin.
“I love you, too,” she whispered.
I kissed her gently, then whispered. “I love your quiet voice.”
“I love that you make me feel safe enough to use it,” she murmured.
“Right now, baby, I need to make you feel like mine. May I do that?”
She nodded eagerly, her quick fingers already unbuttoning my shirt. I helped rip my clothes off, and hers, until we were perfectly naked, skin to skin.
Kissing her softly, deeply, my fingers slipped between her legs as she opened for me. She was already getting wet, my thick finger gliding in easily. Her soft sigh, her hands clutching my shoulders – my girl obviously wanted me as much as I wanted her.
As my thumb brushed against her most sensitive spot, her eyes flew wide, so I added a second finger inside her. Finally having Sharolyn in my own bed, in the room that would soon be ours, stirred my desire until my blood was boiling.
Dropping my lips to her breasts, I sucked at her rosy nipples until they deepened, hardened. Her gasping moan told me that she was close, then she began to tighten around my fingers. I kissed her as her entire body twitched in orgasm, muffling her tiny cries.
The second she stilled, I was already slipping into her wetness. I don’t think I’d ever been this hard in my life. Looking down at her full breasts, the curve of her hips, her smooth thighs, I watched myself enter her slowly, making a memory I’d picture forever.
Taking her hands, I laced her fingers through mine, pinning them above her head. Just
for a moment, I needed to feel her captured under me. My primitive side took over completely as I filled her, my hips pressing deep.
“Nolan,” she moaned, and my name on her lips was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.
I loved her so hard it was nearly fury, my mouth crashing into hers too roughly as she moaned again. Finally I released her hands, loving the way she instantly gripped my hair, leaving tingling trails everywhere she touched me.
I could feel her sexy body squirming under me as she pulled me deeper. She needed me, and I’d spend the rest of my life giving her absolutely everything I possibly could. Including making her squeal my name as often as possible.
Rocking into her faster, I could feel her insides tightening around me. Nuzzling into her ear, I whispered, “Is my sexy baby going to come for me?”
She nodded, gasping, her bright blue eyes so wide. “Nolan, yes,” she moaned. “I’m yours. Forever.”
Hearing that made me lose my mind. I couldn’t stop, thrusting deep and quick until she cried out. Her head fell back as her breathless screams filled the room, her curvy, soft body clenching everywhere as she came.
“You’re so gorgeous, baby,” I murmured, kissing her lightly. Her satisfied smile completely did me in. My hips and thighs clenched, thrusting so deep into her softness that she squealed again as I emptied myself inside her, filling her completely.
“Love you,” she breathed. “Mmm... Nolan, I love you.”
“I love you, baby,” I murmured into her lips. “You’re mine. I’m yours. Always.”
EPILOGUE #1
* Sharolyn *
*** Three Months Later ***
I adored how lovely it was to be relaxed around Nolan now. We were constantly talking or texting, and I stayed at his incredible house several times a week. After making Nolan dinner at my apartment for a change, I was surprised when he jumped up to clear the plates.
“I can get that,” I laughed.
“But I want you to stay right there.” He winked, and I wondered if he had brought dessert. He was always surprising me with little gifts, from a single flower to fancy teas.
He came back to the table, turning my chair a bit so he could kneel in front of me at eye level. His warm brown eyes were tight as he stared at me, reaching out to run his thumb along my cheek before he took my hand. “Do you know what today is?” he asked.
“March 21st?” I quickly combed my mind for any significance. “The first day of spring, I think?”
Nolan’s huge smile softened his handsome, rugged face. “Yes. It’s also three months since we met.”
“Oh,” I laughed. “Wow. Happy three month anniversary.” I leaned forward to kiss him lightly but noticed he was tense. “What’s wrong?”
Nolan chuckled, looking down at our clasped hands. “You know, it’s funny. I’ve had much bigger guys threaten to kill me on the ice. I’ve had a slapshot aimed straight for my head many times. I’ve had bruisers try to take me three against one. But I don’t think I’ve ever been as nervous as I am this second.”
I giggled, confused. “Why on earth would you be nervous right now?”
“Because you might say no,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss me. His mouth moved against mine gently, dreamily, and I completely lost track of whatever he had been talking about.
When he pulled back, he slipped a tiny box into my hand.
I froze. Then I forced myself to start breathing again as I looked down from his wide eyes, opening the ring box to see a large brilliant diamond with a smaller sapphire on each side. The blue stones made the white diamond look icy.
“I know it’s too soon, but I want to marry you on the anniversary of the day we met. I need you to move in with me as soon as possible. I don’t want to wait to start my life with you,” he said quickly. “Sharolyn, will you marry me?”
He really wanted me. He was going to make a life with me. He didn’t need me to change. “Yes,” I breathed.
Nolan kissed my hand before sliding the ring on my trembling finger. “I love you so much, baby. I promise to take care of you, and show you every single day that you’re the most precious person in the world to me.”
“I love you,” I whispered.
“Oh, sweetheart, you’re shaking,” he said, wrapping me in his arms. “We’ll do whatever sort of wedding you want. If you don’t want a lot of people, we’ll keep it tiny. I don’t want you to be overwhelmed. I promise I won’t make you give a toast, and we won’t do that silly garter thing.”
Taking his face in my hands, I kissed him hard, pouring all of my heat, love, and joy into our lips. He listened to me. He loved me. And I’d spend a lifetime trying to be just a tiny bit louder for him. For us.
EPILOGUE #2
* Sharolyn *
*** December 21st ***
Nolan grinned at me, looking so striking in his perfect tux. He picked up his champagne and stood as our fifty-four guests raised their glasses, eager to hear the groom’s toast.
But I stood up too. “Ladies first.”
His eyes widened in shock. Turning to a room full of our friends and family, I took a deep breath and smiled. Holding Nolan’s hand firmly, I raised my glass. “This will be short because I’m shaking.” Everyone laughed, but I could see that it was kind-hearted. My mother and sister were beaming. My dad looked stunned. Jenny’s eyes were already gleaming with tears.
“My new husband is a big, loud ruffian type, and you know I’m a quiet little mouse. I just wanted to say that we should always remember to be open-minded, and when someone looks at you with love in their eyes, listen to them. Even when you think it’s a bit nuts.” I turned to Nolan. “I love you quietly. But I’m going to learn to love you loudly. And I’m going to love and care for our kids whether they turn out loud or quiet.” I had to be careful not to blink for a second as my tears welled up.
Nolan’s warm eyes were blazing. “I’m so proud of you I might explode, sweetheart,” he whispered.
I grinned, waving my glass to the room. “To my wonderful husband, and to seeing you all again at a baby shower in a year or less!”
Nolan’s hot, deep kiss was not appropriate in a room where our parents were watching. Yet for the first time in my life, I truly didn’t care that people were staring. With his arms around me, I could handle anything.
*** The End ***
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S tay tuned for Packing Up Love, Snapping Up Love, Inking Up Love , and more in the Insta Love Shy Girl Romance series. If you’d like this series to continue, please help spread the word! More readers means more time can be spent writing, and more sweet romance books for you to enjoy.
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Romance author Haley Travis is from Toronto, Ontario. She enjoys writing quirky, sexy modern romance, and loves creating interesting female characters who are at a turning point in their lives. Women who need a life shake up, not a man. But these things never go as planned, do they?