Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
ELLIOT
“ Y ou came,” I say when Fern enters my office.
“I was promised food.” She closes the door behind her and scans the area. “And sex. Though, I can’t see how the last one will happen if your walls are made out of glass.”
I smirk at her and push the button that lowers the drapes, giving me privacy, and turn on the lights.
“Crafty,” she says, smiling as I walk toward her.
I give her a peck on her lips and then bend to kiss her belly twice. “Hey, minis. How are you feeling?”
“Well, overwhelmed by all the baby names you sent.”
“We have to find the perfect names. Are you sure you don’t want to find out the gender?”
She shakes her head. “No. I want to learn when they’re born.”
I nod.
“I do hate that you already know.”
I shrug. “Why? It’s okay. I promised I wouldn’t tell you, didn’t I?”
“But you know.”
I grab her hand and walk toward my drawing table. “Let’s focus on the blueprints I have for you.”
She sighs. “So, you really want me to move here.”
We’re looking through the designs I drew this morning. They’re drafts of her new office. She keeps declining my ideas, arguing that I don’t understand her style. She’s a stubborn woman, but I can be even more stubborn.
“Am I that obvious?”
She exhales loudly, but she’s not frustrated.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a little tired. I might go home to take a nap after this.”
“Then let’s do this building a family home and starting our own vineyard, remodeling the house in Pacific Heights, moving into the penthouse?—”
She frowns. “You’re pushing it, McPhee.”
“We have to move forward, Fern. I’m trying to be patient, but there’s a lot to do, and we only have so many weeks to get it done. I might have access to the best builders but they’re humans, not magicians.”
She scoffs, trying to hide the grin. “I understand that my life is about to change, and I need to learn to adapt. Hiring people and… North Bay isn’t a friendly place for those who come and seek help from us.”
“You’re keeping the house, and that’s where the therapies happen. I think you should hire a social worker who’ll look into the cases and work from your current office.”
She finally moves closer to the table and studies the blueprint. “Do I have to give that up?”
I press her back against the front of my body, placing my hands on her belly—our babies.
I kiss the side of her neck. “It’s not giving things up.
It’s learning to delegate some tasks so you can focus on what matters the most—the babies.
If you don’t like North Bay, I can start searching for a house where you can expand. ”
“That’ll be expensive.”
“North Bay has your back, babe.”
“You don’t have to?—”
“I want to be a part of you, including your foundation. I want the money that I make to go to a good cause.”
“Why are you so perfectly stubborn?” She looks up at me, and I want to beg her to please just let me love her and protect her.
But I don’t because I know she’s not ready.
The last thing I want is to scare her or lose her.
I just… I wish she’d let me completely into her life, heart, and soul—no boundaries or limitations.
But I’ll wait.
I’m patient because I know she’s worth the time.
With her it’s one day at a time. I know that if not tomorrow, then in a few years, she’ll understand that she’s become the reason I breathe. All I need is the warmth of her soul, the beat of her heart, and her calm voice.
All I can do is kiss her. I don’t say the words, but with my lips, I profess my love to her over and over again.
When we end the kiss, her eyes sparkle. Sometimes, I believe that she might be in love with me, while others, I don’t want to think about it because losing her is not an option.
I clear my throat. “So, what do you think?”
“Honestly, it’s beautiful.”
“But?”
“There are no buts, I admit that this one makes me want to say yes.”
“So, I just need to kiss you senseless and you’ll be doing everything I want, huh?” I wink at her.
She laughs. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”
“Let’s take you home. I’ll feed you some lunch before you take a nap.”
“What about sex?”
I laugh and shake my head as I grab my jacket. “We’ll talk about it once you’re rested.”
“It might help me relax.”
“Are we bargaining?”
She licks her lips. “I might throw in a blow job later today if you satisfy me before I head to bed.”
Though sex with her is mind-blowing, all I want is for this to be our life. Her visiting me at my workplace, joking, sharing everything. Can I make it happen?