Chapter 24
Charity sat on the small landing outside her apartment, her stomach clenching more with each minute. Finally, her phone vibrated, and she jumped, then looked down to see Oliver’s text that he was there. She raced down the steps and threw open the door.
As soon as he walked through, she said, “You need to have the code to get in this door!”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, he smiled and lifted a brow, giving him the irrepressible expression she adored. “From a security standpoint, I’d advise against you giving out your code to random men.”
She rolled her eyes and couldn’t help but allow a little smile to curve her lips also. “I hadn’t categorized you as a random man. So maybe on top of everything else we’re dealing with, you and I might need to have a conversation.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. She rested her head against his chest and allowed his strength to seep into her.
“We can have any conversation you want, but if you’re thinking about giving me easier access to you, then I’m all in, Charity.” His words were mumbled against her hair, and she loved the feel of his lips as he kissed the top of her head.
Leaning back, she simply nodded as she looked up at him. She couldn’t deny that her feelings for him had grown quickly. So quickly, that some might have claimed it was insta-love. But for her, it didn’t feel instant. Maybe because ever since they first laid eyes on each other, life had thrown so much at them. She knew more about Oliver now than she had with any other man she’d dated. She knew how he responded when he was angry, frustrated, happy, uncertain. She’d met many of his coworkers and some of his family. She’d had the opportunity to see him in multiple situations, not just on a date.
And even in the short time she’d known him, she’d watched him grow in understanding of a situation he’d never considered before.
“I don’t think we need to have a conversation about whether or not you should have the code to get into the lower door,” she said, with her arms still wrapped around his waist. “I know the kind of man you are, and I know I want you in my life. As long as we’re moving forward together, I trust you.”
He bent as he pulled her closer, his lips sealing over hers, and she willingly gave herself over to the passion, handing her frazzled emotions to him.
He lifted her in his arms and walked over to the sofa, sitting while gently settling her in his lap, somehow managing to keep their kiss intact.
The kiss held the same vibrating electricity that moved through her body just like every time they kissed. But this time, the emotion she felt the most was safe. Whatever was going on with the center, especially with Kofi and Ramzi, she felt more confident that everything would turn out okay with Oliver at her back.
As his tongue glided over hers, she felt the velvet tickle and gave herself to him. One of his hands gently rubbed up and down her back as the other cupped the back of her head, his fingers massaging her scalp. As she grew languid in his arms, he slowly ended the kiss.
Her eyes blinked open, and she stared at his face, unable to tell what he was thinking. She’d wondered if he would stand and carry her to the bedroom. Instead, he simply sat on the sofa with her in his lap, offering comfort.
“How are you doing?” he asked. “How are you really doing?”
She held his eyes, seeing the concern in their depth. “Nervous, anxious, wondering what tomorrow will bring, hoping tonight goes okay for them.”
“Did the boys settle in?”
She nodded. “I’ve texted George each hour, and he assures me they’re in their room and already asleep.”
“They’ve probably slept with one eye open for so long that to be in a safe area is the first time they’ve truly been able to relax.”
Having worked with homeless teens for years, she knew that to be true but was surprised at how quickly Oliver understood.
“I don’t want to keep texting George because he needs to get a good night”s sleep, but it’s hard for me to be here and not worry.”
He glided his hand from the back of her head to her face, cupping her face as he gently rubbed his thumb over her cheek.
“Tell me about your dream home.”
His sudden change of conversation topic startled her. “My what?” She glanced around at the living room before returning her gaze to him. “Dream home?”
“I guess that question came out of the blue, didn’t it?” He smiled and shook his head. “You’ve told me where you grew up, and even though it was small, there was love there, so it was special to you. Now, you’re in a small apartment, but you’ve also made this place special to you. I’ve never had a real home after I left my parents” house, but I’m in the market to buy and talked to a real estate agent the other day. His questions threw me, and I wanted another perspective.” He leaned in and kissed her softly again. “I’m just curious about what would make a dream home for you.”
Her brow furrowed, and she thought about his question. “I’ve never talked to a real estate agent. Staying here has allowed me to save money, but I need to work a couple more years to have enough for a down payment.” She heaved her shoulders and tilted her head as she continued to hold his gaze. “What kind of questions was he asking?”
“Things like square footage, how many bedrooms, how many bathrooms, how big I want the kitchen, how many floors, did I want the main bedroom on the first floor, how large a lot?” He shook his head, and she smiled at the befuddled expression on his face.
She scrunched her nose and hesitated as she thought about the answer to his question.
“What’s that look for?” he asked.
“Well, to be honest, sometimes I look at realty websites and just browse to look at different homes.”
“Perfect! Then you know more than me. So what would your dream home be like?”
“I don’t dream of a large home. I just need at least three bedrooms and two bathrooms. If I’m lucky enough to have kids down the road, I’d like them each to have their own bedroom. And while the single me doesn’t need more than one bathroom, having two is easier for a family or when guests are over.”
He nodded, his face a mask of seriousness. “That makes sense.”
“I know a lot of modern homes have the owners” bedroom on the first floor, and I think that’s important for some people, especially if there are mobility issues. But if I have kids, I want to be close to them at night.”
His brows lifted almost comically, and she wondered if he thought her reasons were foolish.
“Wow!” he enthused. “I never thought of that.” Now, he tilted his head to the side as he peered at her. “I should take you with me when I start looking.”
She knew he meant she’d be a person who could offer an opinion on the houses he was considering, but her heart ached just a little at the idea of helping him find his home, knowing she wasn’t looking for herself. Wincing slightly, she pushed that selfish thought to the side. Clearing her throat, she continued, “The larger the lot, the more landscaping and mowing I’d have to do. I want room for flower beds, a small garden, and room for kids to play, but I don’t want to be so far away from neighbors that I can’t make friends.” She snorted as she added, “Of course, not everybody who is a neighbor turns out to be a friend, so having a little space wouldn’t be too bad.”
He chuckled and agreed. “Good point. I think a fence to keep kids in and neighbors out when needed is a good thing.”
They both laughed, and she breathed a little easier as the heaviness of their day eased. “I suppose, more than anything else, I’d like to have a house full of… um.”
His brows lowered as it was now his turn to peer deeply into her eyes. “Full of what?”
She blew out a breath and admitted, “Full of love.”
His face softened as his lips curved upward. “Yeah, me, too. A house full of love.”
They sat for a long moment, neither speaking, as volumes passed between them through their gazes. Suddenly, her phone vibrated, and she leaped off his lap and turned to snag it off the coffee table. Looking down, she spied a text from George. Her heart pounded as she stabbed at her phone to pull it up. But when her eyes read the text, she released a long breath. Looking down at Oliver, still sitting on the sofa, she smiled. “George says he just checked on them one last time, and both boys are still sound asleep.”
Oliver stood, pulled her into his embrace, and kissed the top of her head. “We’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow, so I suggest we do exactly what the boys are doing and head to bed.”
Filled with gratitude, comfort, and even nervousness, she couldn’t help but lean back and ask, “If I have trouble going to sleep, do you have a cure?”
His impish expression filled his face, and he nodded. “I plan on wearing you out with orgasms, so you’ll have no choice except to sleep peacefully.”
She slipped from his grasp and started toward the bedroom. “Sounds like the cure for insomnia!” With that, she hurried toward the bedroom with Oliver right on her heels.