Chapter 42
42
Skye Simmons
“Thank you for doing this.” I place Tori’s bag on the floor beside the end of the couch.
“Oh honey, she’s helping me more than me helping her. It will be nice to have some chatter in this house.”
“I apologize now for anything she may say. She tends to let things slip before thinking them through.” I’ve been nervous for days after Grayson informed me that Rose offered to keep Tori during the day while I work. I’ve literally had nightmares about the things she may say. Poor Rose!
“Have you forgotten that I deal with a house full of firemen on a daily basis?”
“I have not.” I take a deep breath. “But, Rose, she’s worse.” She laughs and I smile but truth be told, I wasn’t joking.
“She outside?”
“On the front porch,” I say as I start to push open the door. “It’s a nice morning.” The breeze feels good.
“You don’t worry about a thing,” she tells me, following me outside. “Us ladies will be just fine,” she assures me and I look at my sister.
“Her panties have been tied in knots for days.” Rose laughs at Tori’s words.
“See.” I point to her and look at Rose.
“Have they?” Rose asks, surprising me and Tori giggles looking back out toward the front yard.
I follow her gaze and notice movement at the station. "What are you looking at?”
“Nothing,” she says in a rush before quickly looking away.
That’s when I see Rhett Butler, or as the guys call him, Hollywood, rolling hoses outside.
“Tori,” it’s not often that I get the opportunity to tease her, “do you have a crush?”
Immediately she gawks at me with wide eyes and her mouth hanging open.
“You do!” I laugh, looking over at Rose to find her smiling.
“He is very attractive, all those guys are.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal.
“Are you insane?” She swivels in her chair looking at both of us like we are crazy. “Please, I do not have a crush. All those guys are Neanderthals. They are sloppy, and annoying.” Her face reddens. “I do not have a crush!”
The only good thing about her current condition is she can’t storm off in a fit.
“What?” she hurries to add before I have a chance to say anything in response. “I don’t,” she declares, her brows furrowed.
“Okay,” I try to hide my smile, “I believe you.” I do not believe her at all. Her blush says it all.
“Let me know if you need anything at all,” I tell Rose as I step down off the porch. “And you,” I point to my sister narrowing my eyes, “behave. Don’t embarrass me too much.”
My feet are killing me. My entire day was full of one client after another, color and cut, color and cut, style and blah blah. My shoulders ache, and honestly I’d been dreaming of a glass of wine and a good book in a hot bath all day.
Knocking on the door, I could hear the sounds of the television or maybe it was the radio filtering out through the front windows.
Twisting the handle, finding that Rose’s front door was unlocked, I make my way inside and follow the sound.
Country music, mixed with the sound of singing from not only Rose but my sister too.
As I step into the doorway of the kitchen I freeze, staring at the scene before me. There at the island in the center of the kitchen is my sister, with Rose on one side and Aunt Sheri on the other. The three of them are swaying from side to side, singing along to the music, while rolling out dough.
Rose looks up, offering me a wink before pointing to Tori’s dough and motioning for her to even it out on one side. I’m in awe, seeing my sister look so happy and content.
These are the things she’s missed, not having a mother or grandmother. Hell I can’t cook to save my own life so teaching or attempting to teach her would only be a disaster. I love that she has Sheri, and now Rose. I love that Grayson brought them into our lives.
Backing my way out of the kitchen I step out onto the front porch and dial his number. Staring at the station I see the trucks parked inside just as he picks up his phone.
“Hey,” he sounds winded and I imagine he was working out.
“I love you.” He’s quiet for a minute, me still staring at the front of the station.
“I love you too.” I hear a door shut then another. “Everything okay?”
“Everything is perfect.” Better than perfect.
“Why do you sound upset?”
“I’m not,” I assure him. “I’m happy.”
“Then why are you standing outside on the front porch by yourself?” I notice him step outside the front door, staring across the street at me.
“I’m giving my sister time to play.” I smile at the memory.
“Play, huh?”
“She learning to make homemade pies,” I tell him as he walks toward the end of the drive leading up to the station. I step off the porch and start moving in his direction. “She’s happy,” I say with my ear still pressed to the phone. The closer he gets the faster my heart races and I wonder if I’ll always feel like this when I see him. The rush of excitement as it settled low in my stomach and my heart races.
“Are you happy?” he asks when we are less than ten feet apart. Lowering my phone I start to cross the road when he jogs over the pavement, meeting me at the end of the driveway.
“I am,” I confess the second he pulls me into his arms. “You make me happy.” Him and everything he has brought into my life.
“I’m giving up my apartment,” he whispers before he kisses me. “And I think we should find a bigger place, maybe one with a yard. Get Tori that dog she’s wanting.”
“Are you asking me to move in with you?”
“No.” I wrinkle my forehead at him and he laughs. “I’m not asking baby, I just letting you know that’s what’s happening.”
He kisses me, making me smile.
As if I would have actually said no.