Building Our Love (Griffin Brothers #2) by Crystal Perkins Page A

LOVE YOU: I’m the only one
who you give your first drafts to. That means a lot to me.
    “You found my note.”
I didn’t hear Ryan come in, but he’s behind me, pushing my hair
aside to nuzzle my neck. “Do you like it?”
    “Of course I like it.
And I love that you changed the wording.” Seeing him say that he
loves me in writing is pretty, well, awesome.
    “Yeah, I didn’t
want to start over, and I do think you’re awesome, so I thought I
should just add to it. I was hoping that you’d like it.”
    “It’s perfect. I
think you’re awesome, too. S, I’m going to change mine now as
well.” I look at him in the mirror, and he smiles back at me. “If
that’s okay.”
    “It’s definitely
okay. Now, let’s get dressed before we end up back in bed. Not that
I don’t like your bed, but I want to show you mine.”
    “I want to see yours.
It’s probably nicer than mine. I didn’t want dad to spend too
much money, so I only bought basic stuff. I haven’t had time to
decorate. What kind of interior designer doesn’t do anything with
their own place?”
    “Umm, the super sexy
kind,” he tells me with a kiss. “Besides, I didn’t think you
were planning on staying here permanently.”
    “I’m not. In fact,
with the crazy money you’re giving me for the Seattle project, I
was thinking about buying a house.”
    “I know an architect
who would build one for you.” He turns me to face him. “I meant
it when I said that I want you forever, Chloe. Let me build us a
house.”
    “I don’t know what
to say, Ry. I want to be with you forever, too. I would love to have
you design a house for us. Are you sure that it’s not too soon,
though?”
    “I’ve been in love
with you for eight years, Chloe. Maybe if I’d told you that I
wanted you forever three years ago, you would’ve stayed with me. I
had a ring. I still have it. I was just waiting for the perfect
time.”
    “I’m going to tell
you again that nothing you did or said was the cause of me leaving
you. You were the perfect boyfriend. As for the ring, I had been
hoping for one, and it would’ve made it harder for me to leave you,
but I still would have. I can’t tell you why. I wish that I could,
but I can’t.”
    “I wish you could,
too. But I’m going to tell you again that I forgive you and want to
move forward with you in my life.” He takes my face in his hands.
“So, can I build us a house?”
    “I want to move
forward with you, too. And if you decide to give that ring to me
sometime, know that my answer will be yes. As for the house, can I
have a closet room? I’ve always wanted one of those.”
    “Anything you want,
Chlo. I want us to work together on the house and the interior.” He
looks me in the eye when he continues. “I will be asking you one
day. I don’t know when, but I will.”
    * * *
    Ryan
    I’ve been a little
freaked out since our conversation in the bathroom, but I’ve worked
hard to not let it show. I wasn’t planning on asking Chloe to let
me build us a house and telling her that I’ve had a ring for her
for three years. Well, actually, I’ve had it for five. I just
thought that we would be together forever back then, so I didn’t
want to ask until I felt that it was the absolute perfect time.
Unfortunately, everything fell apart before I could find that time.
    I almost gave it to her
the night that we were finally together. I spent the last three years
trying to figure out if it would have made a difference. Now I know
the answer. I can’t decide if it’s the answer that I want or not.
But I’m no longer wondering. I meant it when I said that I will
give it to her one day. I can’t just yet, though. I know it’s
crazy that I can build us a house and not give her a ring. The house
will be more personal than the ring. I couldn’t let her buy a
house, make it her own, and then ask her to build a house with me,
though. And we both said we wanted to move forward. My brain is
telling me that Chloe may have