Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
It was perfect.
“Welcome home,” she mumbled.
I pressed a kiss to her curvy ass, drawing in the skin and leaving a mark. Why I liked to do that with her, I had no idea, but I did enjoy it.
“Best homecoming ever,” I replied.
She rolled off me, turning and curling up on my chest, meeting my eyes. Her eyes were damp, her hair a mess, and her lips swollen. A small trace of come was at the corner of her mouth.
I traced her lips. “Hello, Maggie darling.”
She smiled, the expression in her eyes so soft I could have drowned in them.
“Hello, my Alex.”
“I missed you.”
“Me too.”
“Where’s Hedgy?”
“I fed him and shut the door. I came back to check on you, and I noticed you had woken up—or at least part of you had. I thought I’d help you out.”
“You certainly did.”
“You weren’t bad yourself.”
I chuckled, running my fingers through her hair. “How about a shower, and I’ll take you out to breakfast?”
“I’d like that. But you’re sure about the office?”
I rolled her over, hovering. “Yes. We’re both taking the day off and spending the weekend together.”
“Oh. I thought I’d be going home today.”
I bent and kissed her. “No.” It took everything in me not to tell her she was home. I wasn’t ready for that conversation.
Yet.
She wrapped her arms around my neck. “Okay.”
I had never known a weekend like the one I spent with Magnolia. We didn’t leave the condo until Sunday, content to simply be with each other. Hedgy provided a lot of amusement, his antics frequently making me laugh. His favorite place to nap was burrowed into my neck, the crook of my arm, or on my chest, and I gave up trying to move him. Magnolia had taken him to the vet while I was away, arranged for neutering, and he was given his first set of shots.
“He was so sleepy after,” she told me. “But so good at the vet. Everyone laughed at his name and thought it was cute.”
“Told you,” I informed her.
I lifted him up, his green eyes meeting mine. “Sorry about your balls, little bugger. But it has to happen.”
He studied me, then licked my nose, which made me laugh.
I couldn’t recall laughing this much my entire life.
Sunday, we went to see her dad. It wasn’t as good a visit as the week before had been. He didn’t remember Magnolia, had no interest in Hedgy, and barely glanced my way. I left her with him so she could visit and waited in the parking lot for her. Hedgy fell asleep on my lap, and I answered emails I had been ignoring.
Magnolia opened the passenger door a short time later, sliding in and looking sad.
“No rush to leave,” I assured her.
“He fell asleep. Gladys, his nurse, said he’s been doing that a lot this week. I’ll come visit in a couple of days and see how he is.”
“Okay.”
“Can you drop me off?”
I turned and looked at her. “Where?”
“My place. I need to do laundry, get ready for work. Roast the meat for sandwiches.”
“All of which you can do at the condo.”
“I can’t stay at the condo indefinitely.”
The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. “Why not?”
She looked at me as if I was crazy. “I don’t think we’re ready for that. Have you thought of the implications?”
I hadn’t, but I found I didn’t really care.
“Does it matter?”
She looked thoughtful, sad, and worried all at once. She drew in a deep breath. “To you, maybe not, Alex. If things don’t work out, nothing changes for you. You will still have your job, your home, and your life.” Before I could protest, she held up her hand. “I, on the other hand, would be unemployed, have no place to go, and my life would be a disaster.”
“Do you think I would do that to you?” I asked with a frown. “Fire you, not make sure you were okay?”
“I don’t know.”
I turned, capturing her chin in my hand. “Never. And nothing is going to happen to break us. I want things to keep moving, Magnolia. We’re a great team. You make me laugh. You make me happy. I’m not used to either. I love how you handle me at work and at home.” I huffed out a long sigh. “But I understand you want to be cautious.”
She had lost a lot in her life. Her parents, her home, her security. I didn’t know how to explain to her I wanted to be all those things. For the first time in my life, I wanted to care for someone, to be there for them. I wanted her to rely on me.
“I’m new at this,” I admitted. “I don’t know how to tell you how I feel. But I want you with me.” I paused. “Please.”
“What are you asking?”