Off-Map Hearts, page 20
He had a quick shower and then ordered takeout. They’d wanted Chinese but hadn’t been interested in any interruption and instead subsisted on oatmeal and bits of the meal Cole had made when he’d arrived.
Graden dressed in Cole’s clothes and smiled thinking about the offer of as much closet space as he wanted to take once he moved in, and that he was loath to leave to even pack so he could. They agreed they’d get on it starting Monday, when Cole had to rouse for work anyway.
Work Graden would also show up for.
Anticipation bubbled in him at the prospect of planning and organizing small businesses into bigger successes. At seeing Triple M—Frank and Dani and the kids—again and offering them the money a bank wouldn’t give. At having purpose beyond being good at planning and organizing but not feeling like it really made a difference.
He steeped peppermint tea, put it with some cookies on a tray, and gathered the package he’d expected from the hallway and added it to his pile of trip enticement that had remained on the dining table.
Cole was awake when he tiptoed back into the bedroom, and he knelt on the bed.
“Tea?” he asked as he settled to sit against the enormous padded headboard as Cole lifted the covers and tucked him back in.
Cole made a grateful noise, nosed into his hair, and stayed leaned against his shoulders, sipping quietly as he got everything sorted.
“What’s all this?” Cole asked thickly, large, warm hand covering Graden’s thigh.
“All this is a land map and atlas based on the latest government surveys and satellite topography surveying. It’s got everything,” he enthused and started flipping through it.
“And this?” Cole pointed at the stack of papers.
Graden’s several would-be adventures intended to entice Cole into giving up New York for him—and now, to take together for certain.
“Glamping near Arches. And Glacier. And a route from here to Denver and into Yellowstone with a stop at a five-star hotel so we can join the mile-high club.” Graden shrugged. “Of a sorts.”
“Hmm,” Cole hummed casually as he leafed through the offerings, with telltale tightening of his hand around Graden’s thigh when he heard what was in store for Denver. “Shenanigans check.”
“I’m listening.”
Cole held up a page. It was the cover sheet for one of the trips—Graden had made one for each, with the highlights listed in bold bullet points and a picture of their main destination at the top—this one to London.
“Christmas in Rome first. Just us, and we see whatever you want for however long you want. And then a stop in London to visit your parents.”
Graden pretended to think it over. “Yeah, okay. I can agree to that.”
“Sure?” Cole asked, plucking their tea mugs to put on the tray and set aside. He pushed the stack of papers to slither off the bed and boosted over Graden, propped on his hands.
“I’m sure.” Graden smiled and pulled Cole to him the rest of the way for a kiss.
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ELLE BROWNLEE always followed her creative, adventuring spirit. Growing up she loved reading, watching Westerns, and taking long hikes, where she’d craft miniature worlds with moss and rocks while making up stories of what happened there. As an adult, not a lot has changed. She still loves all these things—which makes being a writer such a joy. She also loves rainy days in autumn, National Parks, birding and quilting and stickers, and the perfect cup of tea.
Elle currently juggles plenty of travel, working to make the world a better place, and writing. She’s so thankful to be able to share her work with a growing audience, and especially grateful to have you reading along.
Website: www.ellebrownlee.com/index.html
Facebook: www.facebook.com/elle.brownlee
Twitter: @ellebrownlee
Email: brownlee.elle@gmail.com
By Elle Brownlee
DREAMSPUN DESIRES
Off-Map Hearts
Say Yes to a Mess
Two for Trust
COAST GUARD RESCUE
Staggered Cove Station
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Off-Map Hearts
© 2021 Elle Brownlee
Cover Art
© 2021 L. R. Keaton
https://www.alrkeaton.com/
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64405-934-0
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64405-933-3
Digital published September 2021
First Edition
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
Elle Brownlee, Off-Map Hearts
