Chapter Thirteen
Cheyenne met Quinn and Parker later that day at the foundation of their new home.
“So, on the first floor will be the front porch that wraps around three corners. The garage will cover the northwest side where most of the blustery winter weather comes from,, so we won’t have a porch there.
Then,” Quinn continued as they walked, “this is the front door facing the east to meet the morning sun.”
“And it’s traditional.”
“It is. I have the backyard predominately in the west and the bedrooms to the northeast. It isn’t quite square with the road, but I think it will work the best for sun and weather.”
“You’re so smart,” she said proudly. “I never thought about how to place the house, just what was in it.
Quinn kissed Cheyenne quickly. “See I’m good for something other than a playmate.”
Cheyenne’s face darkened with the red of embarrassment. “Shhh,” she hissed at his laughing face while she made what she thought was a veiled look, but he was not at all concerned. He squeezed her shoulders with amused compassion.
Parker kindly ignored the exchange between the two and brought the conversation back to the building.
“The basement will be the length of the house with a divider under your offices and bedroom. There will be a corridor from the bedroom that opens up to the offices and then steps to the private part of the basement. We can put the furniture down through the steps in the office. Will it be a large enough opening?”
“We will need to measure to make sure when we create the steps and archway. I need you to tell me the dimensions of the largest piece so that we can be sure. And the rest of the basement will be accessible from the main staircase going up and down. I already have the staircases broader than most because we are all big men, and if I’m living here the rest of my life, the steps are going to have enough clearance for me and my future pregnant wife. ”
“Very future.” The men laughed.
They spent a little more time looking around after Parker left.
It wouldn’t be done until the spring, but that was all right.
The private side of the basement would be assembled after the house was done and they were ready to move in, or even a bit later.
Just as they were finishing, Quinn received a call and, after checking the number, told Cheyenne to go back to Liam’s place.
“This might take a while.” Then he walked off in the other direction, voice low.
It had happened several times recently and was causing Cheyenne to become more concerned.
What would take him from planning their future home and life to “see you later” that fast?
She didn’t know, but she was determined to find out.
Later that morning, all the women went into Missoula to look for dresses and for Cheyenne’s wedding dress as they finalized the wedding program itself on the drive up and back.
Cheyenne found the perfect wedding dress, but the store was out of her size.
She tried on the shop sample, and it wasn’t too small said her entourage, but it was snug.
The next size on the rack was much too large, and while they could alter it, she was out of time for a wedding two months away.
“Caoimhe, you’re the best seamstress, can you alter it?”
Caoimhe looked at it and said, “This would be a major overhaul because of all the layers and pleats, darts, and the like. I could do it but not in the time we have. I have the girls’ dresses to make, and I still have the baby room items to finish.
I really think that if you wanted to lose five pounds in the next two months, you would breathe freely.
But if you don’t you will still be able to wear it; it will be snug is all. ”
“Yeah, and I haven’t seen you breathe around Quinn anyway. Except for this trip, I have never seen two people fight all the time and still be spellbound with each other. And I thought I argued with Parker a lot,” observed Kelli.
“You do!” declared Katie. “It’s just the making up that’s so great.”
Cheyenne said with a twinkle in her eye, “Or at least the promises of great makeup sessions.”
“Wait, are you still waiting for that last love scene, Cheyenne?” asked Kelli.
“Mmm, don’t let Quinn know I told you because he’s so prickly about others knowing certain aspects of our personal business but yeah. We haven’t, you know. He wants to wait.”
Alesha said, “Figures, the men who don’t have any compunction about baring your bottom for a spanking don’t make love to you until you’re married.”
Everyone laughed at the contradictions in ideals but agreed it was somewhat old-fashioned and sweet, just like their men.
“Well, congratulations, Cheyenne, you’ve stolen my hardest to live with brother’s heart.
I was worried it would never happen, but you’ve shown me that there is truly someone for everyone,” said Kelli.
“And to be honest, it wasn’t that I didn’t think Quinn could find someone, it was that someone would find him. He is so immovable.”
Cheyenne smiled cheekily. “Not for me, he isn’t.”
“Just as I said about Liam, he bends like a willow branch for me.” Jocelyn boasted.
Kelli quipped, “Or uses one on you.” They all laughed.
The mood changed after that, and Katie was anxious to find the rest of the things on the list and get back to her husband.
There were murmurs of agreement, so they changed gears and started checking things off the list. They had the dress mailed to her apartment, and after having an enjoyable lunch, completed their list and went home.
Cheyenne had decided that if she lost ten pounds, then she would look better in her swimsuit.
Even though Quinn had specifically said he didn’t want her to lose any weight, sometimes a woman had to do what a woman had to do.
Being perfect for her one and only wedding couldn’t be argued against, not from a position of authority or ignorance.
All women would agree, she told herself.
After they went home, Cheyenne couldn’t stop thinking about that lovely dress, and only two months before her wedding.
She became obsessed with the need to lose weight, and after a week of regular low-calorie meals, she didn’t see any results.
She panicked. She had always walked, but the time it took to go for a walk was not available, so Cheyenne reasoned eating fewer calories, considerably less, would make the weight fall off.
She had lost almost a week of time because she had to wait until she was home, where only a few might notice her eating habits had changed.
“Cheyenne, that can’t be all you’re eating, baby, it isn’t enough to keep a bird alive,” stated Quinlan during her first week. “And you’re more pale than normal. Are you feeling okay? Too stressed?”
“Oh, I’m eating my big meal of the day at lunch now, so I have time to work it off,” covered Cheyenne as she ate some undressed salad for dinner.
“Okay but make sure you are.” Quinn gave her a skeptical glance and kept his silence.
Siobhan noticed at lunch on Saturday and said, “Cheyenne, you aren’t eating enough, and unless you want me to let Quinn know, you had better eat more.”
Cheyenne laughed cautiously, “What? Have you turned into a tattletale, Ma?” She reached to pat Siobhan’s hand with reassurance and felt sorry for saying something mean when it was obvious she cared.
“I’m sorry. Don’t worry, really. I’m eating at breakfast so that I have the whole day to work it off,” replied Cheyenne as she ate yet another undressed salad, of which she was becoming hardily sick.
She hated that she was lying to everyone.
The thing that kept her going, and fibbing about it, was that she had already lost four pounds this first week of change.
She was starting the second week, and this was going to work, with only a few weeks left.
Quinn would be leaving for his job again soon.
If she could only keep Quinn preoccupied until then so that he didn’t notice, she would be home free.
She was more headachy and getting tired much more quickly than she normally did.
Moody and missing Quinn, she entertained the suggestion from Ashley and Richard to go to the club with them the second weekend after Quinn left.
“Hey, Cheyenne, it was fun finishing your last big errand for the wedding, but I have to get home and get changed. Richard is coming over to pick me up for the club. Why don’t you come along?”
Cheyenne set down her drink. “Quinn isn’t here. I’m not supposed to go without him.”
“But it’s Friday night. I know at least Master Josh will be there, and I bet Jacquie and Ace will be there.”
She almost said yes before she caught herself. She knew exactly what the club would feel like tonight—the low lights, the familiar faces, the specific kind of relief she hadn’t had in weeks.
Ashley and Richard had stuck it out after the infamous open house invitation two years ago, when she had officially become Quinn’s girlfriend and submissive—right after her first official spanking, that is.
Her friends had taken formal classes and found that they enjoyed the play.
They were regulars now. She could picture exactly what the night would look like.
“Richard isn’t going to want me tagging along.” She picked her drink back up. “And I wouldn’t blame him.”
“I’ll call him and see if it’s okay just so you won’t feel like you’re imposing, all right?”
“Thanks, Ashley. I would really like to go but don’t want to take away from your enjoyment.”
Ashley made the call and then hung up with a smile. “Richard said you can stay with us, and he’ll make sure nothing happens to you. He did ask if Quinn would be okay with this. I said he would be fine with it.”
Cheyenne pretended to finish chewing her jalapeno popper before answering. She didn’t taste anything.