Chapter 4

By the time I get back to the hotel, I’m shaking with nerves. My hand closes over the door handle, and I take a deep breath, trying to get my breathing to a normal pace before I walk in and see Grayson.

I was a nervous wreck this morning when I found the ring in the bathroom drawer, but now that Gabi confirmed my suspicions were true, and I know what’s going to happen very soon, there’s no way I’ll be able to contain my excitement.

As soon as I gain the courage to open the door, I see Grayson lying on top of the bed. He looks up from his phone, his face breaking out into a grin as soon as he sees me.

“Hey, angel,” he says, lifting off the bed to walk toward me.

I barely have time to react before he leans down and brushes his lips against mine, so soft, so sweet. I melt into him, letting all my worries and nerves disappear as I get lost in his lips.

He pulls back, and I take a breath as his eyes zone in on mine, a smile curling his lips. “Couldn’t wait to come home so I could do that,” he says with a chuckle before he kisses me once, twice, three times until we get lost in each other again, and he lifts me into his arms, making my legs wrap around his waist .

I love him so much. Nine years with Grayson and I fall in love with him even more every day. I love his kisses, his touch, the way he kisses my neck and cups my breast with his hand. God, I just want to let go and lie beneath him, and let him do whatever he wants to me.

But when I remember the ring, I stiffen.

Grayson pulls back when he feels my body grow cold, and his brows dip as he searches my eyes. “Are you okay?” he asks. “Did I go too fast?”

I shake my head, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth. My body grows warm from his kind eyes on me. I love how attentive he is, how he always puts my feelings first, and always checks in with me to see if I’m okay, even after all this time.

I love him so much.

And I hate lying to him.

Which is why the nerves flowing through my body right now are obvious to him. I never lie to him. I’ve never kept anything from him, and now I have to hide the fact that I know what he’s planning.

I’ll have to wait for weeks, months, or however long it takes for him to propose, and keep lying to him as if I know nothing. The thought makes my palms feel clammy, and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to hold out for that long.

“You didn’t go too fast,” I assure him, my heart thumping in my chest when he smiles. “I just need a glass of water. I had a little too many mimosas I think,” I say with a chuckle .

His tattooed hand brushes my blonde hair behind my ear and he leans in for one more kiss. “I’ll get it for you, angel,” he says before heading outside of our hotel room.

I let out a breath of relief, and drop down on the bed, groaning into my hands.

I wish I hadn’t found it.

I wish Gabi hadn’t confirmed it was true.

Part of me is so happy that I know Grayson is planning to marry me, but an even bigger part of me wishes I was still clueless about the whole thing. Having this huge secret looming over me isn’t looking good, and I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait before he finally asks me to marry him.

I want to marry him so bad.

I want to say yes, right now.

But I have to wait.

So, I wait, and wait, and wait, staring up at the white ceiling with bordered edges, keeping my eyes on the blank surface until Grayson bursts through the door, making me stiffen once again.

“I got you a water with no ice, and one with ice,” he says, and I lift off the bed, seeing him carrying two cups in his hands. “I didn’t know what you were in the mood for, so I got both,” he says with a shrug.

I gulp, swallowing down the emotions building in my throat, and reach out to reach for the water with ice. I need a clear head, and the mimosas at brunch did not help. The worst thing I could do right now is lose my head and spill everything I have bottled inside of me .

Grayson eyes me while I drink the water, and his eyes narrow slightly. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks.

I swallow down the water, placing the empty cup on the nightstand before I lift off the bed and head toward the mirror. I can’t lie to him if I look at him. This way I can make myself busy. “Of course,” I say, trying to keep my voice normal as I feel my heart bang against my chest.

Pumping some lotion onto my hand, I rub it on my hands, and arms, but Grayson stands behind me, and I meet his eyes in the mirror. “You’re acting jumpy,” he says, placing his hands on my hips, making my body freeze. “Like that.”

I try to force my body to relax, but it’s impossible when I meet his eyes in the mirror, and the same four words repeat themselves in my head.

I’m lying to him.

I’m lying to him.

I’m lying to him.

“What’s going on, angel?” he asks, concern etched into his features.

“Nothing,” I lie, swallowing hard as I pump more lotion on my hands, looking down so I don’t have to lie to his face, but his thumb lifts my chin and turns my head so our eyes meet.

“Did everything go well at brunch?” he asks, arching a brow at me.

“Yep,” I reply, gulping down all of my lies.

His eyes narrow slightly. “Really?” he asks, his other hand slowly caressing the side, slowly lifting my top so his palms lie flat against my stomach. A noise builds in my throat, but I swallow it back down. “Did you have any… interesting conversations?” he asks, his hand slowly lifting against my body, my top following its path.

Just that you’re going to propose soon.

“Not really,” I manage to say, my voice coming out a little above a whisper as his hands stop right below my breast. “Just food, drinks, Gabi being Gabi, you know.”

His brow arches. “Yeah. I know what Gabi’s like,” he murmurs, his thumb softly grazing against my nipple over my top, making a whimper fly from my lips. “So, you guys didn’t talk about anything else?” he asks, sounding more suspicious by the minute.

The more he talks, and touches me, and looks at me, the more nervous I get, and I shake my head. “Nope,” I say, pressing my lips together.

His eyes squint. “Are you lying to me, Rosie?”

Crap. My lips part on a shaky breath, and my chest rises and falls with each heavy breath leaving my lips. “No,” I lie.

“No?” Grayson repeats, gripping my waist in his hands before he spins me around in one quick movement so I’m looking up at him, and I’m caged in between his body and the dresser. I keep my eyes on him as he leans down and presses his lips to the curve of my neck, making my head lull back. A groan escapes him, rippling against my skin before he lifts his head, meeting my eyes. “Then why is your heart beating so fast?”

“You’re… touching me,” I say, feeling my body grow boiling hot as need takes over me and his brown eyes darken down at me.

“Is that the only reason?” he asks .

My heavy breaths are the only noise between us, and I blink up at him. “Yes.”

Grayson lets out a low hum, his thumb softly grazing against my cheek. “I don’t think that’s it,” he murmurs, running his nose against my jaw. “I think you’re lying to me.”

“I’m… I’m not,” I say, hating that I’m keeping this from him.

I want to tell him. I want him to propose right here, right now. It doesn’t matter where it is, as long as I’m with him. But I know the type of man Grayson is. He’s the love of my life, who makes sure he searched for my dream ring. There’s no way he didn’t think the engagement through, and I don’t want to ruin this for him.

Grayson tuts, and his grip tightens around my waist. “You’ve never lied to me before,” he says, making my stomach drop. “So, it must be something important.”

“Grayson,” I start, swallowing down the nerves flowing through my body, but then he speaks, stealing the air from my lungs.

“You know about the proposal, don’t you?”