12. Vince
12
VINCE
The movie was a ruse. I really just wanted to spend more time with Cat . If all we did was talk and watch the movie, that would be fine, although I also found myself thinking I wouldn’t mind kissing her and touching that amazing body of hers. I wasn’t going to press because I knew she had a lot going on in her mind with the move, but my God , if she ever gave me even the smallest sign she was interested, I would be ready.
My thoughts had been consumed by her the last few days. How easy she was to talk to. How glad I was to have her back. How good her body looked in just about everything she wore. How good that body would feel in my hands and underneath me.
We didn’t end up watching much of the movie. Instead , we spent most of our time talking and catching up on the couch. First , I explained a little more about the four million relatives that apparently would be showing up for Thanksgiving meal—not really, but I knew my mom, and it would be a lot. I also confirmed with Archer earlier that my mother did, in fact, invite the entire staff of Ranger Shield Security , though I doubted most of them would come.
“Ellie and Jack are going over to Wade’s parents’ house for most of the day but said they all might swing by for a bit,” I told her. “ Archer is coming, and Ruthie and Axel might come too since neither have any family here.”
“That sounds fun,” she replied. “ At least I’ll know some more people then.”
We continued on with various topics, and she mentioned she loved my loft and hoped to find something in a similar part of town that was close to the pub for Val .
“I’m glad you like it, though it’s just a holding point for me until my house is built,” I said.
“You’re building a house?” She looked at me with excitement and wonder in her eyes, and I found myself really excited to tell her about my place, even though very few people knew about it.
“About a year ago, Archer found this old horse ranch not far from here that was being sold,” I told her. “ It sits on eight acres, so we planned to split the property and give ourselves roughly four acres each. We’ll be close, but not that close.”
I felt a sense of pride as I explained my plan to her. “ Archer has already begun construction on his, and it’s coming along quickly, but I haven’t yet broken ground because I haven’t finalized the layout and design.”
“Because it’s a slow process, or because you can’t make up your mind?” she asked.
I explained to her that I wanted another set of eyes on a few aspects of the house, but my mom and sister were too opinionated, and their opinions didn’t necessarily line up with mine. My dad was also no help since he kept telling me the house didn’t matter as long as the furniture was comfortable.
She laughed and nodded. “ I don’t know if our opinions would match either, but I’m happy to look if you want me to,” she said, and oddly, I found myself wanting to know her thoughts on it. I had this weird desire for her to like it and be comfortable there.
“There’s also the original house on the property, too. It’s a smaller Craftsman ranch and closer to the main road, but comfortable. It’s in decent shape, and Jack offered to buy it from us. He wants something with good bones that he can fix up but also good enough already that he can move into right away. That house is definitely dated, but he could easily move into tomorrow.”
“So, are you guys going to let him buy it?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I confirmed. “ We have a lawyer drawing up the paperwork this week. He’s hoping to move in before Christmas .”
“That would be nice. Where does he live now?”
“In one of the two apartments above the security office. Wade and Ellie live in the other. Jack claims he can’t live there anymore because hearing Wade and his sister go at it like rabbits is not conducive to his sanity,” I explained, and she threw her head back and laughed.
God, I wanted to kiss her in that moment. She was pretty just as she was, sitting there, but when she laughed, she was stunning. With her head tilted back like that, I would have easy access to the soft skin of her neck. I could kiss my way up to her jawline while running my hands through what looked like the softest hair I’d ever seen.
“What is that look for?” she asked, jolting me out of my thoughts.
“You’re beautiful when you laugh,” I told her, and her face started to turn pink.
“Oh, um, thanks,” she replied and looked down into her lap.
Realizing my feelings may not be reciprocated, I changed topics.
“What’s your favorite movie?”
“My favorite movie? Hmmm ,” she said, then paused to think. “ I know it’s older, but I really like Back to the Future . And all of the Harry Potter movies. Though saying that, it’s a good thing I watched the movies first and then read the books because I think if I had read the books first, the movies would not have lived up to them.”
“Fair,” I said, chuckling, and enjoying this carefree side of her. “ I never read the books, but the movies were good.”
“What about you?” she asked.
“Easy, Star Wars . All of them, but the first one is my favorite.”
“I’ve actually never seen those.”
“Wait... you've never seen Star Wars ?” I asked her with what I was sure was a shocked look on my face. “ I’m pretty sure a million nerds just suddenly cried out in horror.”
She laughed, holding her hand to her chest. “ I’m sorry for the apparent horror that I have caused you.”
I nodded and accepted her apology.
“Aha! The new plan.” I snapped my fingers, my eyes widening.
“You look like you have just discovered the solution to all the world’s problems,” she laughed.
“Tomorrow. Movie night. We begin your initiation into Star Wars ,” I informed her, leaving no room for argument.
“I’d love that.” She smiled back at me. “ As long as you don’t mind if I ask a bunch of questions as we watch.”
“Deal.” I tossed a cheeky grin at her. She could ask me as many questions as she wanted. My sister used to do that all the time growing up, so I was used to it. The difference was that it was annoying when my sister did it. I had a feeling it wouldn’t bother me at all if Cat did it.