Page 71 of Lemon Cake
“Are you going to marry Rider?” Dan asked as he handed her the books from her shelf.
“I think we should see if we still like each other after I move in.”
“I like him.”
“Me too.”
After they’d packed up all the books, they moved on to the kitchen. She wasn’t even sure if she would need half the things there. Rider’s kitchen had things she’d only ever dreamed of owning. That coffee machine was a gold mine for hot chocolate cravings.
Then there was a knock at the door and Dan leapt to his feet, stumbling over boxes to answer it. “Who is it?” hecalled before doing so, just as he’d been taught. Rider’s voice answered from the other side and Dan threw it open, jumping into the big man’s arms. “We’ve been packing all day.”
Rider took in the space, and his eyes widened. “You two truly have been busy.”
“Most things are packed up now,” Gemma explained. “I’m just not sure about some of the appliances and the furniture.”
“Why wouldn’t you take them?”
“Your home is already fully furnished.”
“And?” He set Dan on the counter next to her and pulled her close. “I thought you might want one of the spare bedrooms as your library.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, why not? I have a gym, and the extra space so you can have a library.”
Gemma couldn’t help herself. She clenched the front of Rider’s shirt and pulled him right into a deep kiss, only pulling off once Dan fake-gagged. “Ew!”
They only laughed and resumed the packing. Eventually, Rider started to move the boxes into his truck. With both vehicles full, Gemma took Dan home while Rider went straight to his place—no,theirplace.
By the time she got there, his truck had been unloaded. “I think I put all the boxes in the right places.”
She reached up, pulling him down to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”
“Why don’t you pick out your library? Then I can move your books.”
“I’ve already kind of thought about it,” she admitted, pulling herself up onto the countertop.
“And?”
“The one overlooking the garden. I think it’s the one with the floor to ceiling windows.”
“It’s all yours.”
“I also went back and grabbed my wheelchair and crutches.”
“Would you like me to put them in the bedroom?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“Why would I?”
She shrugged. She wasn’t sure why she still felt so insecure about it. “You’ve never seen me use them.”
“You know what? You’re right: my love for you will die like a rose in the desert because I’ve seen you use assistive devices—ow!”
Rider dramatically rubbed the spot Gemma had just punched, leaning down to press his lips to her cheek.
“So violent,” he laughed, leaving the room. When he came back in, she followed him to the bedroom. “Thank you for taking my mom to the airport this morning.”