I Love How You Love Me (The Sullivans #13)(58)

He laid his head on her shoulder and put a thumb into his mouth by way of an answer. She figured he’d probably take a little nap in her arms and then wake up starving. They could share a piece of Mia’s delicious vanilla and raspberry cake, Grace decided.

She thought she saw a couple of camera flashes in her direction and assumed it must be Nicola still taking pictures as Mia moved beside her. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I am, too. And I have to tell you, again, just how beautiful your wedding was. The best I’ve ever been to.”

“The tabloids are freaking out about how we could possibly have gotten married without anyone knowing about it,” Mia said, clearly happy about thwarting the paparazzi. “And since we were having sex twenty-four seven and didn’t come out of our suite in Hawaii, they couldn’t get any shots there, either.”

“I can’t imagine how hard that must be.”

“It’s not always fun. But if pushy journalists are the worst thing that comes with being with Ford, I’ll take it.” Grinning, she said, “Speaking of awesome journalists, Ford and I both read a bunch of your work in Hawaii. You’re really a great writer.” Before Grace could thank her, she asked, “How’s the story about my brother going?”

“It’s getting closer.” At least, she hoped it was, given that her editor needed to see something soon. “We’re going sailing a week from this Sunday when he gets back from Australia. He’s convinced that will put the missing pieces into place.”

Mia raised her eyebrows. “He never takes the women he’s seeing out on his boats.” Dylan’s sister looked extremely pleased by this information. “That’s how I knew he was never serious about any of them. Because he never wanted to share the most important part of himself with a woman until now.” She smiled at Grace. “Until you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

All the next week, though the demands of his round-the-clock racing and the time difference meant that Grace and Dylan had continued to miss connecting over the phone, she still felt happier than she could ever remember being. Even the fact that Mason had been fussier than usual, because yet another new tooth was working to push through his gums, wasn’t dimming the goofy smile she’d been wearing.

Ever since she’d realized that she was in love with Dylan, her work on the cover story had begun to flow. Better, at least, than before. The challenge now was for Grace to write about him without her piece sounding like a love story—something she was struggling with enough that she’d continued to hold off on sending her editor anything yet—especially given all the sweet surprises he’d sent her and Mason during the week he’d been away.

On Monday, she’d come home to find a package with Mason’s name on it waiting on her doorstep. Inside was a brightly colored toy sailboat, perfect for bath time. Mason absolutely loved splashing around with the boat, and something told her she had a little sailor on her hands. To celebrate Mason’s new tooth. Give the little guy a kiss for me. Love, Dylan was all the note that came in the box said, but it spoke volumes to Grace about the amazing bond that Dylan already had with Mason.

Tuesday, another package came, this one filled with homemade chocolate-chip cookies and chocolate truffles. For extra writing inspiration, my mother’s homemade cookies and Brooke’s truffles. Love, Dylan. She was beyond touched that he’d remembered her saying that chocolate always helped her with writer’s block.

On Wednesday, she received a call from a nearby theater letting her know that there were two tickets waiting for her and Mason for a children’s concert that she’d wanted to attend but that had been sold out for ages. Of course, they were the best seats in the house, and Mason had positively glowed with happiness as he baby-danced and clapped to the fun songs.

Thursday, she opened a beautifully wrapped package to find the silkiest, sexiest lingerie imaginable. His note—To replace the pair I tore off. Love, Dylan—made her feel hot and tingly all over.

And on Friday, in a thin overnight mail package, was one small piece of paper that said I love you in his strong, steady handwriting. Grace knew it would always be one of the most precious things she would ever receive.

Each of his surprises had been thoughtful and loving. But the best gift of all was knowing Dylan would be back today…and she couldn’t wait to finally tell him that she loved him.

They’d agreed to take things slow, and at first she’d believed that would keep her safe from falling too fast, and too hard, for Dylan. But no rational plans could keep her heart on the slow-and-safe track when all it wanted to do was somersaults and cartwheels whenever he was near. Especially when he was kissing her and running his big, strong hands over her naked curves so that she was coming apart for him again and again.

Everything was finally falling into place.

All because of love.

As she put away the toys strewn across the living room carpet that Mason had tired of now that he was ready for his nap, she felt a heightened awareness of the way her sundress brushed over her curves. After chatting with Colbie at Mia’s party, she’d learned that Indulgence was having yet another sale and, of course, hadn’t had to have her arm twisted to stop by on her way home. She couldn’t wait to see Dylan’s face, first when he saw her in the new sundress…and then when he stripped her out of it and saw that she was wearing the lingerie he’d sent her.