38. Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Marshall
A n address and a time.
That’s all that was in the text from Elsie.
No apology. No explanation. Just a time and a place.
If I wasn’t so in love with this woman or so intrigued, I wouldn’t have come.
But here I am, at 6:37 pm, driving to a random address in the city.
Only, as I pull up to the address, it isn’t so random.
The one-story ranch-style house is the same one Elsie and I drove past all those months ago. Not just the same kind of home I told her I could imagine building our lives in, but the exact home I pointed out.
Outside, on the front porch, sits Elsie, looking radiant in a light summer dress and her hair in perfect curls.
Goddess, I missed this woman .
The sight of her alone has my cock standing at attention and my heart thundering in my chest.
Getting out of my truck, I slowly approach where she stands in front of the house.
“Elsie,” I say, greeting her cautiously.
“Marshall.” She sighs with a smile. “Thank you for coming.”
“Your message was rather cryptic. I couldn’t resist the mystery.” I shrug. “But what are we doing here?”
She glances down at her shoes as though she doesn’t quite know how to do this, but then I see when she gathers her courage and straightens to look at me head-on.
“Can we go inside?”
“Do you have a key? Because I’m pretty sure it’s still a crime to break into someone’s house.” I joke, trying to get some of the tension in her shoulders to dissipate.
“The door is unlocked.” She says simply.
“Oh. So, you’ve done this before?” I chuckle, following her as she waddles her way into the house.
“The first time was today, actually.” She jokes back, and my shoulders soften at the banter between us.
The house is exactly as I would have hoped: old.
Everything inside the house is exactly as it would have been when it was initially built. The plush carpet is worn down in all the areas that are heavily trafficked, leaving spots on the floor where you can tell someone has positioned furniture.
The house even smells its age with a slight scent of tobacco that’s woven itself into the walls.
“Is it what you hoped?” Elsie asks.
“What do you mean? ”
“When you saw this house...” She pauses, seeming to gather her courage. “Is this where you saw our lives together?”
“Elsie....”
“No. Marshall. I want to talk about this now. I’m ready to talk about it. Please.” She says sternly, and I can’t help but smile at the furrow that’s settled itself between her brows in her determination.
“Okay. Let’s talk then.”
“Answer my question.”
When I don’t respond immediately, she gestures with her hand in a forward, rolling motion to prompt me to speak. “Did you see a future for us in this house?”
“I mean...” I start. “Yeah. I’ve seen a future with you in a lot of places. But this house is pretty cool.”
She rolls her eyes before returning to her serious look again. “But you like the house.”
“Yeah, Elsie. I like the house. What about it?” I ask, my frustration mounting alongside my curiosity.
“I bought it.” She says plainly.
“You what?”
“I bought it.” She repeats.
I take a look around at the house again with its outdated everything.
“You bought this?”
“That’s what I said, Marshall.” She says frowning.
“But why?”
There’s a part of me that senses where she’s going with this, but I need her to say it.
I need to hear her tell me what she wants.
That she wants this.
With me .
“Why did you buy this house, Elsie,” I say, taking a step toward her and looking down into her piercing blue eyes.
“I... I...” She stutters.
“Tell me, princess,” I say with a smirk, which earns me a frown.
A battle occurs behind her eyes, and I see the moment that one side wins and declares itself the victor.
I can only hope it’s the side that is favorable to me.
“I want this.” She says slowly, glancing around at the house.
“And what is this?” I ask.
“I want...” She struggles. “Ugh. Just follow me.”
She turns on her heel, and it takes me a moment to register that she actually walked away from me before I’m able to process and get myself to move after her.
I follow her through the house and into the tiny breakfast nook that’s just off the kitchen, where there are two stacks of paperwork.
“It’s four bedrooms, three and a half baths. The front two rooms share a jack and jill. And there’s a hall bath that the other two share. The primary bedroom has an on-suite and walk-in closets.” She starts rambling as she rustles through sheets of paper. “The house was built....”
“Elsie, I don’t care when the house was built,” I say, taking her chin between my fingers and turning her to face me. “Tell me why you bought the house.”
Her face scrunches in an adorable pout.
“You’re gonna make me say all of it out loud, aren’t you?” She huffs.
“Yes. I am. ”
“Fine.” She takes a breath, gathering herself. “I want this. I want the house and the kids and the whole stupid future you have envisioned for us.”
“Us?”
“Yes, us . I want a future with you. Us .”
Warmth builds in my chest, and I smile widely at her admission.
Reaching for her waist, I pull her into my body as close as she can with her baby bump.
“You want a future with me?” I ask.
“Yes.” She huffs, looking down and away from me. “That’s what I want.”
There’s a moment of silence where I can tell she’s chewing on an admission, but I wait patiently for her to speak.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to get here.” She says softly, finally glancing up to meet my gaze and putting her hands on my chest. “But I want this. I want you.”
I reach up to push back one of her curls behind her ear.
“That’s not enough, Elsie,” I say with a teasing smirk. “You know what I need to hear.”
“Marshall.” She whines.
“Elsie,” I say in a jokingly stern tone.
“Fine.” She pushes away from me and turns around. “But I’m not saying it to your face.”
I take a few steps forward and wrap Elsie up in my arms so my hands can cup her belly.
“Tell me how you feel, Elsie.” She sighs, her body tense, but I bring my lips to her ear and whisper, “What do you want, princess?”
A shiver rolls through her body, and she relaxes into my arms .
“I... I made a new agreement.” She says quickly before breaking out of my hold and returning to the dining table. “It’s for both of us to review and sign.”
“Elsie...” I say, losing hold of my patience a little.
“Look.” She turns to me and looks at me straight on. “This isn’t easy for me. I’m good with negotiations and business deals, not feelings. I’m trying to do this the best way I know how. I love you so damn much and...”
Her eyes grow wide, and I can’t help the chuckle that escapes.
“You love me, Elsie Snow?” I ask, my voice bright with the knowledge.
“Yes.” She says sternly with a furrowed brow. “I love you, and it feels like such a stupid thing to have to admit.”
“But you did.” I point out.
“Yes. Fine. I did.”
“You love me,” I say softly.
“Yes, you silly man. I love you, and if you’ll let me, I’d like to tell you that on occasion.”
“For how long?” I ask with a smirk.
She returns my expression. “How does forever sound?”
“Show me the agreement, and I’ll consider it.” I laugh.
“And the house?” She asks nervously.
“It’s perfect,” I say, pulling her in for a kiss.