Built For Her

I’ve fallen head over heels for him, and I smile against his bare chest. I want to sit up and shout it out to the world, but I’m exhausted. So, instead I close my eyes and snuggle closer into him.

Chapter 20

Barrett

I lean up against the doorframe as pride swells in my chest. This bedroom is where our first baby—or maybe even babies—will sleep, and I have a feeling that is happening within the next year.

God, I just hope Genevieve likes what I’ve come up with for the space. Furthermore, I hope she doesn’t go poking around into one of spare rooms. I’ve been keeping her focused on other areas of the house, so it should be easy enough for now. I have other ways to keep her distracted, and I certainly don’t mind putting them to use.

I bring my hand to my chest and try to ease the ache there. It hits for a moment then fades. It’s done it a few times this morning since she’s been gone. It’s always when I think about her and she’s not with me. I know she loves her job and I can’t ask her to quit. Even if I want to so badly it makes my teeth ache. But I can try and show her other things she can do for me. With me. Heck, she could work right here from home. She doesn’t need an office downtown. Not really.

I make a mental note to plan for an office space we could share. Maybe that would nudge her in the direction I’m thinking without my having to come right out and take what I want. I’m prone to doing that with her. But I want her to choose this, to choose us. I also don’t want her to think I’m a complete caveman when it comes to her. Though the title seems to fit with the way I’ve been acting.

I was scared that she would pull away when I said the stuff about taking whatever I want. But it only turned her on more. I felt it when she tightened around me as I spoke the words. Maybe I should just come out and say it. But it might go better if I have my mouth on her while I do it. That always softens her sweet little body.

“All this look good?” Slade asks me.

He’s staring down at the notes he made while I was talking about what I wanted to happen in the nursery. I didn’t want to go full out in here, but I wanted to leave a mark of what the room was going to be. I bet my Genevieve and her sister already have ideas of their own when it comes to the baby room. I love how close she is with her sister and how easily she’s taken to mine. I know our two families will blend together well.

“Looks good. I’ve got a few other ideas that just popped into my head.”

Slade laughs. “I’m sure you do. Now that you’ve all but moved in.”

I push off the door, ignoring what he said. They all knew what was happening the minute I let them step into this house. I laid down the law about Genevieve being mine and they took that shit seriously because they’d never seen me do that before. Ever.

“Put a lock on this door today. I don’t want her stumbling in here and ruining the surprise.”

He follows me out of the room and down the hall, where I open a few other doors and tell him what he needs to do. He’ll make sure it happens because he’s always on top of his crew. They’re clean and on time, which is why he gets paid more than anyone else.

When we’re done I check my watch and see I have way too much time to kill before I get to see my lady again. I should unpack some of my stuff, but there are more important things that need to be done. First, the camera. That security crew should be here soon. I head outside and check around to see the best places to situate them. I want as many as I can get to cover the outside of the house. Not to mention the driveway and parts of the yard where the kids might play. I’m not worried about crime in this neighborhood, but I want Genevieve to feel safe when I’m not with her. She’s a strong woman, but she’s small and it wouldn’t take much to overpower her.

I walk out into the yard to get a good look at the back of the house. Then I stop when I see cigarette butts littering the ground. They’re next to one of the big oak trees, the one I thought would be perfect to put a tire swing. I came out here the other day to check the limbs and I know these weren’t here then. I look up when I hear Slade step out onto the front porch.