nothing compared to Jane and Zoe. Nothing. Those two were fighters and the epitome of sassy. But it was inevitable that they would rub off on her a little, she supposed. “Well, thank you.”
His tiny frown grew bigger. “I’m not sure it’s a compliment. I don’t love it.”
“You mean, you don’t love it when I’m using the sassiness on you.”
“Exactly.”
She laughed. “You like when people listen to you.”
“Love it.”
“Yeah, I’ve already figured that out, and we haven’t even known each other that long.”
Why people wouldn’t listen to Grant she couldn’t really say. He wasn’t just bossy. He exuded confidence and assuredness that was downright comforting. He was clearly intelligent and successful. Why wouldn’t someone assume he knew what he was talking about?
But she hadn’t just gone along with his ideas, had she? She’d fought him on going to urgent care. She’d fought him on letting him pay her bills. She’d been worried—for the right reasons—and wanting to take care of herself. She’d made him compromise and come up with a plan that she could live with. That wasn’t perfect but… was kind of perfect in many ways. And when he had finally presented the compromise, where she got something she wanted and needed and so did he, she’d agreed.
She hadn’t just fallen at his feet, but she hadn’t stubbornly insisted she was right to the detriment of everything.
She’d like to think that was all very reasonable.
“And I can already tell that you’re going to be difficult sometimes,” he said.
Josie nodded. “That’s probably true.”
“I’ll be sure to have the judge add the ‘honor and obey’ line to our wedding service,” he said, the corner of his mouth curling up.
She rolled her eyes. “Well, that will make me really compliant with my medical orders so that I heal and recover as quickly as possible.”
So that they could annul the marriage or whatever they were going to do as soon as possible.
She didn’t add that part, but they both knew that’s what she was referring to.
She didn’t like that part. She’d admit it. She’d never imagined being someone who would marry for anything less than true love and forever.
But interestingly, Grant didn’t laugh or smile or even nod agreement with her statement.
“I hope you’re compliant and get better quickly because I hate seeing you not feeling well,” he said. Sincerely.
That. Was. Romantic. Dammit.
She sighed. She wasn’t in love with him. She couldn’t be. She wasn’t even falling in love with him. Yet. But she wanted to fall in love with him.
“I’m going to brush my teeth. And change into my pajamas.”
“I’ll be right here when you get back.”
It was going to be a long night lying next to her romantic-even-though-he-didn’t-mean-to-be, saving-her-ass, mostly-naked, sort-of fiancé.
11
It had been a long night.
He had not only spent it in a queen-sized bed—Grant couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept in something smaller than a king—but he’d spent it next to the woman he wanted more than he’d ever wanted a woman. Who wanted to have sex with him. Who he was, basically, for all intents and purposes, engaged to.
She smelled good. She looked good. She felt good.
She’d snuggled right up next to him in the night as if they’d been sleeping next to one another for years. Her sweet ass pressed right into his crotch, her head tucked right underneath his chin, her feet sandwiched right between his. As if that was her spot and she’d never been more comfortable in her life.
He didn’t know if she’d done it to torture him—since she’d kindly skipped the striptease—or if she was just a cuddly-touchy-feely type even when she was unconscious but… it was the most heavenly hellish way to spend the last three hours of his night.
He guessed it was the cuddly-touchy-feeling-type thing, honestly. She was bold and stubborn at times, but Jocelyn Asher was not vindictive. He didn’t know how he knew that with such certainty, but he did.
When her alarm went off at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m., she stretched like a cat, rubbing that ass—and the rest of her—against him, probably without even realizing it.
Until she felt his erection pressing into her.
And became aware of his body snuggled tightly up against hers. His arm draped over her waist, his chin resting on the top of her head.
She froze. Then slowly turned. Her eyes widened, and she quickly whipped her head back to face away from him. Then she scooted out from under his arm and to the edge of the bed, nearly jumping off