Page 26 of Love You Already
“Yeah. I'm sure you will. There's not much room to hide here.”
“I don't want to hide from you, Rose. This thing between us has the potential to be greater than we've ever had. I want to explore this. I'm all yours for the summer.”
She stares at me closely, her expression carefully neutral. “And what about after the summer?”
“After the summer, I'll be an hour away in Houston. A little commute doesn't scare me for something that matters. For someone important. Plus, I think you might want to actually come watch a game or two of your husband playing, right?” I tug on her top as I tease her.
Rose rolls her eyes, giving me that fiery attitude I’m infatuated with. “Maybe I'll come watch if you're any good.”
Challenge Accepted.
* * *
Back at my house, I focus on getting myself properly settled in. When I came home from the bar last night, I didn't do much besides shower and fall into bed. While I'd love to do the same thing tonight, there are a few things I need to do first.
My clothes fit in the dresser and closet in the main bedroom. I get my toiletries set up in the bathroom next. From there, I move to the kitchen to check out what kind of equipment I have to work with. There's not much in the way of what I usually handle. No grill or griddle. And even the pots here are old as can be.
I decide I'll need to order what I need to make do for my stay. But before I can place an order, I have another thing to check on. Gym options? I'd been honest with Rose about my willingness to drive the distance to spend time with her. What I won't do is drive forever and a day to work out. I need to keep my body in shape even though I'm not playing regularly right now.
A quick google search tells me the closest gym is indeed in Houston. As I suspected, I'll need to order equipment so I can keep up with my training schedule. Laptop in hand, I plant myself on the old couch in the living room and pull up my shopping browser. I spend the next several hours researching everything from the best grill to the perfect all-purpose weight equipment. I'd prefer to buy something I can use for more than one purpose.
The second I click the purchase button; my stomach releases a terrifying noise. Huh. Guess I probably am starving since I haven't eaten much all day. A handful of cereal earlier and some jerky when Rose offered it to me while we did the tour. Nothing substantial to get me settled.
My search results about the city showed me there was a small diner a block from Rose's bar. Given the time of day, I can plan it out to grab some food at the diner and then head over to check on her. Not that she needs me to. We spent time together earlier today. I told her we'd see each other soon. I just didn't say how soon.
Besides, we're technically still in the honeymoon phase. It's ok to want to spend time with her. In fact, I could argue the fact that she and I are only just now starting the honeymoon era since we've been apart this whole time. It's like we just got married all over again, this time without the ceremony but with the feelings. Well, some of them.
I have no false ideology that Rose loves me. She's attracted to me. We get along well as friends. All of that is true. But as for love, I'm not convinced.
Doesn't mean she won't over time. If I show her just how good we can be, if I tell her just how much she means to me with more than words, if I live out every day of my time here with her as my main focus, maybe then she'll see being married to me isn't so bad.
Maybe then, she'll fall for me like I'm falling for her.
CHAPTER 13
NOBODY MESSES WITH WHAT'S MINE.
Rose
Foam pours over my hand, the cool liquid startling a yelp out of me. It's the second beer I've over poured since we opened thirty minutes ago. The move is unlike me, and the regulars seated along the bar stare at me with worry.
My mind is somewhere else today, that's for sure. It's definitely not in the bar.
I won't even pretend not to know where it is. Lachlan takes up every inch of space right now. He's the only thing on my mind, and I can't even be mad at him for it.
I took him on the tour. I jumped his bones begging for kisses. I'm the one who gave the green light for more.
And he did.
Good lord, did he. That man's mouth is sinful in all the ways my Sunday school teachers warned me about in my youth. He's temptation personified, the devil in sheep's clothing. All the naughty things I shouldn't want but can't help crave.
Yet... it's not all that bad. Because he ismy husband. This is our marriage, no matter how whackadoodle it is. We might not be traditional in the sense people would expect, but there's something more to Lachlan and me than meets the eye. Something that makes this marriage feel more real than in just the legal sense.
Another hour passes of me being clumsy before Mel shows up. “Um, boss. You good?” She asks as she watches me fumbling around.
I shake my head. “I don't know what's going on with me today. It's rather weird.”
Mel grabs her apron and wraps it around her waist as she assesses me closely. “There's a glow about you. You seem lighter, more air head-y.”