Chapter 26
“What is this place?” I’d bundled the two of them in the car after lunch and set out on my last venture of the day.
“Come and see.” I helped her out of the car first before grabbing Amber and heading to the front steps of the stone mansion where the realtor was waiting.
I put Amber down as soon as we walked through the door and took her mother’s hand as we followed the realtor around.
I listened to her with half an ear, my full attention was on the child and her mother. They were both in awe, which is what I’d been hoping for.
It was a six bedroom marble floored mansion with a nursery next to the master suite and a room right next to that that would be prefect for a little girl.
I especially liked the built in seating under the huge bay windows that looked out over the back gardens.
I knew my hunch was right when Amber ran right to that window and climbed up on the seat to look out.
“Look mommy, it’s pretty.” She pressed her little hands against the window and looked on in amazement.
I’d chosen this particular place out of all the others not only because of the house itself, but the spectacular grounds.
There were flowers everywhere and a little park fit for a kid her age. Beyond that a little ways from the house was a manmade pond of about four acres that already had a family of geese floating in its waters.
I knew she would like that, the little girl who still believed in fairytales. I knew to her it would be a wonderland.
I also knew that if I didn’t want her mother to give me shit, I had to go over her head and through the child on this one.
When she jumped down from the window and grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the door with excitement I was sure I’d hit my mark.
“Come on uncle Evan, I wanna go see the duckies.” She moved as fast as her little legs would carry her.
“I don’t think they’re ducks princess, I think they’re geese.
She didn’t seem to mind as she dragged me through the house looking for an exit. Her mother wasn’t far behind as we made our way towards the water.
Once there I kept a tight hold on Amber’s hand and thought of ways to protect her from falling in in the future, without hindering her enjoyment of the pond.
“Next time can we feed them mommy?”
“I don’t know if there’ll be a next time. This isn’t uncle Evan’s house.”
I lifted Amber and turned her to look at the birds, not quite willing to look at her Gia. Now that the time had come I was nervous.
I wasn’t sure of her reaction and I needed so much for it to be the one I wanted. “There will be lots of next times.”
“What, what do you mean?” Now I had no choice but to look at her. “I mean that I bought this house…for us.”
“You…” Her mouth fell open in surprise and she looked back at the grand house that was lit up with the afternoon sun making it even more spectacular.
I kept my eyes on her to see what she would do, what she would say, but when nothing was forthcoming I figured it was because of Amber’s presence.
All the way back in the car she was quiet. I looked in the rearview mirror at Amber who’d fallen asleep before taking her hand in mine and placing them both on my thigh.
“If you have something on your mind just say it.”
“What could I possibly have on my mind?” She looked back at her child before turning back around but from the way she was gritting her teeth I knew she was having a hard time holding it in.
“Fine, I’ll let you yell at me later after Amber goes to sleep. I was thinking we’d make dinner at my place, you two can spend the night and go home tomorrow.”
“We can’t I didn’t bring a change of clothes for either of us.”
“That’s easily taken care of. I already know you have Amber’s medication in your bag so if that’s your only excuse…”
“And if I say that I don’t want to?”
“You haven’t given me a good enough reason.” I stopped at the closest shopping mall and pulled into the parking lot just as Amber was coming awake.
We found a kid’s store first and she chose a Disney nightgown. I also chose some shorts and a top with the same theme for tomorrow and left her mother to see to her underwear before dragging them off to the women’s store.
“I don’t need anything, I can just wear this tomorrow. Besides you already bought me all that stuff.”
“So why did you use that as an excuse? Just grab something to wear tomorrow. You can forget the nightgown you won’t be needing it.”
Her face reddened and she checked to make sure Amber hadn’t heard me. She was too preoccupied with her new purchases to pay us any mind.
Since she’d made it an issue I made her choose an outfit before taking them home to get dinner started.
It was a bit early for me but Amber eats at this time, plus the sooner we eat, the sooner she’ll go to bed and the sooner I can have her mother flat on her back in mine.
Amber and I made dinner while I made her mother sit out of the way and watch since she kept complaining about the mess we were making.
When I wasn’t thinking about her mother, I was realizing how much I’d come to like having her around. She was sweet and shy and so curious about everything.
And best of all, she seemed to think I had the answer to all those questions. The mother might not be sure, but there was no doubt that I’d already won over the daughter.
After dinner it was bath time and I left them alone while I took a shower. I went back a little later to find her putting Amber to bed.
Hearing the little one ask for me so I could read her a bedtime story did strange things to my heart and I was even more sure now that moving ahead with my plans without her consent was the right idea.
“Im right here, scoot over mom, let’s read our girl her story.” She chose one of the books I’d bought her earlier that day, full of excitement to start a new adventure.
We laid on either side of her and still she chose to lay her head on my chest as I read her-her story. It wasn’t long before she fell asleep and the two of us pulled the covers up over her and made sure she was comfortable before leaving the room.
“I think I should stay here with her…” I grabbed her hand and pulled her out the door. “Nice try, your place is with me, in my bed.”
She pulled her hand from mine once we reached my room. “I need a shower.”
“It’s right through there.” I chose to ignore her pissy attitude.
If she had something to say she should just come right out and say it. Not that I’d give her- her way since she seems bent on opposing me at every turn. But at least she’d get whatever it is off her chest.
I walked through the apartment making sure everything was locked up tight and remembered to turn on the hallway lights just in case Amber woke up in the night.
She still wasn’t out of the shower by the time I came back into the room and I knew her ass was just stalling. So I went and got her.
She was standing under the shower letting the water beat down on her, looking lost. Damn hardheaded female.
I stood there watching her for the longest time before moving forward. I switched off the water and took her out of the shower. No words were said between us as I stood her on the mat to dry her off.
Once she was dry I picked her up in my arms and took her to my bed. I laid her down and stood back to strip before coming down beside her.
“I know you’re scared but if you’ve never believed anything else in your life please believe this, I only want what’s best for you, and Amber.”
“It might seem like I’m moving too fast, but you’ve been around me long enough to know that when I want something, I go after it full force.”
“And what happens when you no longer want me?” Is that what she’s afraid of? No, the fear I saw in her eyes went much deeper than that. But for now I could reassure her of this one thing.
“That will never happen. Hey look at me.” I turned her head back around when she tried to turn away. “I give you my word.” There it was again, that look that said she wanted to believe but was afraid to.
“I don’t make empty promises and I sure as hell don’t lie. If all I wanted was a fuck I would’ve chosen someone less prickly.”
“If I’m so annoying why did you bring me here?” From the set of her mouth I knew she was kidding so I let her off the hook.
“Because I can’t help myself. I think it’s this tight pussy of yours, it bewitched me.” I rested on my side and ran my fingers over her tummy and down between her thighs teasingly.