Don't blame me, love made me crazy. If it doesn't, you ain't doin' it right...

Taylor Swift reached out to me through the clock radio, dragging me from my slumber.

Nooooo. Surely, it wasn't time to get up already? Eyes still closed, I pouted and cussed myself for staying up so late.

Blame it on Adam.

He'd finished his shift at Mercy and texted me goodnight and I'd not been able to stop myself from calling him just to hear his sexy voice whisper goodnight to me. It didn't work out that way and a two minute conversation turned into a hour and a half chinwag, going on for midnight when we said our goodnights.

Still, I didn't regret it and I would give up sleep for a week if it meant I could spend more time with Adam.

I pried my eyes open. Urgh!

Rolling onto my back, I stretched out my hand in search of my pillow. Found it. I dragged it across my face to hide from the truth—It was time to get up.

Two more minutes.

So, I lay there listening to the lyrics and let my mind mosey on over to its favourite place... Adam.

It had been going on for almost a month now that he'd been making the trip over, flying back and on his rest days to spend time here with with me. Taking me out to lunch when I was working or in the evenings to dinner. He hadn't been exaggerating when he'd said he was gonna romance the heck out of me.

And he'd done exactly that and that wasn't including all the flowers and sweet gifts he'd surprised me with. My favourite being a small gold pendant in the shape of a horseshoe pendant in-bedded with three small diamonds. It was the prettiest thing anyone had ever gotten me.

I reached up and touched it as it lay the dip of my throat.

He'd also not lied when he'd said there would be nothing sexual going on between us—only kissing. And to say I was horny was an understatement and my hand was nothing but a poor substitute and darn well near worn out.

That had to change... and soon! Or I would go stir crazy and most likely jump his bones.

But I knew why he was hesitant. I'd still not given him an answer and true to his word, he hadn't asked me again. But as I lay here, I was sure what my answer was gonna be.

It was now just all about timing.

Or at least that what I kept tellin' myself.

Throwing off my pillow. It was Thursday, and I needed no reminders that Adam would be back in New York tonight. A rush of excitement kicked me into gear and I squealed out loud, giddy as an ant hopper.

Up out of bed, I practically skipped to my small bathroom.

And just about to jump in the shower, my phone rang out. Hoping it might be Adam, I dashed back to my bedroom. It wasn't. It was Connor.

"Hey bestie," I said in my sweetest sing-song voice as I made my way back to the bathroom.

"Hey Princess."

"What do I owe the pleasure of you calling this early?" I gasped. "Don't tell me y'all gone an tried to enter the Miss Lockwood pageant at local church again." I bit back my giggle. Connor had tried to enter himself when he was six years old. He was quite upset that it was girls only.

"Ha, ha. Ain't you funny this morning" He huffed but I knew he was grinning. "I'll have you know, I would have beaten all those prissy little girls hands down —I was much prettier."

"I never doubted it."

We both laughed.

"So, go on, tell me. Don't keep me in suspenders."

Connor squealed down the phone. "I'm getting married!"

I shoved my hand into the shower and flipped the leaver off. This deserved all my attention.

"Ohmygod Connor!" I screamed. "That's—that's​—that." I stumbled over my words. "Ohmygods! Tell me everythin'. "

I barely snatched a breath.

"Who did the askin'?" I was so excited as I bounced on the balls of my feet. "Where did it happen. Ohmygod—was it romantic?"

"Wow, wow, wow...slow down, Princess."

I was almost out of breath. "I just can't believe it. It's just the best news!"

"I know, right?" he gushed down the phone. "I almost didn't believe it either. Max did the askin' just sprung it on me and there's no way I'm waiting around just in case he changes his mind."

"Pfft, he ain't never changin' his mind about you, Connor Jackson. That man loves you with his heart and soul."

My heart was fit to bursting for them both.

"Princess, I need y'all with me on this one. I can't do it without my best friend by my side...my best woman."

I swallowed. Damn. It would mean stepping foot in Lockwood again so soon. But there was no way on this god's green earth I would miss their big day. I would risk life and limb first. "You can count on it. I love you and Max, and not even the biggest, meanest soldier could stop me from being there."

And definitely not Mercy Jane Lockwood!

"Yeehaw!" he yelled down the phone and I swore my eardrum popped. "I can't tell y'all how happy that makes me Riley Jo." I thought I heard him sniffle.

I listened as he reeled off a list as long as your arm of everything that needed doing. They wanted to get married in July, which was only three months away.

"Hey, Princess. You never know, y'all might be headin' down that aisle yourself soon."

I spluttered a cough. Yeah right. In my dreams, maybe. "Let's not be talkin' crazy."

"I'm not. I keep checking in with the good doctor and although I wasn't sure at first he deserved you—he's winning me over."

I smiled at his words. It meant a lot that Connor liked Adam.

"Listen, Princess, I just wanted you to be the first one to know, but I gotta head out before I'm late for work. Call you later. Okay?"

"You do that and give that handsome fiancé of yours a big kiss from me!"

Ending the call, this was already starting out to be a perfect day.

Now at work, I was knee deep in files as I hummed the Taylor Swift song that had broken into my dreams this morning. The damn thing wouldn't shift.

"Morning Riley Jo," singsonged Cynthia, breezing into my office, baring gifts.

I quickly glanced up, smiling.

"And bless my heart, I don't think I've ever seen anyone be so happy organising the company tax files."

I swivelled around and placed the file in my hand on top of the grey cabinet and bumped the drawer shut with my butt. "Morning Cynthia," I sang out.

"Have you missed me, Sugar?" she asked, dropping a coffee on my desk along with a bag from my favourite diner across the way.

Cynthia and Mac had been visiting family for a few days.

"Sure have. Place isn't the same without you and Mac." I stalked toward my table. "Please tell me that's hidin' what I think it is?"

"Sure is, Sugar." She perched half on-half off on the edge of my desk, taking a sip of her coffee.

I let out a squeal as I sat my ass down and pulled the bag toward me, almost tearing it open to stick my head inside, inhaling the sweet sugary goodness...almost as good at Stella's home-cooked back home.

Hmm... blueberry. Delicious. My mouth watered.

My fingers snagged it from the bag, peeling back the wrapper I savoured my first bite. Talking with my mouth half-full. "If anyone ever tells you—you're not allowed in heaven, Cynthia, then you send them my way." I stole another chunk.

Cynthia watched me in amusement, her smile stretched wide. "Does that buy me some well-earned gossip?"

What? I swallowed, my head tilting slowly to the side, puzzled by her question. "Gossip? What gossip?" I'd not heard that anyone had died, got married or had a baby.

"No, Sugar, 'bout you and Adam."

Me and Adam? "I'm still not following'"

Sighing, arching her brows. "Have you given the man an answer yet?"

Oh. I shook my head. "Nope."

"How long are you gonna keep that poor man waiting?"

My thighs clenched at the very same thought, and I was sure my vagina pouted in frustration.

"When I know—I'll know."

"Don't you go feedin' me that line Riley Jo," she admonished, frowning at me. "And don't go tellin' me you still don't know, either."

I went rigid, freezing in place. My appetite took a dive and forced me to rest my half eaten muffin on the desk. There was no point lying or trying to avoid the question. "I guess..." Shrugging. "I'm scared that if I tell him, he might run in the other direction." It wouldn't be the first time.

"Awe, Sugar. Have you not seen the way that man looks at you?"

Had she seen something I hadn't? "What about the way he looks at me?"

Her smile brightened. "Like the world starts and stops with you—that's how."

My eyes went wide as colour suffused my cheeks.

"And just look at all those dates he's been taking you...the horse-back ridin' and that fancy helicopter trip over the city."

I smiled at the memory of the helicopter ride. When he'd said he was gonna show me around New York, well, it was certainly from a view I'd never seen before.

Cynthia giggled, shaking her head. "Mac's idea of showing me New York was a walk around Central Park and lunch was a hot-dog with extra mustard." She brushed some hair from my face. "You think yourself lucky."

I made a pfft-ing sound, rolling my eyes."Yea, but you still fell in love with him anyways."

She sighed exaggeratedly. "I knew I was gonna marry that man the second I clapped eyes on him."

"Yeah?"

"Ah-hu. Man was as subtle as a freight train in tellin' me he wanted me."

I'd heard this story quite a few times, although Mac's version differed from Cynthia's. "But you turned him down when he asked you."

"A girl's gotta play a little hard to get, makes a man appreciate her more, and I was enjoying the dance way too much." Her eyes glazed, and I was sure she was reliving memories. "But you know in your heart when you find the one, Riley Jo." She smiled wistfully. "Don't let fear or the past stop you from grabbing all the happiness you deserve."

I knew she was right.

"And I can tell y'all this for nothing. That man says more with a look than any poetry I've ever read!"

Cynthia was most definitely Team Adam. "Has he put you up to this?" Whenever Adam had come to the office, Cynthia had made sure she stuck around to grill and maybe flirt just a little...but it was all harmless fun. Cynthia had a heart of gold.

"No, I'm just trying to tell you he's in love Riley Jo—with you!"

My eyebrows snapped to my hairline, and my mouth dropped open.

Love!?

And if that was true—why hadn't he told me so?

I'd admitted my feelings in my letter and I'd meant it. The man owned my heart. But did I own a little piece of his yet? That I couldn't answer—and maybe he couldn't either?

I could feel Cynthia's eyes drilling into me. I pinched my brow, looking up. "What? What do you want me to say?"

"I know what you're thinking, Riley Jo."

Did she?

"Your thinking then why hasn't he said those three little words to me yet?"

Holy shit-balls. My eyes bugged out. She did know what I was thinking.

"Riley, the man is willing to move cross country because that's where you are." She looked a me thoughtfully "Child, if that's not one-hundred percent bonafide screaming out he loves you—then I don't know what is."

Was she right?

"When is he back in town?"

My heart giddied-up. "Tonight. He's picking me up at seven, not sure where he's taking me."

"Well, you think on what I've said."

I shyly smiled. It was time I gave him my answer and dealt with any fallout.

Adam had messaged to tell me his flight had landed on time and he would still be here for seven.

He didn't tell me where he was taking us tonight. The man was obsessed with surprising me at every turn. The only annoying thing was he wouldn't let me pay for a damn thing, so instead I'd bought him a couple of gifts. Nothing fancy just a new wallet and a few items of clothing. But I had been saving up for something special. Adam had told me his fondness for old watches and I'd seen one that I thought was perfect and in another month or so and adding to it my shoe fund then I would have enough to surprise him.

I glanced over my reflection in the mirror, happy with the blue dress which as with all my others flattered by ample chest and allowed for a hint of cleavage because as my nana always said, the best things come wrapped in the nicest packaging. I slipped my hands over the curvature of my waist before bending and slipping on my heels. One last look. Perfect! I grabbed my coat and purse and headed out, locking the door behind me.

It was almost seven, and I hurtled down the old staircase to meet him. Although he preferred to pick me up at my door. But I was much too giddy to wait.

Stepping outside, looking left and right. Not here yet. A cool breeze twisted around my ankles and then shot right up my skirt, making me think I should have worn something a little warmer. A cab pulled up and my body heated up a treat as Adam stepped out.

Oh, my...it might only have been a few days since I'd last seen him, but my heart fluttered up a storm. He looked as handsome as ever and his normal tidy hair was a little longer and unruly, as the breeze teased it.

...And wait up. Gone was the beard. His delicious full lips on display looking as kissable as ever. I stopped short of swooning as I waved my fingers at him and his smile widened with every step closer.

I was so ready to tell him what was in my heart.

"Damn, I missed you." He cupped the side of my face whilst his thumb swept gently over my lips. "You look beautiful Riley."

And didn't my heart melt all over again. "Adam..." my voice was wobbly and my throat dried. His lips gently pressed against my skin, my forehead... nose... cheek, sweeping down as his lips captured mine and his hands followed the shape of my curves and my entire body went from warm to flammable.

I wanted him. As in right now.

Adam deepened the kiss, apparently not caring that we were standing on the side-walk as he swallowed me down in greedy mouthfuls, desperate for more.

His lips left mine, and I tilted my head for him to skim my throat. "Adam...what are we—"

He cut in. "Don't care... missed you... missed this."

"People—" I heard the clearing of a throat and random comments from strangers as they watched our very open display of affection.

"Let them watch..." he murmured in between his blissful kisses.

My fingers tightened around his shoulders as his lips returned to mine and his tongue swept across mine stealing any reservations about people staring and as I raised on my tiptoes and he pulled me closer. I felt his erection...delicious and hard... and I shamelessly rubbed up against him.

And if I told him right now—my answer. The all of him could be mine.

I broke away sharply, practically out of breath. Adam looked confused. "Riley?"

"My answer is yes—Yes, I want you. I want to be with you—Yes." I blurted out, not sure if I'd made a lot of sense, but who could blame me? The man had just kissed me stupid.

"Yes? You mean yes—yes?" he asked, making me happy that he sounded just as crazy as me."

I laughed, nodding, and then he joined me as we both stood laughing like a pair of crazy fools and I just loved his laugh, it might be one of the most wonderful sounds I'd ever heard, deep and sexy and now unlike before...full of life. My heart swelled behind my ribs. I loved this man so damn much.

Snapping from my wondering thoughts he wrapped his hands around my waist again and pulled us flush. His forehead lowered to mine. "I'm never letting you go Riley Jo Lockwood."

"Good to know." I was still a little breathless. "And the same goes for me too."

"Good to know," he repeated my words before sucking a breath. "Now let me take you to dinner and then I'm scrapping what I had planned for the rest of the night, as I have a very different idea of how I want us to spend our time together." He squeezed my hand.

I knew what he was was implying and I didn't even try to ignore the gut punch of arousal that clenched the muscles of my belly...and lower. "I'm happy to let you decide."

His eyes snapped to mine, surprise flared, then his expression changed to one now heavy with desire, gleaming with intent, and I think my ovaries exploded and my lady-parts sang out, hallelujah!

Jesus, where the did all the air go?

His eyes continued to eat me up.

Oh yeah, he wanted me.

"Trust me, no arguments here...doctor."

He growled. "C'mon." He took my hand in his. "Tell me somewhere good to eat close by."

I slowly teased my tongue across my bottom lip, with Adam following the movement as his nostrils flared. "Hmm, if you're interested, there's an amazing little Mexican place not a ten-minute walk from here."

"Yeah?"

"They do amazing Machaca."

"Perfect," he said and planted a kiss on the top of my head as we walked hand in hand, strolling along the sidewalk.

I was looking forward to our evening...but the best part was going to be coming back to my apartment where I would serve him dessert.

... Dessert being me!

I was done waiting, and fingers crossed. He was too.