Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Bennett
“You have windows and a door.” Lexi laughs as she steps inside and spins in a circle in the middle of what will be the living room.
“Yeah.” I stand, brushing the dust of my hands. “We want to get it enclosed so that we can start working on the inside while the second team continues outside.”
I notice the bag she is holding and I point to it. “What do you got there?”
“Cheesecake.” A smile tugs at her lips. “And,” she lifts her other hand and I notice the wine bottle with two paper cups, “I wanted to see if you’d like to celebrate with me.”
“I’ll always celebrate with you babe, but what are we celebrating?”
“I passed.” Her eyes fill with unshed tears. “They showed up a couple hours ago for my home inspection.”
Smiling I reach out and help take the items out of her hands, placing them on the cooler a few feet away.
“I knew you would.” I grab her. Lifting her up, I spin her around. She laughs, throwing her head back as I lower her to the floor. Cupping her face I offer a soft kiss.
“What happens next?”
“A sleep over,” she says, wiping at the tears that escaped. “This Friday.”
“Have you told Camryn yet?”
Nodding she steps back and I instantly miss the closeness.
“I forgot a blanket,” she says, looking around I’m sure for a place to sit.
“Hang on.” I hurry to grab two buckets, turning them over and putting the cooler between us as a makeshift table. “This work?”
“Yeah, perfectly.”
Sitting opposite her I watch as she pours wine into cups and pulls out two containers of cheesecake and two forks. “I got turtle cheesecake and strawberry. I wasn’t sure which you prefer.”
"What if I like them both?” I challenge her.
“Then it looks like we’re gonna share.” She hands me a fork. “Because I like both of them too.”
“Is this the last of it, Ma?” I ask as I grab the two boxes of apples.
“There are two peaches by the back door and that’s it,” she hollers from somewhere in the pantry and I turn around walking back out to my truck.
End of season flea market. Every year she spends her summer and fall selling her fruit and creations at the flea market. Then through the winter and spring is prep time for the next year.
My mother makes some killer pies and jams. It’s actually her true joy.
“How’s Lexi?” she asks and I hear the question but instead exit the back door. I know I’m in for a lecture, it’s an every time I’m here event.
She’s over the moon that Brantley and Sutton are now married and has moved on to harping on them for grandkids.
Me, she is still trying to marry me off.
But Lexi and I, we are taking our time. Yes, it’s difficult because every time I’m with her I want to push her up against the nearest wall and have my way with her. I think she senses it too.
“I see the way you avoided that question,” her voice echoes from behind me as I heave up the box into the bed of my truck.
Turning around I find her standing there holding a small bag and her cash box.
“Is everything going good between the two of you?”
“It’s good, Ma.” I smile thinking about last night. The kissing is amazing, but it’s got me on edge for sure. “She passed her home inspection.”
“I think it’s wonderful what she’s doing for that sweet little girl.” She places the items on her passenger seat and walks back to meet me, leaning against the side of my truck. “That darlin’ losing both of her parents the way she did. Having Lexi will be good for her.”
“It’ll be good for the both of them.”
“Shows what kind of woman she truly is.” She is amazing. “Perfect wife and mother material.”
“Ma,” I say with a laugh. Here we go.
“What,” she shrugs, “it’s true.”
“Yeah, Ma.” I throw my arm over her shoulders and pull her in close. “It is.”
“So where is Lexi tonight?”
“First sleep over with Camryn,” I say, leading her to her car. “She’s being dropped off at six.”
“You planning to stop over and say hi?”
“I thought about it, but I don’t want to take away Lexi’s time with her.”
“I think you should at least say hello,” she says. “Stop by with dessert, maybe. I have mini apple pies and vanilla ice cream in the deep freezer.”
With that she walks off and leaves me staring after her.
She thought she was being subtle.