Southern Attraction (Southern Heart 3)

“What are you doing?” she giggles.

“Packing the kitchen. I’m ready to get you home, where you belong.”

“Mike,” she calls out.

“Yeah, babe?” I ask, sticking my head around the kitchen door to look at her.

“I love you.”

“I love you too. Now get off your ass and let’s pack.” I shoot her a wink and head back to the kitchen. I want to be on the road early in the morning.

I’m bringing my girl home.

Mike insisted we go to bed as soon as we had the house packed. We were both exhausted from packing and fell right to sleep. As soon as the sun peeked over the horizon, he was waking me to soft kisses to my shoulder.

“Wake up, beautiful. We’re moving today.”

I smile as I roll over.

“Up you go.” He smacks my ass and climbs out of bed. “The car is loaded, we just have to load the rest in the truck and pack up your last-minute items.”

“So

why are we up so early?” I ask him.

“Because I’m taking you home, to our house, to our bed, and we’re unpacking all of your stuff. Today,” he adds as an afterthought.

“Today?” I laugh.

“Yes, today. I want you there. I want you settled. I want your things mixed with mine, your presence all over our house.”

How can I disagree with that? “Fine, I’m up,” I say, holding out my hand and letting him pull me from the bed. “Hey, where’s your stuff?”

“I didn’t pack anything. I was at Mom and Dad’s and left there to come here. I didn’t bother going home first. Now go shower. I’m going to start loading the truck.”

Thirty minutes later, I find my living room bare of boxes. I wheel my last suitcase and set it by the door. Mike is on the couch, scrolling through his phone. “You’ve been busy,” I say, sitting next to him.

“Everything’s loaded.” He grins. “Just need you to do a final walk-through to make sure you didn’t miss anything.”

I nod and stand, taking my time going through my little apartment, making sure anything of great importance has been packed and loaded. “That’s it.”

“Good, let’s go. I’ll follow behind you.”

“So bossy,” I tease him.

“Sorry.” He kisses me. “I’m just really excited that you’re coming home.”

I follow him to the door and take one last look around. “Let’s go home,” I tell him.

“Is Whit coming?” I ask. We’re on our way to his parents’ house for Sunday dinner. Apparently he called David on the way home and told him to arrange for them to move it later.

“Yeah, I told Dave to call Aaron and tell him to have Whit there, but to not tell her why. She doesn’t know you’re with me.”

“Yay, I get to surprise her,” I say as we pull into his parents’ drive.

I climb out of the truck and take his offered hand. Mike leads us inside. “Anyone home?”

“In the kitchen,” Liv replies.