Chapter Sixteen #3
She rests her crossed arms against the window ledge, smiling up at me.
“Well, thanks. I appreciate the ride if you are able. Des and I still share Granny’s old Buick. It’s usually not a big deal in the summer since he has his motorcycle. But this week, his bike is in the shop for maintenance.”
I cup the back of her neck, tilting her head up. “So you know, if you ever need me, just call. I won’t leave you stranded.”
Her mouth parts in surprise. She pauses for a moment before grabbing me by the front of my shirt until our lips crash together.
It’s been too long since our last kiss, and I nearly groan at the instant spark upon contact.
The door is a frustrating barrier between us, and I lean almost half outside the window, desperate to get as close as I can.
Her smell, her touch, her taste, it all overtakes my thoughts. My Reese. My love.
I nearly kick myself for being blind all those years. The woman of my dreams has been working across the street from me this whole time. Why didn’t I pursue her sooner? Years of memories and kisses I’ve missed. I have to make up for lost time.
Trembling, she pulls away, leaving me wanting more—a life with her.
“What was that for?” I ask. “Not that I mind. You’re free to kiss me whenever you want. You’ll have no complaints from me.”
Her eyes twinkle with laughter. “Something came over me when you said that. You’re always protecting me, and before, I found it kinda annoying and claustrophobic, like you didn’t trust me—”
I raise a brow, unsure where she’s heading with this.
“—but it was different this time. I felt safe. Like I wanted to let you take care of me. And after everything that’s happened to me, that’s a rare emotion.
I, um, melted a little inside. I know that sounds silly, but I don’t know how else to explain it.
” She covers her face with her fingers, hiding her pink cheeks.
“I understand completely.” I open the door and slide out to gather her in a tight hug. Closing my eyes, I savor the way we meld together. I reluctantly let her go when she pulls away, knowing she has to head back soon.
As I’m locking up the barn, I turn to catch Reese tugging her suitcase across the driveway, fighting against the gravel catching in the wheels.
“Hang on. Let me help,” I call out and chase after her.
“I can do it,” she says, bending at the waist as she tugs harder. Her hair falls over her eyes. Sighing, she stands and places her fists on her hips.
“You sure? I’m right here feeling useless.”
She brushes a lock of hair behind her ear, still struggling to catch her breath. “I mean, I don’t want you to feel useless. Sure. You can take it.”
I fight my smile of victory as I claim her suitcase and heave it up in my arms to toss in the bed of my truck. “Oof. This thing is still a million pounds.”
“It’s the price you pay to be prepared.”
When she moves to the passenger door, I grab her hand.
“I thought you wanted a tour.”
“Oh? It’s late. Are you sure?”
“Since when is nine o’clock late for you?”
“Since I feel like I haven’t slept in a week. But you know, I’m curious to see where Austin works.”
I roll my eyes at her wiggling eyebrows.
The two of us walk hand in hand up the wooden steps of my porch.
The empty spot where my mother’s rocking chairs used to sit is covered by a thick layer of dirt and grime.
Before, I hadn’t given this area much thought, but now that I see Reese standing here, I can see us sitting out here with a cup of coffee in the mornings.
I open the door for her, lost in my daydream.
“Still don’t lock it, huh?”
“Not much for anyone to steal unless they want my mother’s encyclopedia collection. It’s still in mint condition if you know of any sap, I mean buyer, who’d be interested.”
“Sounds like clutter to me. That’s one thing about being poor, we don’t really have a lot of knickknacks lying around.”
The wood floors creak as we enter the main foyer, and we stop in front of the staircase as she glances around. Pictures adorn the wall in a hodgepodge design, years of my life forever frozen in time.
“I think I’ve only visited once or twice before. It still feels exactly the same,” she says, picking up a ceramic rooster off the credenza. “Isn’t this your mom’s?”
“Yeah, she left most of her stuff when she and Bruce downsized to Florida. I haven’t really felt like redecorating with my life in the air. But maybe now that I’ve decided to stay, you could help me out? You’ll be a pro at redecorating after the camper is finished.”
“Well, lucky for you, I know where I can get some cat decor to spruce up the place.”
I burst out laughing, envisioning all the cat pun signs, figurines, and blankets scattered through my house. “I’ll let you pick one thing.”
“Really?”
“Yes, only because when I see it, it’ll remind me of you and our road trip.”
As we continue to walk around, I imagine what decor Reese would add to the place. If she would leave a personal touch in each room until eventually my house became ours. Instead of eating dinner in the cafe, I could cook us something here.
My memory of her in the bridal shop in the pink gown morphs to her in a gown of white.
Whoa.
Well, I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. It will be awhile until she is ready for the future I have in mind. Right now, she’d probably run for the hills at the idea of being tied down to anyone.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” She spins around, pointing behind her at the mirror.
“No reason. Just a new experience to have you over as an adult.”
“Granny would only send me to get Des.”
“But . . . you’d stay.”
“It was nice here. Your mom and stepdad were also so nice. He let me watch cartoons once. We didn’t have a TV, so I thought that was pretty cool.” She laughs, but there’s a bit of pain behind it.
“Well, you can come over to watch TV anytime you want.”
“Thanks, Tris. Wait. Does it include popcorn?”
“I’ll make sure to stock up on some. Anything else you want me to keep here for you?”
“Uh, no. Just the motorhome.” With a blush, she glances away. “So, uh, where is this famous recording studio?”
“Upstairs in the bedroom.”
She knocks her shoulder into mine. “Ha. Ha. Real funny.”
“No, I mean it. It’s actually a spot wedged in my closet.”
She still doesn’t believe me until she follows me in, surprised to see a computer and microphone between my clothes. Blankets hang around the tight space, foam bricks glued to the wall. She freezes when she catches a picture of herself taped to my computer screen.
Ah, crap. I forgot about that.
“Is that me?”
I snatch it up and hide it behind my back.
“Maybe.”
“Why am I in here?”
“Well, that’s the end of the tour—”
“No, no, no.” She wags a finger at me. “Let me see it.”
Cringing I pull out the photo of her with a lavender ski hat on with snow-covered trees behind her. She pulls it from my hands, confused.
“This was last Christmas, right? At Des’s? I don’t remember you taking this. Why is it in here?”
My face burns, the small closet heating up to an uncomfortable temperature. I pull at my collar, swallowing thickly.
“I use it for inspiration when I’m working.”
She blinks at me, waiting.
“Ahem. Well . . .” I shift awkwardly from foot to foot. “When I do scenes where I’m talking to the female character, I pretend I’m talking to you. It’s easier to have a person in front of me to speak the lines to.”
Reese places a hand on her chest. “Okay, that’s less creepy than I thought it would be. Kinda sweet, actually.” She taps the photo on her palm a few times before handing it back to me. “Here. I’d hate for Austin to not get his next audiobook deal because of me.”
I toss it on my desk littered with papers just as she wraps her arms around me, snuggling into my chest like she belongs there.
“Sometimes, I don’t know what to do with you, Tristen Davis. You keep surprising me.”
“Now who is sounding like a line from my audiobook?” I grin as she wrinkles her nose at me.
“Get over here, you,” she growls, pulling me close until we melt into another sweet kiss.
A kiss I don’t mind one bit.