Marry Me (Lyrics and Love Book 1) Read online

  “I agree. I don’t think I’ve ever had such fresh shrimp.”

  “I could eat this everyday we’re here and I’d be happy,” she says between bites.

  We don’t get much talking in as we both devour our food. She wasn’t wrong when she said this meal was amazing.

  We finish eating and listen to the music playing. The band up on the stage is doing a great job entertaining the crowd, getting people up and dancing and having a good time. They sing a wide range of popular songs, from country to top-40 hits, a little bit of rock and roll, and even an R&B song thrown in.

  “I’m going to go check out some of the little shops, did you want to come with me?” Lauren asks, after we’ve listened to the band play for a while.

  “Sure, let’s go,” I say, standing and picking up the tray full of trash. After I toss it all in the bin and place the tray in the cart, we walk toward the strip of shops lining the courtyard area we’d been sitting in.

  I reach out and twine my fingers with Lauren’s as we walk along the sidewalk. I love the feeling of her skin against mine, and she hasn’t seemed to mind the few other times I’ve held her hand. I know I need to give her time and space, and I will. But this is one small way we can feel connected in the meantime. She turns her head to me, giving me a small coy smile once our fingers are interlocked together.

  “Oh, I want to go inside this place!” Lauren excitedly tells me, pulling me slightly into the shop.

  We are greeted by the sales clerk as soon as we step inside. We browse the traditional touristy items—t-shirts, sweatshirts, shot glasses, post cards, and so much more. We separate as we each browse the items, and I’m looking through some of the funny trinkets they have when Lauren comes up with a few items in her hands.

  “Find some good things?”

  “Yeah, just a couple tank tops and a floatie to take out in the water when we go back to the beach.”

  We make our way to the checkout and Lauren quickly pays for her items. I take the bag from her as we exit the store, and immediately slide my hand back into hers as we walk along the sidewalk.

  “Want to grab some ice cream?” I ask, as we approach a store advertising freshly-made ice cream and other desserts.

  “Sure, I could go for a cone,” she says, smiling up at me before she lifts up on her toes and kisses my cheek. Damn, what I would do to turn my head slightly and capture her lips with my own. But due time, and all that jazz. I know we’ll have that moment, now just isn’t the time for it. When the time is right and we’re ready to take that next step, I’ll damn well make that first real kiss between the two of us something neither one of us will ever forget.

  We each have a hard time selecting what flavors we want as so many of them sound so good. We each end up with a double scoop cone and take them back outside to eat while we stroll along, checking out the shops some more. We each selected two different flavors and share them with each other as we walk along. Once we reach the end of the shops, we head in the direction of the condo.

  The area we’re in is very pedestrian-friendly, as most people are going and coming from the beach all day. A few bars can now be seen, with areas down on the beach roped off, hanging strings of lights illuminating them as vacation-goers all enjoy their time.

  “Want to go grab a drink?” I ask, pointing toward one of the bars down at the beach.

  “Sure, but let’s go drop off my stuff first, since we’re only a block or so away from the condo.”

  We do just that, dropping off the bag before heading back out and across the street to the beach bar.

  “Good evening, what can I get the two of you tonight?” the bartender asks as we approach.

  “I’ll take a beer. Do you have anything local on tap? And Ren, what would you like?” I ask, turning in Lauren’s direction as she slides up to the bar next to me.

  “I’ll take Malibu Sunset, please,” she tells the bartender.

  “We have the 30A Beach Blonde Ale on tap, if you’d like to try it,” the bartender tells me.

  “I’ll give it a try.”

  “Did you guys want to open a tab or pay by the drink?”

  “Let’s open a tab,” I tell him, dropping my credit card on the bar.

  A few moments later, he sets down Lauren’s drink and my beer, and returns my credit card to me. “Just flag me down when you need a refill or something else.”

  “Thank you,” Lauren and I reply as he steps down the bar to help another customer.

  We grab our drinks and make our way closer to the beach, finding a small empty table to sit down, at the edge of the wood flooring.

  “Any ideas on what we should do tomorrow?” I ask, after trying my beer.

  “I was looking at a website that lists a bunch of the fun things to do down here. I was thinking we could go rent a pair of bicycles and ride along all the little shopping areas. They listed a few places along the way that have mini-golf and more food trucks, music stages, things like that. I’m also happy with just hanging down at the beach or at the condo some, too.”

  “The bikes sound like a good idea. Did the website say where we can find the rental spot at?”

  “It looked like the rental spots are all over, but I can look up for sure where the closest one is.”

  We finish our drinks, just as a band starts to set up just down on the sand off the bar.

  “Did you want another drink? We can stay and listen to the band, or head back to the condo.”

  “I could go for one more drink.”

  “Same thing, or did you want something different?” I ask, standing and grabbing our empty glasses.

  “Same, please,” she tells me.

  I head back to the bar, flagging down the bartender who helped us before, and order our drinks. He quickly gets them made and I’m back to the table, drinks in hand, within minutes.

  The band strikes up as I sit down, and Lauren starts dancing in her seat.

  “Would you like to hit the dance floor?” I ask, offering her my hand.

  “Sure!” she squeals, taking my hand, and I lead her onto the dance floor.

  We dance and enjoy ourselves over the next hour or so, just letting everything go and appreciating the music and atmosphere. The dance floor is a popular place and the band is really good. They play a good mix of covers as well as some of their own original music.

  “I need another drink!” Lauren yells in my ear over the noise of the crowd, nodding toward the bar. I grab her hand and lead us through the crowd and up to the bar.

  “What can I get ya?” the bartender asks.

  “Can I get an ice water and a Malibu Sunset?” Ren asks.

  “Sure, and for you, sir?” she asks me.

  “I’ll take a water and a glass of the 30A Beach Blonde Ale you have on tap. We have an open tab as well, that you can put these on.”

  “What’s the name for the tab?”

  “Sam Cole.”

  “Here’re your waters. Just give me a minute and I’ll have your drinks up,” she tells us as she steps away to start making them.

  “Did you want to stay here longer, or are you ready to call it a night?” I ask Lauren as we wait for the bartender to return with our drinks, having already sucked down our glasses of water.

  “I think I’m ready to call it a night after we finish off the drinks we just ordered. Dancing wore me out!” she says, smiling at me.

  “It was a lot of fun. We’ll have to come back and check this place out again this week.”

  The bartender approaches with our drinks and sets them on the bar top in front of us. “Can I get you guys anything else?”

  “You can close out the tab when you have a moment, we’re ready to call it a night.”

  “No problem, I’ll go grab your slip now.”

  I turn so I’m facing Lauren, but looking toward the band. I watch as the crowd dances along to the song they’re currently playing.

  “Thanks for tonight. It’s just what I needed,” Lauren tells me, pulling
my attention back to her.

  “Anytime, Ren.” I reach out to cup her cheek, wiping an eyelash off.

  The small smile she gives me, the one that’s always been just for me, sends a jolt straight to my heart and my dick. I don’t know how I’m going to hold in my self-control and let her set the pace on whatever this is between us, but I know I have to.

  18

  Lauren

  The past couple of days has been everything. The time away to decompress was just what I needed, and the added bonus of spending all that time alone with Sam was a very added bonus. We spent many hours down at the beach, swam a little, explored the area on bikes, and stopped and played mini-golf at a few different places. We listened to so much music along the beach, as well as eating and drinking our way up and down the boardwalk. I’m actually sad to be leaving this morning, but Sam has to get me back so that he can go back home. Work calls for him in just a couple days.

  “Do you need help loading anything in the car?” Sam hollers from another room.

  I walk out to find him, having just finished zipping up my suitcase.

  “I just finished packing, so if you want to load this up, you can.”

  “Sure, can you do a look through on my room, just to make sure I didn’t miss anything? I can do the same with yours if you’d like.”

  “Yep, and then I’ll double-check the bathroom.”

  “Sounds good. Be right back,” he says, grabbing my suitcase and heading for the car.

  I do my walk through of his room, the bathroom, kitchen, and living room areas, not finding anything left behind.

  “Just my room left to check as I’ve done all the other rooms. Then we can hit the road.”

  “Okay, I’ll check it quick if you want to go get loaded up.”

  Our road trip back is uneventful, and we switch on and off driving each time we stop to stretch and use the bathroom or grab something to eat. The conversation between the two of us has been so easy this past week and we’ve talked about so much, but still haven’t defined what we want between the two of us, and when. I know I need to take time for myself and just be me, but I also don’t want to waste any more time not being together. Then comes the other issue of us living hundreds of miles apart.

  With about an hour left until we make it back, I reach over and turn the radio down so that we can talk a little more seriously without the distraction.

  “So, what are we doing? I know you said you’d wait for me to be ready for more, and I still think I need that. I still need to take some time for myself, but I also don’t want to waste any more time either.”

  “I’m willing to go at your pace, Ren. But I also think it’s a good idea if you take some time for yourself. It also isn’t like we can see each other everyday right now. So, we’ll have to rely on calling, texting, and FaceTiming when we can. Depending on what case I get assigned to when I get back will determine my availability. Big cases can sometimes take up most of my time while we’re in the depths of solving it.”

  “Do you think, once you’re home and find out your case load, I could possibly come visit you for a few days or long weekend before school starts back up for me in August?”

  “Absolutely! Even if I’m assigned to a case, I can probably get a couple days off. You pick the dates and I’ll make it happen.”

  “And what happens if we do this, and then realize that we’re better off as just friends?”

  “Then we’d know we gave it a try, and if friends is all we’re supposed to be, then we’ll be the best of friends. No hard feelings.”

  “And this isn’t going to be weird for you and Steven?”

  “Don’t worry about me and Steven, Ren. He’s known for years how I feel about you, and has been pushing me to tell you. I’m sure he will be perfectly fine with whatever we decide is best for the two of us.”

  “Okay. I just don’t want anything to come between you two. I’d hate myself if I was the cause of something.”

  “Lauren, seriously, don’t worry about Steven and me. You aren’t going to come between us. We’re good. He’s good with us, and would support us no matter what we decide is best for the two of us. I might be your brother’s best friend, but he has to share that spot with you. Even with all the distance between us, I’ve never not considered you my best friend and I hope that never changes,” Sam tells me, the vulnerability noticeable in his voice.

  “Okay, then I won’t worry,” I assure him. He reaches over and grabs my hand, linking our fingers, and gives my hand a gentle squeeze.

  “We do this, at your pace. Whatever that is. Got it?”

  I can’t help the huge smile that fills my face at his words.

  “Yes, I got it,” I tell him before I lean over and kiss his cheek.

  19

  Sam

  The past six weeks have flown by. As soon as I returned from Kentucky, I was thrown into a big case that has kept me so busy I forget what day it is most of the time. I, however, don’t forget that Lauren will be arriving this afternoon and will be staying with me for the next five days.

  Five days alone with her.

  Five days of her in my bed—hopefully naked. Hey, I’m a man, and a horny one at that.

  Five days to see if this is going to work between us.

  Five days to be as normal a couple as we can be.

  “Sam, you there?” Jennings says, waving his hand in front of my face.

  “Sorry, zoned out there for a minute.”

  Dave Jennings is one of the other agents based out of my home office. We became friends when we both started at this office the same day; me, as a brand-new agent and him, as a transfer. He’d been with the Bureau for about eighteen months when he was transferred to this location. We’ve been good friends ever since.

  He just laughs at me. “How long until she arrives?”

  “I need to leave for the airport in about thirty minutes.”

  He laughs at me again. “So, I’ll see you again in, what, six days?”

  “Yep, don’t expect to see me before that, unless you and Meg want to grab dinner one night.”

  “I’m sure we could make that happen. Just text me. About time we meet the famous Lauren. That is, if you let her out of your bed long enough,” he ribs me.

  “I’ve got to get her into it first, before I can even think about letting her leave it,” I grumble. We haven’t discussed the whole intimacy aspect of what we both expect to happen this week. I’d never expect nor pressure her into it, but that doesn’t lessen the fact that I’m a man and she is the woman I want. That, and I only have a one-bedroom condo, that only has one bed. So, unless I sleep on the couch, she’s going to be in my arms each night and that body against mine is going to have my dick hard all the time.

  If how steamy some of our phone and video chat sessions have gotten over the past few weeks is any indication, I don’t think we’ll be keeping our hands off each other much this trip.

  “You think any more about putting in for that transfer to the Kentucky office?”

  “Yeah, I actually submitted my request this morning. I was going to surprise Lauren with that information once she gets here.”

  “Well, keep me posted on that. I’ll hate to see you go, but understand why you want to.”

  “Thanks, man, I just need to be near her if this is ever going to work long-term, and I know that she doesn’t want to leave home. Plus, she’s at such a great school, so I’d hate to ask her to move here.”

  I stand at the exit for security, my back against a pillar and hands stuffed in my pockets as I watch the steady stream of people. Lauren texted me about ten minutes ago, letting me know she’d touched down but was still taxiing to the gate, and that she’d see me soon.

  I finally see her in the crowd as she makes her way down the hall and out to the open. I watch as she scans the area looking for me, and when our eyes meet, the smile that fills her face causes me to replicate hers. She saunters over to me, dropping her carry-on at my feet, and then l
aunches herself into my arms, burying her face in my neck. I nuzzle the crook of her neck as I hold her tight against me.

  “I missed you so damn much,” I mumble into her neck, placing an open-mouthed kiss against her skin. The shiver that runs through her body doesn’t go unnoticed. She pulls back, and drops her forehead to mine, as we make eye contact.

  “I missed you, too,” she whispers.

  I squeeze her once more, then slide her down my body. No way could she miss the erection in my jeans.

  “Let’s go grab your luggage so we can get out of here,” I tell her, placing a kiss on her forehead. I reach down and grab her carry-on bag, and then her hand, as we walk toward baggage claim.

  Thankfully, the luggage from her flight is already coming out when we find the carousel, and quickly locate her bag. We head straight for my truck parked out in the lot.

  “Are you hungry?” I ask, once we’re in the truck and pulling out of the airport.

  “Getting there. Did you have plans yet for dinner tonight?”

  “I figured I’d grill us some steaks, and I picked up some twice baked potatoes from the store, as well as some salad fixings.”

  “That all sounds so good,” she tells me as I reach over and place my hand on her bare knee, giving it a little squeeze. The cut-off shorts she’s got on don’t leave much to the imagination and fuck, does she look hot in them.

  “I’m happy you’re here,” I tell her. “I’m excited to show you around, maybe even introduce you to a few of my friends while you’re here, if you’re up to it.”

  “Of course! I want to see everything and meet the people here that are important to you. Do I get to see where you work? Is that allowed?”

  “Yes, I can take you in and show you where I work.” I chuckle. “I might work for the FBI, but I can still take you around and tell you a little bit about my work.”

  “I’m excited to see where it is you work all day. Where it is you catch criminals,” she says excitedly.