Unbroken (The Disclosure Series Book 2) (28 page)

“Oh well.” He grinned. “It’s a risk I’ll take. I’m never not going to kiss you, Embry. Ever.”

Just then, Embry’s stomach growled loudly and interrupted the moment.

Luke chuckled. “Finally getting your appetite back?”

She nodded. “I think so.” But being wrapped in Luke’s arms, cocooned beneath the sheets, she didn’t want him to move, didn’t want the moment to end. “Can we order pizza to bed?”

“To bed?” He crooked an eyebrow.

“Yes,” she said shyly. “I like this. I don’t want it to stop.”

He brushed his lips across her forehead, his hand mindlessly sweeping beneath her sweatshirt and drawing slow circles across her skin. “I’d still have to get up to let them in to reach the bed, babe.”

She let out a frustrated sigh. “You ruin everything.”

“What did I do?”

“Just go along with my idea,” she complained. “I want to order pizza to the bed. I can call Morgan and ask her to let them in.”

Luke cupped his hand around her forehead. “You must be insane with fever. You want to get Morgan involved in this?”

Embry giggled. “Okay, that might not be my best idea. But pizza in bed is.” Might be one of the best she’s ever had.

“Compromise,” Luke suggested. “I’ll order pizza. They’ll bring it to the door, and then we’ll eat it in bed.”

She snuggled into his chest and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, beautiful,” he said, adoringly.

Since they’d been back together, there’d been so many challenges, so many ups and downs. And if she was sure of anything, it was that there’d be many more. But in their private moments, when they were laughing and snuggling under the covers in a way that eased her soul like nothing else could, Embry knew they were good, they were solid, and that this was it. She didn’t work without him. Never did, never would.

Wet, warm kisses fell on Embry’s neck and followed up toward her ear, rousing her from sleep. “Wake up, beautiful.”

Luke’s cologne filled her nostrils as he bent over her, peppering her with soft kisses. She groaned and stretched, opening her eyes to find him bent over her, looking edible in a charcoal suit.

“Morning.” He beamed down at her.

“Hi, morning,” she answered, clearing her throat. She was still drowsy from sleep. “Where’re you going?”

“I have to get to court, jury selection for trial today. Weren’t you supposed to meet Morgan? I wasn’t sure what time that was.”

“Oh, crap.” Embry looked over at the clock on the nightstand. “Soon.”

“Glad I woke you, then.” He smiled.

She stretched her arms out and wound them around his neck, pulling his lips to hers. “Mmm, I’m glad you did, too.”

He reached back to gently remove her hands, then he held them against her stomach. “Any more of that and I’ll be late for court. Have a good day, baby.” He dropped one more kiss on the tip of her nose. “I love you.”

“Love you, too,” she called after him.

Embry rolled out of bed, typed a quick text to Morgan that she was running a few minutes behind, then she stepped gingerly into the shower. She was still feeling the effects of her cold, despite being on bed rest all weekend. Not that she was complaining about being stuck in bed with Luke. They’d been inseparable over the last week, staying with each other every night, waking up together every morning. She was beginning to have thoughts about them moving in together again.

They’d moved so fast the first time around, but Embry felt that they’d really moved forward, that they had changed. Now she wanted to be with him all the time, and the fact that they stayed together every night lately made it silly to have two places. Stepping out of the shower, she shrugged off the thought and continued to get ready.

She piled her hair into a high messy bun, then swiped on some mascara before pulling on leggings, riding boots and a slouchy sweater. She was meeting Morgan before class to check out a wedding venue nearby.

In the kitchen, she started the kettle for some tea. About to reach up into the cabinet for her travel mug, she noticed it already on the counter, an envelope propped against it, with “Open me” scrawled across it in Luke’s handwriting. She shook her head, grinning widely.

She picked up the envelope and inspected it. As she began to pull it open, her phone rang, Morgan’s obnoxious ringtone blasting through her apartment. Stuffing the envelope into her purse on the counter, she went in search of her phone.

“I’m outside,” Morgan huffed when Embry answered.

“I’ll be right down. I’m just making tea. Want some?”

“No, I don’t want tea. Why are you drinking tea?”

“I’m still getting over my cold. It soothes my throat.” The kettle began to whir and whine behind her. “Tea’s ready, I’ll be right down.”

Thirty minutes later, Embry and Morgan found themselves standing in the middle of a gorgeous ballroom. It had a vaulted ceiling with rows and rows of skylights letting in the winter sun. Crystal chandeliers glistened as a fire crackled nearby in the floor-to-ceiling stone hearth, and a large, dance floor spanned the length of the entire space. The place was definitely wedding-worthy.

They gazed around the room in awe, whispering excitedly as the wedding consultant circled the room, highlighting its features. “Skylit ceiling, real stone fireplace, built-in bar in the corner…”

“Wow,” Embry sighed, her neck craned back as she stared up through the skylights. “This is amazing, Morgan.”

Morgan nodded. “We’re thinking next January, during break. This place would be perfect in the winter.”

“This could be it!” Embry said excitedly. She stared wistfully around the room, picturing the lights, the music, the people… beautiful flower arrangements adorning each table and the amount of love that would fill the vast, empty space.

Morgan turned toward her and grabbed her hands, bouncing up and down. “I think it is!”

They toured the rest of the venue and texted photos back to Brett while they began spouting out ideas for color schemes and favors. After an hour, the wedding consultant ushered them out so she could meet with her next appointment. But before they got into Morgan’s car, they both stood outside the venue and stared up at the gorgeous building.

Morgan shrugged. “It’s up to Brett now. I’ll drag him back here this weekend.” She looked to Embry. “Starbucks?”

Embry looked at her watch. “We have an hour. Coffee it is.”

They sat on a worn leather couch in the corner, chatting and sipping on their lattes.

“So, how are things with Southern Sexy?”

Embry couldn’t fight the grin that spread across her face if she wanted to. “Really good, actually.”

Morgan looked genuinely pleased. “Good, I’m happy for you.”

“It was your engagement that did it,” Embry admitted.

“My engagement?” Morgan asked, eyebrows raised and pointing to herself.

Embry nodded shyly. “I… I want the kind of love you and Brett have.”

Morgan’s face softened.

“And I think I can have it with Luke,” Embry continued. “I just had to give him a chance.”

“You can thank me at your wedding,” Morgan teased, winking.

“One thing at a time,” Embry said. “Actually, I was thinking…” She trailed off, afraid to speak her thoughts out loud, afraid she was falling back into the same patterns, moving too fast, rushing something that shouldn’t be rushed.

“Thinking what?” Morgan prompted.

Embry shrugged. “Eh, never mind.”

“Really? Well, now you have to tell me,” she pressed.

Embry bit down on her lip nervously. “Well, I was thinking, maybe, I could ask Luke to move in together… again.”

Morgan squealed and bounced up and down on the couch. “Yes! You should. Yay!”

Embry shook her head. “I’m not so sure. I mean wasn’t the whole point to take things slow?”

Morgan gave her a dubious look. “And making your patient, kind, amazing, sexy, southern boyfriend wait almost
two
months to sleep with you again wasn’t taking it slow enough? I mean really, you were ready to make the commitment in December, now it’s almost April. I’m pretty sure you aren’t rushing anything.”

Morgan had a point. “Well, when you put it that way…”

“Actually,” Morgan started, nervously twisting her engagement ring around her finger. “It would kind of be perfect timing.”

Embry tilted her head. “How do you mean?”

“Well…” She wore a careful smile. “I put off telling you because I felt bad, but my parents kind of want to sell the condo.”

Embry flushed red. “Oh my God. I overstayed my welcome, didn’t I? I’ll find another place immediately. I’m so—”

Morgan put up a hand. “Christ, calm down! You’re fine. They aren’t in a huge rush, and I haven’t wanted to tell you and force you into anything. But since you’re considering living with Luke again, I figured I could let you know. I’m sorry,” she smiled sympathetically.

“No, no.” Embry shook her head, still somewhat embarrassed. “I brought this whole subject up. We haven’t spent the night apart in over a week. We’re great together. I think it would work. I just don’t know how to bring it up.”

Morgan looked at her like it was obvious. “Just tell him you want to move in with him.”

Embry was still unsure. “I want to make it special. I don’t want to seem like I’m just inviting myself.”

Morgan rolled her eyes. “Haven’t we had this lesson? Men are dumb. They don’t need a big ordeal. Tell him what you want, and he’ll be thrilled you’re suggesting it.”

Embry shrugged. “Maybe.” She did have a cute idea she thought he’d like.

Just then, her phone beeped with a text from Luke.

So?

Embry’s eyebrows bunched in confusion
as she responded to his text.

Umm, so?

You didn’t open it yet…

“Oh, shit.” Embry dug through her purse for the envelope she’d completely forgotten.

“What?” Morgan asked.

“Luke left something for me this morning, and I forgot about it. He just texted me to see if I opened it.”

She pulled open the envelope and found a small note card.

Cute butt,

I know how much you love surprises. This is last minute and I didn’t ask, but be thankful I’m even telling you where we’re going. Five days alone in a cottage on the beach. Sun, sand and LOTS of sex. Spring break on Tybee Island in Georgia. You in? If so, turn this over.

xx-Luke.

Embry burst out laughing at the nickname he’d used, and she couldn’t help the giddy smile forming as she read the rest of his note. Excited, she flipped over the card and found two first class tickets to Savannah clipped to the back, along with a photo of a cozy little cottage, with a hammock swinging from the front porch, nestled on the sand near the ocean.

“Oh my gosh!”

“What? What is it? Let me see!” Morgan leaned in trying to get a look.

Embry handed it over.

“Cute Butt?” Morgan exclaimed, looking oddly horrified. She shook her head. “No, no. We’re going to have to work on this. What kind of nickname is that? We give him ‘Southern Sexy’, and all he can come up with is Cute Butt?”

Embry chuckled. “It’s a joke from Valentine’s Day.”

Morgan cringed. “Then I probably don’t want to know.” She flipped over the card, and a huge grin spread across her lips. “This man knows how to woo, though. I’ll give him that.”

Embry grabbed her phone and dialed Luke.

“I’m going for a shot of espresso,” Morgan said as the phone rang in Embry’s ear. “Want anything?”

She shook her head, waiting for Luke to pick up. It went to voicemail.
That’s right.
He was in court. Smiling down at her phone, she typed out a text instead.

Just opened. So excited! Might have to work on my nickname, though. xoxo

What’s wrong with cute butt? It has a nice ring to it. Can’t wait to get you in a bikini.

You mean we aren’t staying on a nude beach? Shame. :(

“Embry?”

She looked up from her phone to find the girl from the courthouse. Again. “Oh, hi.” She furrowed her eyebrow. It was a bit strange the way she kept running into her.