‘Smells good in here.’
I turn from the stove, where I’m flipping the chicken ready to top the salad I put together.
‘It’s nothing fancy.’ I smile, taking her in. She has on pajama pants and a slightly cropped, oversized t-shirt. It shows a little skin around her middle, and my mouth practically waters with the need to taste her. ‘Goddam, look at you. Get over here.’
She offers a coy smile as she walks toward me, and I back her up against the island, kissing her once before lifting her up to sit.She parts her thighs automatically, making room for me to stand between them as I push my fingers into her still-damp hair and kiss her like my life depends on it.
‘Is this my playlist or yours?’ she asks breathily as I break the kiss, and I grin. I love that we have the same taste in music. I leave her sitting on the island and turn back to the chicken, turning off the heat and pulling out the salad dressing.
‘It’s mine.’ I slide my phone across the countertop, unlocking it so she can scroll the playlist. ‘Choose the next song,’ she grins, and I arch one eyebrow, ‘be careful now. Whatever you choose will set the tone for the rest of the night.’
She picks up my phone as I dress the salad, glancing up at her what feels like every few seconds to enjoy her facial expressions as she scrolls.
I’m surprised when the song she chooses is slow, and it takes a second to register what it is:Walking After Youby the Foo Fighters. I raise my eyes to meet hers and hold her gaze as her shoulders raise a little, and I see the questions she’s not asking. Is this too much? Is this too serious? Hell, no.
I drop the skillet back on the stove and lift her down to standing before taking her in my arms.
‘Dance with me,’ I say softly, and she smiles.
‘I can’t dance.’
‘Because you’ve never danced with me.’
I bend to kiss her, taking her mouth with mine as I move our bodies to the music, the words impacting me like never before. I’ve listened to this song a million times, but never have I heard it like this. Never have I heard it with the woman I can’t pretend I’m not falling in love with in my arms.
‘This is our song now,’ I say close to her ear, loving the way she shivers as my breath tickles across her skin. ‘You know that, right?’
Her arms come up to wrap around my neck, and she leans back to look into my eyes.
‘Why do you think I put it on?’
Fuck, me… ‘You don’t mind cold chicken, do you?’ I narrow my gaze, and she laughs, and that’s the green light I need to kiss the hell out of her, picking her up and wrapping her legs around my waist as I carry her to the living room, never taking my mouth from hers as I lower our bodies to the sofa.
This Man… This Lovely Man
Cara
‘There you go, Ms.McKenzie. She’s all yours.’
Doug holds out some scissors, and I laugh. I’ve been out of town for a few days visiting Missy, and when I pulled up in front of my house a few minutes ago, I couldn’t help but smile at the yellow ribbon tied in a bow across my porch. The house is finished.
Smiling, I take the scissors and cut the ribbon, a flash of excitement running through me before I head up the porchsteps and into the hallway, the man I’ve spent the last month completely wrapped up in, hot on my heels.
‘Oh my god, Doug. Look what you’ve done.’
I look around in awe. I’ve been living in this house for weeks, but it was a worksite. There were dust sheets and bare unfinished floors. Unpainted walls and furniture wrapped in plastic. Now it’s a home. It’s my home. The candles are lit, the furniture is all built and arranged, and it’s so cozy. He’s put up the artwork I bought for the walls, laid out my rug, and hung my curtains. I run my fingers over the soft grey fabric of the sofa and fight the tears in my eyes.
‘You’re home,’ he says against my neck as he wraps his arms around my waist, and I smile. I completely agree.
It’s been a crazy few weeks. We’ve stolen as many moments together as we could, but Jessie has a new boyfriend who lives near the beach, so she’s been leaving Bo more than ever. Lynnie knowing about Doug and me means she’s always happy to watch Bowie and help us have time together, but Doug is a dad first. He’s not about leaving his daughter just so he can have sex, and I respect that so much. We have spent time together, the three of us, but unable to let Bowie know about her dad and me, it’s been just like it was that first time—him working at the house and me spending time with her.
She’s amazing. I never imagined I’d be involved with someone who had a child, but I’m falling for the little mite. She’s clever and funny. She has a thirst for learning and constantly asks us to Google the answers to whatever questions randomly pop into her head.
The other thing that’s been happening is that Doug might soon have a house in town. Jessie doesn’t know yet that he’s looking to go for full custody of Bowie because he wanted to make sure his ducks were in a row before she found out in case she ran, but it’s looking good. The money from the house renovation has helpedhim financially, and he’s been advised on the quiet that Tristan is moving out of town, so his place will be becoming available.
‘You want to look upstairs?’ Doug asks, and I nod, yes, before he turns me to the doorway and points me in the direction of the stairs.
Upstairs had previously been just my bedroom and the attached bathroom—nothing else was done. Now though, I have three useable guest bedrooms, not that I need all of them, and a library or reading nook, we bickered over what to call it, but essentially, it’s my cozy little haven with all my books, a ridiculously comfy sofa, and plush soft furnishings. I don’t know who I think I am. I giggle, and he nudges my shoulder with his.