“I finished my chapter!” I plop down in the booth across from Grayson. “I think I have five or six left. Maybe. I don’t know.” I clutch my heart. “I love my characters so much that I might not ever let them go.”
Grayson grins and shakes his head. It’s his new go-to move when I ramble about random things. It might be about my romance novel or the drink Corbin let me create all on my own at Fireside or the sex toy party that I got invited to and came home with a butt plug party favor.
It’s been an interesting six weeks.
I push the butt plug out of my brain and shiver.
Grayson leans forward, resting his powerful forearms on the table. “You really just love the hero because he’s me.”
“He’s not you.” I roll my eyes to distract him because we both know he’s right. My hero, Blake Stone, is based on Grayson.
Anna comes to our table with her trademark cheerleader smile. “How are you guys tonight?”
“We’re good,” I say, waving off her offer of a menu. “I want a chef’s salad with honey mustard and tell whoever’s working to put some extra egg on there, okay?”
“Yup.” She looks at Grayson. “What about you?”
“Loaded pizza.”
“Large?”
He nods.
She laughs.
He rolls his eyes. “Two Cokes, please.”
“Got it. I’ll be back,” Anna says and walks away.
I look at Grayson and just smile. I can’t help it.
I’m so happy that I can’t see straight.
Honestly, what’s made me happiest of all is … me. It’s knowing myself. It’s feeling comfortable in my skin. It’s being okay with the things that made me insecure before.
I may never be a red lipstick or thong kind of girl. The thought of a butt plug might always make me squirm. And not necessarily in a good way. I might not have these massive ideas for my life and be content being a bartender and a romance writer—God willing, but that’s perfect if that’s what I want.
Before I fell in love with Grayson, I thought the problems I was having with the world were because I didn’t understand men. Come to find out that it was really that I didn’t understand myself.
That’s the secret to happiness. He’s taught me that. I’ve taught him things too.
We’re not in each other’s pockets, and as much as I love hiking with him … and some of the benefits that bring… he still goes out on his own excursions while I goof off with Kaylee. And then he comes home and cuddles with me while I watch the outdoor adventure channel.
Compromises. We’re really good at that. I think we’ve both learned, too, that life is better, more exciting, when you do things to make someone else happy.
Except fishing. I hate it so much.
“I tripped over your bag this morning and almost broke my fucking neck,” he says, ignoring Natalia sashaying her way down the aisle beside our table.
I’m not sure he even sees her.
“Sorry. I met Kaylee for breakfast this morning and got ready in a hurry. I forgot to move it out of the way. I’m sorry. I won’t let it happen again.”
The corner of his lip twitches. “I have a way to guarantee it.”
I lean forward too. “Oh, really? Do tell.”
A shadow creeps across his face. He begins to bite his bottom lip—something I’ve learned is a tell that he’s nervous. It’s adorable when I think he’s nervous about something that has nothing to do with me. When it involves me, I start biting mine too.
“Stop it,” he says, reaching over and popping my lip from between my teeth.
“You started it.”
He grumbles under his breath.
“Anyway …” I prod.
“Anyway, I was thinking that maybe, you know, you could move in with me.”
I lean forward even more. I think my eyeballs might fall out of my head.
“What?” I ask.
“I mean, your lease is coming up, right?”
I nod, still unsure that I heard him right.
“And you’re at my place all the time,” he notes.
I nod again because apparently, that’s all I can do.
“It just makes sense. It’ll save money and keep me from tripping over your shit because you can put it in the fucking closet.” He grins. “But only if you want to.”
Of course, I want to. Has he lost his mind?
But before I go all-out in celebration of this massive milestone in our relationship, I slow down like a proper adult. This is something else I’ve learned lately.
I take a deep breath. “Are you sure? And I only ask because six weeks ago, you were telling me how much you loved your resources or some dumb shit. How you valued your time and energy and space and yada yada yada. Now, here you are, asking me to invade every bit of your personal area, and I want to be sure you’re sure. You know?”
“I didn’t ask you to work at the shop.”
I furrow a brow.
“That’ll be my personal space now.” He smiles. It’s not a grin or a half-assed smirk like usual—it’s a full-blown smile.
And I melt.
I’ll never tire of seeing Grayson happy. I’ll never get sick of watching his face split into a grin for me. Of course, I’ll never tire of him being grumpy or irritable or frustrated either because the best sex comes when he’s worked up.
Maybe I’ll just never tire of him period.
“There’ll have to be some conditions,” I tease.
“Like what?”
“Like …” I have no idea. I’m working off the cuff here. But I can’t just say yes. “I’m not cooking a lot.”
“Let’s hope not. I hate the sound of the fire alarms.”
I reach over the table and shove his arm. Once I’m settled back in my seat, I think of something else.
“I also say we have to split laundry,” I tell him.
“Fair enough. Anything else?”
He seems to expect me to say something in particular, but I have no idea what it might be. So, I shrug.
He shifts in his seat. “I was thinking that maybe we should agree on where this relationship is going.”
I shift in my seat too. “Okay.”
“If, uh, if we’re living together,” he says, his leg bouncing under the table next to mine, “then we should put our expectations on the table.”
“I just did.”
“I was thinking more like that us living together means we’re an item.”
I frown. “Aren’t we already? Isn’t that what this is? Or have I been under the wrong impression this past month?”
He shakes his head. “No, you’re right. It has been. I just … I want you to know that I’m serious as fuck about you. I want you, Haley.” He swallows hard. “I love you.”
My head spins, my heart squeezing at the genuineness in his face.
His words roll around and around my head, reverberating in every hollow spot in my body.
He reaches across the table for my hand.
I place my palms in his and bat back a tear. “I love you, Grayson.”
It’s light flipping a switch. His features light up from the inside out. He leans forward again.
“What do you say we get out of here?” he says mischievously.
“For what? We haven’t even gotten our food yet.”
“They know where we live.” He grins at his choice of words. “Let’s go home so I can get up inside you and—”
I spring to my feet. “Let’s go, sir.”
He laughs and stands too. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Well,” I say as we start outside. “You can start with my mouth …”
Kaylee’s story is coming on September 7th. Make sure you preorder it here.
More Cherry Falls
More Cherry Falls
Cherry Falls is filled with returning characters and iconic destinations that will feel like family. When you leave the city, and drive into Cherry Falls, it’s like you’ve finally come ho
me.
The cherry on top? Each book delivers a swoon-worthy, sexy romance!
So, welcome to Cherry Falls. We hope you stay awhile.
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Books by Adriana Locke
The Exception Series
The Exception
The Connection
The Perception
Landry Family Series
Sway
Swing
Switch
Swear
Swink
Sweet—coming soon
The Gibson Boys Series
Crank
Craft
Cross
Crave
Crazy
Dogwood Lane Series
Tumble
Tangle
Trouble
Mason Family Series
Restraint
Reputation
Reckless
Relentless
Resolution
Honey Creek Series
Like You Love Me
Cherry Falls
608 Alpha Avenue
907 For Keeps Way
Standalone Novels
Sacrifice
Wherever It Leads
Written in the Scars
Lucky Number Eleven
Battle of Sexes
The Relationship Pact
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Acknowledgments
Thank you to my Creator for everything.
Hugs to my family—my wonderful husband and four sons, for loving me and rooting for me. You are truly the best.
My parents loved the fact that I wrote books. It’s because of them that I do. I think my mom would’ve loved this one.
My in-laws cheer me on so hard that it makes me laugh. Thank you guys for being in my corner.
I have a whole team that helps me keep focused. My assistant, Tiffany Remy, is my right hand. Kari March is my oldest book friend and one of the most talented people I know. Lara Petterson helps me with so many details. Ebbie, Kaitie, and Stephanie manage bits and pieces of Locke Land. I’m grateful for all of you.
Thank you to Yoly for creating this gorgeous cover and for all the patience I required. I’m sorry about that.
I have the best beta team in all the land. Jen Costa, Susan Rayner, Anjelica Grace—I love you all. So much.
Mandi Beck is my best friend and my go-to person. I probably would’ve quit if it wasn’t for her. I know I wouldn’t smile nearly as much.
A big thank you to Jessica Prince for Zoom writing with me, Brittni Van for making me laugh each and every single day, Chelle Sloan for always knowing that one random fact I need and can’t find, SL Scott for always making time for my synopsis, Frankie Love and Hope Ford for answering all of my questions with kindness.
Big thanks to Marion and Jenny for editing this project and to Michele for her eagle eye in proofing. Also, thank you to Shameca for leaping in at the last moment and helping me with graphics.
A massive thank you goes out to the bloggers, vloggers, and Instagrammers that shout from the roof tops about my books. There’s no way to tell you how valuable you are to me and how much I truly appreciate you. Thank you so much.
Last but certainly not least, thank you for reading this book. We may not know each other, but I’m honored you let me into your home (or car or bus or office or tent or boat). I tried to make you smile with this story. I hope I succeeded.
Much love.
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana created her own.
She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, two dogs, two cats, and a bird. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather's nice and there's always a piece of candy in her pocket.
Besides cinnamon gummy bears, boxing, and random quotes, her next favorite thing is chatting with readers. She’d love to hear from you!
Join her reader group and talk all the bookish things by clicking here.
www.adrianalocke.com
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