Chapter 19
By the time Nora received confirmation of the money transfer into her account that same afternoon, she’d already removed the stitches from her hand with a pair of her mother’s tiny embroidery scissors and a pair of tweezers, doused it good with alcohol that brought tears to her eyes, and treated herself to a Hershey’s kiss to make the ouchie all better.
She emptied her safe, packed the contents in with her winter clothes she was going to take with her, and boxed up her summer clothes, including the silver flatware that had once belonged to her mother, then called the concierge for a luggage cart.
She took the boxes down to shipping to be sent via UPS to Asher’s address, then went back up to finish packing, boxing up all her office equipment to take with her in the car.
The next morning, she called for the luggage cart again, asked for help getting it down to the parking garage, dropped the apartment keys off at security on the way, and after they’d loaded all her belongings in her car, generously tipped them for their help and thanked them for all the years of their kindness.
She was still sitting in her car sending Asher a text when they left.
On my way to you.
As she drove out of the parking garage and into the flow of traffic, she caught a glimpse of the ivory tower, growing smaller and smaller as the distance between her and her past became longer. A princess escaping her ivory tower. Racing toward the awaiting prince in another kingdom.
* * *
Asher was at his desk running background checks on two suspects in an indictment case when he got Nora’s text.
“Hot damn,” he mumbled, and sent a text back.
Made my day. Safe travels. Text me when you get to Austin. It’ll take me a bit to get across the city to my house.
Ryan Gamble, his partner on the case, glanced up thinking Asher had found a link. “What did you find?”
“Someone I lost a long time ago. She’s on her way to my house.”
Ryan frowned. “Wait! What? Don’t tell me you found her online?”
Asher shook his head. “No. I just went home to Crossroads and there she was, back to sell her family property after her parents’ deaths.”
“You grew up with her?” he asked.
“Every breath I took, she was there. And when I get the second text, I will be AWOL to let her into the house.”
Ryan smiled. “Congrats. You should have just given her a key.”
“Where I live, you need to know a code to get in the gate, a key to the house, and a code to deactivate my security system. That’s not exactly ‘welcome home.’”
Ryan’s eyes widened. “Damn, man, that’s some serious security.”
Asher shrugged. “I have trust issues,” he said.
and went back to work.
* * *
It was just past 1:00 p.m. when Nora drove into Austin. She pulled off the highway into a truck stop for gas, and got her first welcome from the geography and the weather.
It was seventy-one degrees and sunny in Austin, a city with an elevation of less than 500 feet above sea level. And eight hours north in Crossroads, it was in the high forties, and 3,671 feet above sea level.
Distance in Texas was everything.
As soon as she refueled, she drove up to the station and went to find the restrooms, then bought a cold drink and a bag of corn chips to take with her. When she got back in the car, she sent Asher the second text.
INCOMING…leaving an Exxon station via GPS to you.
Asher had skipped his lunch break knowing he would leave work early when Nora arrived. He had just made a printout of phone logs for the State’s case he was working on when he got Nora’s text. He put the printout on Ryan’s desk along with a note, then returned a message.
Best day ever. Ready and waiting.
He sent her the code to get in at the front gate, then left the building.
* * *
It was the longest drive home he’d ever made. The minutes seemed to drag. He hit too many red lights, and too many detours. Finally, he realized it was the universe telling him to slow down. And once he did, the traffic cleared, and he was home.
He had his gun stashed and was in the living room watching for her car to pull up in his driveway.
Her office space awaited, and he’d moved his summer clothes into a closet in another room to make room for her things.
Picturing their clothes hanging side by side was yet another facet of their life to come, but going to sleep with her in his arms and waking up to her lying beside him was going to be the real gift.
He glanced at the time, hoping she wasn’t lost, and when he looked up, she was pulling into his driveway. He bolted for the kitchen to open the garage door, and saw her waving and smiling as she drove in beside his car and got out.
“I made it!” she said, and seconds later, she was in his arms, being smothered with hugs and kisses. “Are we dreaming, or is this really happening?” she said, as he finally put her down.
“Happening, and better late than never! Show me your hand.”
She held it out, palm up.
“You got the stitches out. It looks great, but I’m still carrying things in.”
“I took the stitches out, and I am more than happy to let you do all the heavy lifting. I’m about lifted out.”
He frowned. “You took them out?”
She nodded. “With my mother’s little embroidery scissors and tweezers. It just stung a little, so I poured alcohol on it afterward and made it sting a lot.”
Ash burst out laughing. “God, I love you. Grab your purse and coat. I’m coming in behind you with the rest. Our bedroom is the first door on the right, down the hall.
Dump your things, then investigate the rooms on the other side of the hall and find which one suits you for your office.
I have a long folding table that will serve for a desk until you find one you like, and we’ll have it delivered. ”
“Yes, okay,” she said, and went through the utility room and into the kitchen, staring in delight at the space that was to become her home.
The Mexican-influenced architecture made everything feel warm and homey, while the brilliant colors and handmade tiles became the jewels adorning the space.
She left her things on an imposing four-poster bed and went across the hall to begin an office search, quickly settling for the largest room at the end of the hall.
Perfect for any privacy she would need, and basically soundproof from the sound of daily living going on at the other end of the house.
She had already admired the formal dining room, and was in the living room, trying out every chair and sofa, when Asher walked in.
“Hey, honey, you have one big box labeled Mom’s china. Would you like to put it in the obviously empty china cabinet in the dining room?”
“Yes, please,” she said, and followed him. “That and her silverware were the only things from home that I chose to keep.”
“Is the silverware in your car? I didn’t see it anywhere.”
“I shipped my summer clothes here UPS. It will be in one of those boxes when they arrive.”
“Then I’ll open the box of dishes and set them on the table for you, but I don’t have a clue as to where they should go. The rest of that is out of my wheelhouse. Is it okay if I unpack the clothes in your suitcases? I have extra hangers.”
“I packed them with the hangers, and lord, yes, it’s okay. Do you have to get back to work?” she asked.
“Not today, baby. Not today. I’m all yours, for whatever you need. Mi casa es su casa.”
Nora paused, remembering the day they’d said goodbye after graduation, and the feeling she’d had driving away from him again in Crossroads. No more driving away. No more walls between them ever again. She put her hand on the middle of his chest. His heartbeat was strong and steady, like the man.
“Then I will be needing a happening to happen around sundown, and along about midnight, I might be needing someone to rock me back to sleep. Forewarned is forearmed.”
Asher looked at the box of dishes, and then at the look on Nora’s face.
“About that happening… I don’t think it’s gonna wait,” he said.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m all yours, Kingston.”
He swooped her up in his arms, and down the hall they went.
Suitcases landed on the floor.
Shoes came off, and then their clothes.
Asher pulled back the covers as Nora stretched out across the bed.
He was hard, and she was waiting, and then the waiting was over as he slid between her legs.
“Mine,” he whispered, and began to move.
“Always,” Nora said, then wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him deeper.
* * *
The suitcases didn’t get unpacked until hours later.
Her mother’s china was still in the box while they were having pizza via DoorDash.
It was their first night together in the house that would become their home, and they hadn’t wasted a moment, making love everywhere but on the kitchen counter and the floors.
Tonight was theirs.
Tomorrow belonged to their jobs, and that reminder came late. Sometime after midnight, Asher set his alarm. Sated by sex and food, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
* * *
To Asher’s surprise, Nora was AWOL when he got out of the shower. He wrapped a towel around his waist and went looking, and found her in the kitchen making coffee.
“Baby, you didn’t have to get up so early,” he said.
She was a little teary, but she was smiling. “I didn’t want to miss my first morning telling you goodbye and be safe.”
He hugged her. “I understand. I’m just as invested in knowing that I’m never coming home to an empty house again. Even if you’re somewhere else, I will still know that this place is where you land.”
“Can I make you breakfast? I’m not much of a cook, but I do scrambled eggs and toast okay.”
“I would be honored,” he said. “Don’t make a big deal about it.
I usually just eat cold cereal, so eggs and toast will be a treat.
Skillet’s in the drawer beside the stove.
Everything else is in the refrigerator. When I get home tonight, we’ll get you signed up on my Whole Foods account and DoorDash, and whatever else you like to use. Delivery is good here.”