9. Chapter 8
Sarah
The past two weeks have been a dream come true. Mitchell comes in the afternoon around three o'clock and works until I can join him, sometimes at five, sometimes at six, depending on what I've got going on at work. At seven we take a small break for dinner and then at nine he's all mine.
I've become quite possessive of him. He acts like I'm the only person in his world, and I have to say I love it. He takes such good care of me. He's gentle and tender and a bit obsessed with making me come as many times as possible during the night.
The kitchen is almost ready. It looks like one of those extreme makeovers that they do on television. I just wish my grandmother could have seen it. It's a kitchen made for someone who loves to cook, like she did. I'm standing in the middle of the kitchen, checking everything out.
"This is a work of art, Mitchell."
"Does that mean you like it?"
"Like it? I love it. It's the perfect kitchen. I couldn't have done it without you."
"I'm glad you like it, little one. Just two more days and we can celebrate. Where would you like to go? Somewhere fancy?"
"You don't have to do that."
"It's important to celebrate milestones. This is a big one. Now you can cook to your heart's content."
"It would be nice to go somewhere special. You choose. I'll worry about getting myself presentable."
"You could wear a sack of potatoes and look beautiful, Sarah."
"For a grump, compliments seem to come really easily to you."
"You inspire me."
His eyes right now have a hunger in them, and I know exactly what he wants to do to me. It makes me blush, but most importantly it gets me in a romantic mood. What would it be like to go out on a date with this man at a fancy restaurant?
I would love to dress up for him so that he's proud to have me on his arm. I lean towards him and hold him tight in my arms. He puts his arms around me and returns the gesture. He smells nice even though he's been hard at work. It's that manly musk that identifies him as male and mine.
"Thank you, Mitchell."
"I would do this all over again just to make you happy. That's what's important to me. To see the joy in your eyes like the one you have right now."
"I'm hearing words coming from your mouth that flow into my heart. Are you always this smooth with the ladies?"
"You know me already, I'm a big ole grump."
"Do you think this between us is real?"
"It certainly feels like it. What do you think?"
"I think we're an unlikely pair, but that's what makes it perfect for us."
He leans down and kisses me on the nose.
"None of that."
I grab him by the shirt and pull him down to me for a scorching kiss. If we're going to celebrate in a few days I want time with my man. He pushes me back and I frown at him.
"I want you, Mitchell. Are you going to deny me?"
"I wouldn't dare, but I want to put the finishing touches on the kitchen so that we can go celebrate on Friday."
"But Friday is so far away. I don't think I can make it until then."
"Then let's sit down and build a Pinterest board for the master bedroom and bathroom. It will be our next project."
This time I'm the one who pulls back, and I plop on the living room couch. I've barely started payments on the work and materials I owe for the kitchen; it would be too much to start with this other project. I'm not sure how to broach the subject with Mitchell.
I know he'll brush it off like it's nothing, but it's not nothing. A lot of money and a lot of time and energy is being put into these projects. Those are valuable assets, and I don't want Mitchell to think I'm taking advantage of him.
"Maybe that other project can wait."
"Why? Did you want to do the living room first? This is where you work. It would be intrusive for work to be done in this area."
I hesitate. I need to be honest with him. No relationship moves forward unless you're being honest with one another.
"I'm going to get more in debt with you if you start the master bedroom and bathroom. They are both big projects that need a lot of materials and labor."
"You know I don't care about that."
"Maybe you should. What if this interferes with what's going on between us?"
"How would it interfere, little one? Tell me what you're thinking."
"I think…I feel like I'm taking advantage of you and your kindness."
"Sarah, look at me. You could never do that. I know you well enough by now to know you'd never take advantage of me."
"I don't know, Mitchell. Life just doesn't work that way. There's no easy button to push."
"Just think about it this way. We've found each other and we're helping build something together."
"But you don't owe me anything."
"And neither do you."
He bops my nose and I want to squeeze him tight. How am I this lucky? How is this my life?