I look up as we pull into his driveway. Our driveway, I remind myself. This will be my home for at least a year, maybe longer.
There’s a bedroom inside that he says we’ll be sharing.
Is this really happening?
“I’m sure it isn’t what you’re used to, but it’s been a good home for us. When did you say the truck would be arriving?”
The moving truck. My boxes. “Today, I think. I signed up for a phone notification.”
“That’s fast.”
His expression is dubious and very masculine. I’m invading the inner sanctum. His mancave. Fortunately for him, I left most of my furniture behind when I sold my old house. But I didn’t come emptyhanded. I’m hoping it won’t cause a problem. “It won’t be that bad, I
promise. I only have one pink carpet and a few hundred doilies.”
I take in his horrified expression and then he’s exiting the car and circling around to open my door as I laugh.
“Second thoughts?” I ask, tongue in cheek as he helps me out of the passenger seat.
“Hardly.”
The cool wind makes me rub my arms for warmth and he pulls me closer.
“There’s a cold snap coming in.” he says unnecessarily. “We’ll have snow soon now.”
I’m looking forward to it. I wonder if the boys will teach me how to make a snowman. “Emerson, were they okay? Barry and Lang? You said you had another talk with them last night.”
“They weren’t that happy they couldn’t be here for your first night in the house, but they understood.” He squeezes my arm gently. “They’re good kids and they’re fond of you. I don’t think we’ll have any problems adapting.”
They really are good kids. Both are incredibly smart, and polite in a way that tells me their father is a stickler when it comes to manners. Langston is protective of his younger brother, and Barry gives the tightest hugs I’ve ever experienced.
I really want them to like me. I wouldn’t mind if their father did too.
You want them to love you.
“This is going to work out,” I promise, stopping on the walk to look up into his eyes. “They aren’t going anywhere if I have anything to say about it.”
For a moment it looks like he’s going to kiss me again, then my traitorous body shivers and he takes my arm instead. “Let’s get you inside, Mrs. Wayne. I bought some of that tea you like. It should be just the thing to warm us up.”
I know something else that could warm me up.
Where did that thought come from? He’s right, we need to take our time. I have insecurities to get a handle on, and he’s a big man. A big, beautiful man. And while I am hoping for a kiss goodnight, I’m also thinking about him seeing me in my nightshirt. In bed.
How will he react when I need to take off my prosthesis?
An embarrassingly loud squeak of surprise escapes my lips when he lifts me up into his arms. He’s already unlocked and opened the front door while I was busy worrying.
“You don’t have to do this, Emerson. You know I don’t need it.”
“Indulge me. I’ve always wanted to do this part right.”
I look into his eyes and tighten my arms around him. “Okay then.”
As he carries me over the threshold and into my new life, I might have melted. My only hope is that he didn’t hear the dreamy sigh that followed, but how am I supposed to resist something like that?
He’s not playing fair.
Chapter Four