23. Oliver #3
I wasn’t sure I had ever heard a squeal as high as Quinn emitted. Then she flung her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek. She looked at John, who was grinning. “He did get his head out of his ass!”
I chuckled. “I did.”
She picked up the coffeepot. “I need to call Kassie.”
“She’s, ah, sleeping,” I advised. “She was really, really tired.”
“I can see that. You look like you went through a wind tunnel.” Quinn winked.
“Or, in this case, Kassie’s fingers. Repeatedly.
Do something with your hair, you animal.
” She leaned down. “And, Oliver? Your shirt is on inside out.” Laughing, she headed to the kitchen, and I glanced at my reflection, then shook my head.
They were right. It was really bad, and my shirt was not only inside out but backward.
I ran my fingers through the mess, then gave up.
Between last night’s passionate coupling and this morning’s sleepy sex, today’s look was all Kassie.
And I was okay with that.
John sipped his coffee. “Congrats. But what do you need from me?”
“Your sister, Laura, is into real estate, right?”
“Yes.”
I slid a piece of paper his way. “I need to see this house. Today.”
He whistled low in his throat. “It’s a massive place. And it needs a lot of work.”
“And I have the time and the money. And I plan to use local workers. Boost the economy.”
“Kassie is good friends with Laura. Why not get her to call?”
“I want to surprise her.”
“Are you sure?”
“I need to see it first. And then show it to Kassie.”
He scratched his chin. “You were always fast with decisions. Impulsive.”
I shook my head. “Determined. I was stupid and left her behind once. I’ll be damned if I do it again. I’m gonna marry her up, move her in to the house of her dreams, and get her pregnant. She always loved that place. It makes her sad to think of it being demolished. I want to give it to her.”
He studied me. “I’ll call Laura and get it arranged.”
“Thanks.”
Later that afternoon, Kassie walked around the house, her eyes wide. I watched as she ran her hand over the beautiful woodwork, gazed in wonder at the pocket doors and the stained-glass inserts. Stared at the hardwood floors. Finally, she stopped her wandering in front of me.
“It needs—”
I interrupted her. “New roof, plumbing, wiring, a whole new kitchen and bathrooms. The floors need to be refinished. Walls painted. Some landscaping outside. Lots of work. But it’s a steal.”
“What?”
“Compared to housing in LA or Toronto, this place is a bargain. And it’s all cosmetic, lovely. It’s well-built. I’ll have it inspected. We can have it done and live at your place until it’s ready. Then move in and start making babies to fill all those bedrooms.”
“Um, there are five of those.”
I grinned. “Lots of babies.”
“We need a guest room.”
“Still good.”
“An office for you.”
“Nope. Already decided the yard was enormous enough for a man cave out back. We can make it a dual office, so you have a place to work too.”
“Oliver.” She shook her head. “I can’t keep up.”
“Stop trying. I have years to make up for. Just tell me you want it, and it’s yours. Ours. Our home.”
I could see how much she wanted it. Her eyes were pools of vivid green. Excited vivid green.
But she was nervous. And I knew why.
I pulled her into my arms. “Kassie, my lovely. Do you know what I made on my last film?”
“No…?”
I dropped my head to her shoulder. “Ten million. And that was with a pay cut.”
“Oh.”
“And Annie always negotiates merchandise and other royalties for all my movies. Last year alone, I pulled in close to forty.”
“Million?” she squeaked.
“And it was an off year.”
“Oh my God,” she breathed out.
“So I can afford this. And I want to give it to you. You never have to worry about money again. I have become a very shrewd investor. We’re covered.” Teasing, I bit down on her neck. “I can show you my portfolio if you want.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“So will you let me buy us our forever home?”
“You don’t like my place?”
I turned her in my arms. “It’s great. But I don’t want people over us. Around us. I don’t want you to be a landlady. We can keep it as an investment if you want. But this would be ours. A place we grow old together in.”
“Are you sure?” she whispered. “It’s not just…nostalgia?”
I held her close. “I love you, Kassie. I have always loved you. You have lived in my mind and heart since I was a kid. I locked you, us, away for a long time. But it’s not nostalgia. I’ve been waiting all this time, and now that I have you again, I want to go forward. You are my future.”
“Olly,” she breathed, leaning back to meet my eyes.
“I love you,” I repeated. “I want a life with you here. The rest of it is just noise. I want us to bring up our kids here. Can’t you see it? Little Kassies and a mini-me or two running around, driving us mad?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s do it.”
“Can we have a pool?”
I burst out laughing and nipped her neck. “Already planned that, plus a private hot tub off our bedroom on the deck. So, yes, my lovely, you can have anything you want.”
She beamed up at me. “Yes.”
I kissed her. “And you’ll marry me?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s celebrate.”