“No,” she breathed.

I lowered my mouth and spoke over the skin just below her belly button. “Does he pleasure you? Does he give you what you really need?”

Her legs were quivering. “Chance, stop.”

Her body’s reaction was enough of an answer for me.

I was back in the game.

“Princess, look over there. My suitcase is packed. I’m ready to leave in the morning. Do I have any reason to stay? You tell me.”

A look of torment washed over her pretty face. “I can’t promise anything.”

“I didn’t ask for a promise. I asked for a chance. I’d like to start by just being your friend again…the way we began.”

She got up and started to pace. “I’m still with Richard. I won’t cheat on him.”

“I didn’t ask you to.” I walked toward her slowly, trying not to seem like a lion on the prowl despite my predatory feelings. “So, let me ask you again. Do you want me to stay?”

She looked up into my eyes and whispered, “Yes.”

“Then, I’m here.”

She backed away. “I have to go. I told him I was going out to get ice cream and put gas in my car.”

“You’d better actually go get some then. Be careful. It’s late. When will I see you again?”

“Richard has an early meeting. Meet me tomorrow for breakfast at Starbucks at nine.”

“Us? Together? At Starbucks?”

“Yes. Just don’t order the same thing as me. It’s creepy.”

I grinned.

When the door closed behind her, my previously subtle smile transformed into a huge beaming one.

I walked over to the trash can, dug up my ring and placed it back on my finger.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Chapter Twenty-Two

I stayed up half the night trying to come up with some grand scheme of making Aubrey trust me again. It had been two long years, and I wanted back in so badly—both figuratively and literally—I felt like I could explode. But in the end, I knew there was no grand scheme. It needed to happen the way we happened. Just us being us, a little at a time.

Now, that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to try to use every available advantage I could come up with. It just meant that I’d have to sprinkle those advantages around lightly over time.

In the shower, I thought back to the things that made Aubrey’s eyes sparkle. The first time I saw her eyes glaze over, we were in a diner, and I’d fed her from my plate. The greasy eggs and sausage were dripping with Sriracha, and all I could think about was how I could never enjoy a meal again alone after watching her eat from my hands. I was also quite certain she had an affinity for my accent. With these two small things in my mind, my shower might have taken a bit longer than I anticipated. But I was ready for my breakfast date. And damn was I hungry for Aubrey.

I stopped by a local deli and picked up some things, prepping for my Australian breakfast. Before I left my place, I’d swiped some of my favorites from my sister’s food stash. I headed over to Starbucks early with a large brown bag, wanting to clear my bringing breakfast in with Melanie before Aubrey arrived.

“You’re late this morning.” Melanie pulled out a cup and began to write on it with a marker for the barista behind her.

“Could you make it two of those? I’m meeting someone for breakfast.” My cocky smile was enough to tell Melanie who that someone was.

Melanie’s eyes widened. She truly looked excited for me. “You mean you’ll be sharing coffee with her this morning, instead of just picking up the tab?”

“I will.”

She clapped her hands together. “I knew it! Richard’s a nice guy and all. But it’s not the same. You’ve brought out a side of Aubrey we’ve never seen.”

I hoped that side was the real Aubrey, and she’d still kept it hidden for me. I wondered if good ‘ole Dick knew my girl liked to fight and had a dirty streak in her. I was banking on the fact that he was fucking clueless. “Listen, Melanie. Do you mind if I bring in some breakfast this morning? I picked up some things to share with Aubrey.”

“Of course not. By all means. Do whatever is necessary.”

“Thanks, Melanie.”

I picked the coziest seats I could find. They were in the corner, two brown distressed leather chairs with a small table between them. I pulled the chairs closer together before I set out our breakfast. Aubrey showed right at nine.

I stood when she arrived at our table. There was an awkward moment at first. I wanted to lean in and kiss her, even if it was only on her cheek. But her body language was rigid—almost nervous. “Morning.” I nodded.