Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
R owdy
“Look, I know you said you’re leaving today, but if you can delay, just ’til Monday, I want to take you and Krista somewhere. I really think she’ll love it.”
I figured it was the best time to ask, while Tressy was still boneless in my arms after our second time, this time in an actual bed.
I didn’t want to be pathetic and beg, but I was running out of options. I didn’t want them to leave tomorrow. Hell, I didn’t want them to leave at all. These past couple of days had shown me what it could be like with Krista and Tressy in my life. And I fucking liked it. A whole hell of a lot.
I know two days wasn’t a lot of time, but honestly, how long did you have to know a person before you knew she was the right one? I mean, my parents had known each other a week before they’d decided to spend their life together. That’d worked out pretty damn well .
And I didn’t want to do a long-distance relationship. They never worked. But I would if that was the only way I could stay in her life. I was smart. I’d figure out a way to make it work.
Tressy didn’t answer right away, but I felt her breathing hitch, so I knew she wasn’t asleep. And her hand on my chest continued to stroke across my skin. Which I really fucking liked.
“I would really like to, but…”
“But what?”
She blew out a sigh, that ruffled across my pec. “But this isn’t our home. We can’t just stay here indefinitely.”
I wanted to tell her she could stay with me. I had more than enough room for her and Krista, but I didn’t want her to get freaked out that I was asking her to move in with me when we’d only met three days ago.
But I knew what I wanted. And I wanted her and Krista here.
I had a feeling if I didn’t start to make her see how I felt about her, she would walk away. But if I came on too strong, she’d run, not walk, all the way back to New York. Unless I was totally reading her wrong. I didn’t think I was.
Didn’t help that my brain was still scrambled from the amazing sex.
“Stay, Tressy. Just another day. Just because I want you to.”
Propping herself up on one elbow, she looked into my eyes. I saw the conflict in hers and decided it was time for the Hail-Mary play.
“There’ll be whoopie pies and apple cider and, if you’re nice to me, we can take the hayride.”
When she finally burst out laughing, the sound hit me straight in the gut. I wanted to go to sleep to that sound every night and wake up to it every morning. Tressy was the calm to my chaos. It’d only been three days, but I knew that, if she left, I’d have to follow.
“Rowdy, are you ever serious? ”
“I’m always serious about whoopie pies and hayrides. You’re in farm country, and Fall is our season.”
“But you’re not a farmer.”
She looked so damn serious when she said that, but I saw the humor lurking in her eyes.
“True, but I’ve got a pair of overalls I can wear if that’s what you’re into.”
I tugged her down for a kiss as her quiet laughter and the look in her eyes activated something so raw in me, I was worried I’d say the wrong thing. Her heated response gave me goosebumps. This was what had been missing from my life up until now.
She pulled back slowly, her eyes opening to look into mine. “I guess we can stay another day.”
I barely restrained myself from doing a victory dance. Would’ve been hella awkward, but then again, she would’ve laughed, and I loved to make this lady laugh.
“But, Rowdy…” her gaze got somber, “we can’t stay forever.”
“Then I’ll take what I can get for now.”
And I’d figure out how to make her see that this is where she belonged.