38. Claire
Four weeks later…
The clammy sheen of sweat dampened my palms, and I swiped them down the sides of my jeans. My heart thrummed in my chest, flapping like a butterfly caught in a windstorm.
Why was I so nervous? It wasn’t like he’d say no.
At least, I didn’t think he would. That was the whole reason I was asking. If I thought he’d turn me down, I would keep my mouth shut.
But I was still nervous. It wasn’t every day a woman asked her boyfriend to permanently move in.
Since the incident at his house with Grace and Gabe, he’d been staying with me. At first, his house was a crime scene. Plus, there was a gaping hole where the window used to be. Not to mention the damage to the flooring, walls, and cabinets from the bullets.
The police spent over a week collecting evidence from Ozzie’s house and holding the scene until they were sure they had what they needed. He couldn’t do anything except board up the window until then. It had about driven him insane to be put on administrative leave and completely sidelined from the investigation, but Riggs and the state patrol officers who came in to assist were adamant he stayed away.
But the ball was rolling now. He’d been cleared of wrongdoing in Gabe Turner’s death and taken off of leave, but he was still out of the loop on the case.
As far as the house went, over the last couple of weeks, he’d met with insurance adjusters and contractors to start the restoration process. It would be at least another month before he could move back in. Even then, it wouldn’t be finished.
So, I had a plan.
I touched the blue and silver wrapped package on the counter. It wasn’t anything fancy. Literally a piece of paper I put in a box and wrapped. But it was arguably one of the most important pieces of paper of my life.
I glanced at the clock on the stove. Five-twenty-three.
Where was he?
Before he left this morning, I asked if he thought he would be on time for dinner tonight. That I had an elk roast to use up, and it was better right out of the slow cooker than reheated later.
He said barring a case coming in last minute he didn’t see it being a problem. Then he promised to call me if he would be late.
The clock ticked over to five-twenty-four.
He was late. I couldn’t leave the roast in the slow cooker on warm for much longer. It would get too dry.
I huffed.
Relax, Claire. My rational mind poked her head out and rolled her eyes at me. He probably had to finish a report and didn’t think it would take long.
I knew that side of my brain was right, but it didn’t make waiting any easier.
Rather than stand around clock-watching, I decided to set the table. We usually just grabbed plates from the cupboard and dished up our meals right from the pots and pans on the stove. Tonight, we’d be fancy. I even found a couple of placemats.
Carrying my load to the table, I set the mats in front of the chairs we usually sat at, then put the dinner plates on top. Silverware went down next on top of folded napkins. They were paper, but it would suffice. We weren’t that fancy.
With the place settings out, I stepped back and assessed the table. Did I want to add candles?
No. That would be overkill.
But we did need wine and drink glasses.
Spinning around, I took two steps toward the kitchen when the front door opened. Pebbles barked and ran for the door.
“Hey, it smells good in here,” Ozzie called.
Changing course, I stepped further into the room so he could see me and smiled as he came into view. “Thanks. I just set the table. Everything’s ready.”
He arched an eyebrow as he shrugged out of his coat. “You set the table?”
“I was feeling a little posh tonight.”
He hung up his jacket with a chuckle, then gave Pebbles a scratch before he walked closer and gave me a kiss. When he pulled back, he frowned slightly. “What’s the matter? You feel a little tense.”
Knowing he wasn’t wrong, I didn’t deny it. “Come here.” I took his hand and led him to the kitchen.
“Claire?”
I could hear the question in his voice, but decided to let the gift I wrapped speak for me. Letting go of his hand, I scooped it off the counter and held it out to him. “Open this.”
Ozzie frowned at the box, then gave me a curious look, but he took it. “What’s this for? It’s not my birthday. Or Christmas.”
“Just open it.” I waved a hand at the present, catching my bottom lip between my teeth as nerves took hold.
Brows still drawn together, he turned it over in his hands to find the seam in the paper and ripped it open. Holding it against his chest, he tugged the lid off the box and tucked it under his arm before moving the tissue paper out of the way.
He lifted out the change of address form, then looked at me in utter confusion. “A change of address form? What’s this for?”
I clutched my hands together in front of me to keep from fiddling and let my lip slide free. “So, I thought you might want to fill that out and make your presence here permanent.”
The look of confusion on his face went through several phases as he worked through my statement. Finally, it landed on one of confused hope.
A bit of my nerves melted away.
“You want me to move in for good?”
I nodded. “I know we haven’t talked much about the future, but these last few weeks have been some of the best of my life. I love having you here, and I can’t imagine you going home.”
Ozzie put the paper back in the box and set the lid on top before reaching around me to set it on the counter. He took my hands and tugged me closer until our shirts brushed. “It’s been in the back of my mind for close to two weeks that I needed to find a way to make our living situation permanent. I don’t want to go home, either. I’m already home, Claire.”
The last of my nerves took flight, floating away on a wave of hope. Intense love for this man warmed my chest. “You are?” My voice came out on a rough whisper.
“I am.” He let go of my hands to frame my face. “I’ve been holding onto these words about as long as I’ve been here, telling myself it’s much too soon to feel the way I do. Except I realize now the time doesn’t matter. When it’s right, it’s right. I love you. I think I have since you came running down the sidewalk in your blue robe and hot pink slippers, chasing Pebbles.”
A watery laugh bubbled out. I slid my hands over his. “Same, Detective. Same. I love you too.”
The smile that split his face was nothing short of pure joy. My own felt stretched to the max. But he quickly stole it away with a kiss that seared me to my toes.
I still had one question, though.
Easing back, I looked up at him. “If you were planning to make our living situation permanent, what’s the plan for your house?” There were still repairs to make. Even if he planned to sell it, they needed to be done.
One side of his mouth lifted. “I might know a certain Coastie turned fisherman who’s still looking for a house to buy.”
My smile bloomed once more. Ellis. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.” Ozzie wasn’t the only Quartermaine I’d gotten to know in the last month. The more time I spent with Ellis, the more I appreciated his brand of humor and the bond the brothers shared.
Ozzie wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me off my feet. “Me too. So, how long will dinner keep?” he asked a moment before he kissed me again.
My joyful laugh died in my chest as need took hold.
Dry elk roast wasn’t that bad.
Thank you for reading Midnight Secrets !