Page 57 of Queen of Diamonds
“I could move in with one of my brothers.”
“Is that what you really want to do?” He wouldn’t be happy about that, but he’d support her if that was what she decided.
“Not really. I mean, I love them and their families, but they’re a little overbearing.”
He chuckled. “And overwhelming.”
“That, too. Are you sure you want me to live with you?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything, Sunshine. I love you.”
“And I love you, too. But let’s call it a trial period for a month. If it doesn’t feel like it’s working for either one of us, I’ll find another place.”
He’d make it work however he had to. “Now that we have that settled, we’re going to stop talking so you can go to sleep.” He put his hand on her face, spreading his fingers over her cheek. “But first, I need a kiss.” Ah, there was a smile.
“Do you now?”
“More than anything.” He brushed his lips across hers, then molded his mouth over hers. Being this close to her, having her body against his was killing him. He wanted her like crazy, but she needed to rest so she could heal. To keep her from feeling what she was doing to him, he shifted his lower body away from hers.
“Oscar,” she said when he let go of her mouth.
He blinked. “Ah, Oscar?”
“Yes, the bird. He’s a macaw, and he depends on me to feed him. I ran an ad in the paper but didn’t include his name. Five people called claiming him, but couldn’t tell me what he calls himself, so I guess he’s mine.”
The amount of relief that Oscar was a feathered male was ridiculous. Rand grinned. He was a goner, no doubt about it, and he was damn happy about it.
“Then we’ll just have to move him in with us.”
Her eyes lit up. “That’s really okay with you?”
“If it means having you here, absolutely. Now go to sleep, my sunshine girl.”
Turnedout that luring Oscar into a cage wasn’t all that easy, but after three days of hopping around the cage, his beady eyes on the food inside, he finally went in.
“Bad boy!” Oscar screamed when Kinsey closed the door behind him.
“It’s for your own good, Oscar.” Kinsey looked up at Rand. “He’s a little skinnier and more raggedy than he was the last time I saw him.”
Rand eyed the screeching bird. “Is he always going to be that loud?” He might have to turn his third bedroom into a soundproof bird sanctuary.
She squatted next to the cage. “I don’t think so. He just needs to settle down. We’ll buy him some toys and whatever else a bird needs to be happy.”
He laughed. “Of course we will.”
“You are going to be happier, Oscar. I promise.” She stuck a finger past the bars and scratched his neck.
“Well, I guess that’s it, we’re done here?” He glanced around. They’d already moved all the things she wanted to keep to his place, mostly her clothes and personal belongings. Her furniture she’d donated to a charity. All that had been left was Oscar, and they’d come each afternoon to her apartment, attempting to catch her bird.
“Yep.” She looked up at him, a soft smile on her face. “It’s a new day and a new life from here on out.”
“Come here.” He held out his arms. With happiness shining in her eyes, she walked into his embrace. “I love you, Sunshine, but I reserve judgment on loving that mangy thing you’re bringing with you.”
“He’ll win you over.” She chewed on her bottom lip as she glanced at Oscar, still expressing his displeasure at being caged. “I think.”
“Doesn’t matter as long as I have you.” He sealed that pledge with a kiss.
They’d made love last night for only the second time since meeting each other, and it had been intense and beautiful. He’d never expected to fall in love again, to even want to, and their romance had been unusual to say the least. In the back of his mind he worried they’d reached this point too fast. Not for him. He didn’t have any doubts about how he felt about her. He loved her with a fierceness that surprised him.
It was her he worried about. Had it happened too fast for her, and had the circumstances played too big of a role? He knew he made her feel protected, but when she felt safe again, would she realize that it wasn’t love she was experiencing? He’d ask her to marry him right now, this minute, if he was sure her love for him was real. That was how certain he was that she was the one.
“Ready to go?”
“I am.” He gave her one more quick kiss, then picked up the cage.
“Oscar’s a bad boy!”
Rand glanced at the bird. “He sure as hell is.”
“Hell,” Oscar squawked.
