Free Dearest Clementine by Lex Martin

writing again, I have a hard time not smiling around a mouthful of food.
    “So now you have your idea, and you’re all set.”
    Sighing, I pull off a mushroom and pop it in my mouth. “I wish. This is a romance novel-writing class. I’ve been writing Young Adult. They’re different.” I roll my eyes at myself, my good mood tempered by how difficult this has been for me.
    “So you throw in a few kisses.” He laughs, and I know he’s joking.
    I need to choose my words carefully. I could sound all kinds of stupid if I don’t.
    “My professor wants us to draw on our own relationships, and that’s not exactly my forte.”
    I look away before I can see his reaction. Why am I telling him this?
    “But you’ve been in a relationship before, right?” he asks hesitantly. Before I can respond, he shrugs. “I’m sure you could pull it off.”
    Groaning, I take another bite. “Theoretically, that’s true. But my one significant relationship did not have a happy ending, and I don’t date. You know this about me.” I tear apart a piece of crust. “Based on the examples we’re reading, Professor Marceaux wants hot sex and a happily ever after. I don’t do either.”
    The minute the words are out of my mouth, I regret saying them. Shit. I glance over, and he’s grinning. Then he cracks up laughing.
    “Clementine, you surprise me. No one ever surprises me anymore.”
    I look down, embarrassed.
    He clears his throat. “Well, if it means anything, I think you could pull both off.”
    “Pull what off?”
    “Hot sex and the happily ever after,” he says with a wink.
    * * *
    Something is warm against my chest, and I have my arm wrapped around a body pillow that’s so snuggly, I think I moan.
    Wait. I don’t have a body pillow.
    I’m exhausted, and it takes a few seconds to open my eyes. When I do, I see a blue flannel shirt.
    I am wrapped around Gavin’s body with my arm over his chest and my thigh over his. And what a body it is. In my early-morning haze, all I can think about are his hard pecs underneath me, and I really want to run my hands down over his abs.
    Oh, God.
    It’s not that I mind being with him because he’s fucking hot, but I have no idea how I ended up in the nook of his arm with my head on his chest. I can’t get up, though, because the bed is so narrow that my back is against the wall. Glancing around the room, I’m relieved when I see the clock. It’s still early.
    I try to disentangle myself without waking him, but he sighs deeply and stretches.
    “Hey, good morning,” he says like finding me in his bed is normal.
    “Hi.” What do I say? Thanks for the pizza and the snuggle, but I gotta go? No, that doesn’t sound right. I decide to be direct. “Gavin, how did I end up wrapped around you?”
    He chuckles against me. I’m glad someone is amused.
    “You fell asleep, and damn, girl, you’re a sound sleeper.” His voice is deep and scratchy and pretty damn sexy. He stretches again, his hard muscles flexing beneath me, and yawns. “I tried waking you up, twice, but then I gave up and rolled you over. As for being wrapped around me, I think it’s because I’m irresistible. You couldn’t resist even when you were practically in a coma.” His eyes close, and he’s wearing a self-satisfied smile.
    My cheeks flame, and I shake my head. Why am I always embarrassed around this guy? It’s not like we had sex or anything. We’re fully clothed.
    A nervous laugh escapes me. “It’s good to see you’re embracing your modesty this morning, but I have to get to work by nine.”
    I start to sit up, but he grabs my arm and pulls me back to him, turning and snuggling into me.
    “Has anyone ever told you that you look really cute in the morning, especially when you’re embarrassed? And God, you smell good.” He buries his face in my neck, his breath hot against my skin, and goose bumps break out on my arms. “You think you might want to go for a run with me later this weekend? Maybe