Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“Can I show you something?” I asked, my voice as shaky as my hand.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Denver
Sean led me across the street to the carriage house. The main house was quiet, sitting majestically in the early summer sun. The kids were still in school for another week or two, and Eric and Jonas were both at work. Meaning, there was valuable daylight Sean and I were wasting. I had gallons of adrenaline surging through me like three quad-shot coffees and a powerful need to fuck Sean through the nearest mattress. But Sean wanted to show me something, so I supposed sex could wait.
Or I could drag him onto our chair again…
My brain started to spin up a fantasy as Sean unlocked the carriage house, and I followed him in, not really paying attention until Sean cleared his throat. “Well?”
“Oh.” I looked around. A few days prior, when we’d had sex in our chair, the place had already looked much improved but remained very much a work in progress. Now, Sean had cleaned up the various construction and cleaning supplies. The counters and sink gleamed and a new apartment-sized fridge and stove had joined the kitchenette. Someone had fixed and polished the little dinette set we’d found while working on the space. “You finished everything?”
“Hardly. There’s plenty to do.” Sean gave an uncertain laugh as I continued to look around. A braided rug sat in front of the wood stove, and while our chair remained near the stairs to the loft, a few other pieces of furniture had been added, including a plant stand near the front window with pots of herbs. “The herbs are for you,” he said like he hadn’t done this whole darn thing for me.
My tongue felt thick and unwieldy as I struggled for words. “Oh?”
“I fetched a few furniture items from my storage unit, but a couple of things are new, like the plants. And the bed.” He pointed at the loft area. “And I wanted to show you this.”
He dug a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed the handwritten receipt to me.
“You paid Eric for a year?” My mouth twisted as my head spun. “I thought you said you’d come with me if I decided to leave.”
“And I would.” Sean patted my upper arm like I’d been replaced by a nervous poodle. And perhaps I had. After today, nothing could shock me anymore. “I paid Eric rent, so we’d have a place to come back to, no matter what. A home base, so to speak. Like I said, I’ll go where you go, but I also want to give you a place to come home to.”
A home. The one thing I’d never had, and had stopped letting myself wish for decades prior, and here Sean was, just handing one to me.
“I’m…” I was no closer to being able to speak. “I’m not sure what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” Sean stretched to give me a soft kiss on the mouth. “And you can wait until your landlord sells before deciding whether you want to stay here with me. Like getting the people to speak at the meeting, I’m not trying to force your hand. I only want to give you options.”
“This is a pretty good option.” I looked around the space again. A home. Not a pre-furnished apartment or room to rent. He’d made me a home. I kicked off my dress loafers and placed my suit jacket on one of the dining chairs. “I think I’ll take you up on it, but I better inspect that bed to be sure.”
“You should.” Sean enthusiastically tugged me toward the narrow stairs. I was a big dude, but luckily, the stairs were solid and didn’t creak. I did, however, have to bend to stand in the loft, but the bed beckoned invitingly. It was a huge king-size mattress on a low platform, piled high with puffy comforters more suitable for winter nights. Home.
I stretched out to save my back and because I no longer trusted my knees to hold me.
“Well?” Sean asked, hovering near the bed.
“Nice firm mattress. No idea how you managed to get it up those stairs, but this is quality.”
“Rowan and Jonas probably won’t speak to me for a week.” Sean grinned as I pulled him down to the mattress. “And I owe John a lot of hours of driving lessons, but we managed. Barely.”
“I approve. It’s cozy.” I snuggled against Sean, breathing deeply. He smelled like minty shampoo and bracing shaving cream and Sean himself, and I couldn’t get enough of his unique scent and warm body.
Sean stretched against me, ass rubbing against my groin, leg hooking me even closer. He exhaled along with me, almost like he was ready for a nap, but the way he was wiggling said otherwise.