Page 46 of Mailroom Delight
I tried not to look shocked, but I failed. Miserably.
How had I managed to find a woman like this?
I felt bad now I’d accused her of having no heart. I felt terrible. My assumptions couldn’t have been further from the truth.
“I feel really privileged to be that for you. I…” my voice trailed off the more I thought about what she’d said, and the more I looked at her. “Paige, I hope I didn’t force you to do something you didn’t want to do.”
She shook her head. “No. You didn’t.”
“But you must regret last night. You… stayed away.”
“I didn’t do anything with you that I regret.” She said with conviction and placed her hand to her chest. To her heart.
“Why did you stay away?”
“Because, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now. I’ve never just had sex for a night of fun, and last night wasn’t just a night of fun for me.” She took a deep breath and continued. “My heart is open, and I never thought I would be able to do that again, but I have baggage. I’m a widow whose kept pictures of my dead husband all around the house to keep him alive. I’m certain that when you came to San Francisco you didn’t sign up for this,” she waved around. “For me with my excess baggage. And, if that’s not bad enough I have to put in perspective that you’re leaving in…five and a half months. I can’t, and don’t expect anything from you.”
I looked her over and what I saw was fear. Fear to feel more than what she felt for me.
There was nothing to be afraid of because I knew women like her were priceless, part of the collection of priceless possessions my parents told me about. Maybe that was why I was so drawn to her, because she was rare, and I wasn’t the kind of man to be dumb enough to let a rare and priceless possession slip out of my grasp.
“I lift weights a lot.”
She narrowed her eyes at me.
“What?”
“Weights, you know to build muscle.” I smiled at her.
“This is one of those times when you’re going to be annoying?” she grimaced, brows knitting together.
“No, I’m never that. I just wanted you to know I can manage any sort of baggage, excess or otherwise. I can do it if it means I get to have you.” That was the part of me I’d been saving for this magical being who now looked stunned at my words.
“What?”
“Paige, I know we just got crazy lost in our emotions and we don’t know all that much about each other. Last night wasn’t just fun for me either. I want it to be more. I don’t need to know you for any length of time to know I want you, and as for me leaving, why don’t we just push that aside for a moment and see where this goes.” I knew where it would go, because I wasn’t going to let her go, but decided to take one step at a time for her benefit.
“You want to be with me?” She asked as if she couldn’t believe I would.
“I think that much is obvious Paige, but yes I do.” I turned to look at the wedding picture and I focused on the lucky man who’d had her. He looked happy. The kind of happiness I imagined you’d feel when you had everything. When I looked back to her I understood why. “You must have loved him very much to try to keep his memory alive. I can’t imagine anyone would be able to replace a man who was worthy of that. But, if you give me a chance maybe we could have something different. Can you?”
I thought that was the best I could say.
When a tear ran down her cheek and she nodded, excitement rippled through me.
“Yes. I can.” She gave me one of her sweet smiles and fell into my embrace as I moved towards her.
She clutched on to my shirt as I held her close, tears streaming down her cheeks now.
“Thank you, Paige.” I kissed the top of her forehead and just enjoyed holding her.
The last few weeks were mind blowing. I couldn’t wait to see what the next few weeks would bring.
I was confident only good could happen from here onwards, and I knew my life would never be the same again.
