Page 53 of A Return For Ren

“But someone could want to change the whole theme of the restaurant,” she said. “Why put the work into it?”

“That is the one thing we are on the fence about. My mother needs price quotes from contractors. She’s called two and only one called her back. We might not have much of a choice since we are on a time crunch. She brought up calling your brother tomorrow. I guess I should forewarn you.”

“I don’t have anything to do with Zane’s business,” she said. “Why would you say that?”

“You told me you went there this morning to tell them about us, but you haven’t said anything else.”

“Not much to say,” she said. “Are you worried? I told him we were dating again. You didn’t really know Zane all that much.”

“But I hurt you and I know he wasn’t happy about that.”

She’d brought it up once already and that she had to tell her brother to calm down. But nothing else since.

“He’s going to be fine. I wanted him to know. My parents don’t know though. I asked that they be kept in the dark a bit longer.”

He sighed. He remembered Tony Wolfe years ago. The guy was big and intimidating to any guy around Zara.

He was positive Zara softened her father up with the same way she got on everyone’s good side in life.

She had the uncanny ability to make everyone like her.

“Do I want to know why?”

They were sitting on the couch. They’d had an early lunch and returned in time to put Max down for his afternoon nap. He hadn’t wanted to spend the two hours his son napped talking. Or at least all of it talking.

He’d much rather use the time to get some more physical activity in. Zara hadn’t made a move toward him though and he was leaving most of that in her hands.

“They knew how upset and hurt I was. I could tell them all I want that we’ve talked and matured and are working it out. That our lives are different. But they aren’t here to see me. They will want to see me to believe it. They will be home at Christmas. For now, it’s best to leave them out of it.”

He supposed that would have to be good enough. By Christmas he expected that he and Zara would be much closer than they were now. At least he hoped.

“I’ll do whatever you need or want me to,” he said.

“I know you will,” she said. “And since the house is nice and quiet and your son interrupted us last night, maybe we can continue where we left off.”

She crawled into his lap, her knees spread on each side of him, her hands going to his cheeks, her mouth to his.

“We can definitely do that. Max had some bad timing with that diaper last night.”

“No more talk about Max,” she said, laying a kiss on his lips. “Or your mother, or my parents. No one but us.”

“I can do that,” he said.

“No talking at all,” she said, sitting down on his lap. She’d been up on her knees but now she was sitting, her arms around his neck.

“What do you want from me?” he asked as she kissed his neck. “I’m waiting for you to make that move.”

“I figured you were,” she said. “I can appreciate it. Would you think poorly of me if I said I’m not sure I can wait much longer and that our time alone seems to be limited?”

“No, because I’m feeling and thinking the same way,” he said.

“How about if I told you I had a condom in my back pocket.”

“I’d think you were one smart woman and it would save me from getting up and walking closer to where Max is and fear waking him.”

“Never wake a sleeping baby,” she said. “Can you be quiet?”

“We used to be good at staying quiet,” he said.