Built For Her

There’s not been a single peep from Mark since the flowers and the phone call. But Barrett is convinced he’s biding his time. I think he had every cop in the city up his ass and he had no choice but to get the hell out of town. No matter what my logic may be, Barrett is bound and determined to keep me safe.

The past two weeks haven’t been so bad though. Hell, they’ve been absolute heaven. I’ve had him all to myself and we’ve gotten so much done on the house. I never realized what a great team we could make, but as we move to different rooms we flow like a well-oiled machine. I’ve learned so much from him, and he loves my design style. I guess we’ve both realized we’re a perfect match in and outside the bedroom.

I blush when I think about how we’ve explored every inch of our bedroom. Who would have thought a couple of virgins like us would be so damn horny? We can’t go more than half an hour without giving one another the look. We were painting the living room just this morning and somehow, I ended up bent over while still holding a paintbrush. My lower body clenches at the memory and I glance up through my lashes to see Barrett’s eyes trailing up and down my body. Damn it, he always knows.

“Don’t look at me like that. They’ll be here any minute,” I say, trying to hide my smile.

“I’ll be quick,” he promises as he steps around the counter and walks towards me.

“Yeah, but what if I don’t want quick?” I lick my lips and watch his muscled body move in closer.

“Then maybe we say fuck dinner and I take my goddamn time.” He grabs my waist and pulls me close, leaning down to kiss me.

Ding dong.

The alarm sounds, telling us there’s a vehicle in the driveway, and Barrett steps back, growling in frustration. It isn’t like he hasn’t had me twice already today. But we’ve gotten used to going at it whenever we feel like it and having to wait is going to be torture.

“It’s Lynn and Steph,” he says as he goes to the door.

I’ve kept in touch with both his sisters since the night of the fair. I asked the two of them to come wedding dress shopping with me tomorrow and they agreed. I was worried Steph wouldn’t make the trip, but she said there was no way she could miss it.

The plan is to go with Gabi, Lynn, and Steph to the dress shop and try on a few and let them help me decide between a couple that I like. But I don’t want Barrett to come and he’s totally vetoed the idea. I’m hoping with everyone here tonight we can somehow convince him and Neal that we’ll be perfectly safe if they wait outside the shop.

I drop the ravioli in the pot of boiling water and then go wash my hands. I look outside and see Barrett giving his sisters hugs and it warms my heart. I look down at my fingers and see there still isn’t a ring on it. I’m not a materialistic woman, and I don’t need a ring to prove my love for Barrett, but I had hoped for some sort of symbol that I could wear. He also hasn’t said he loves me since the whoops on the phone that day. That’s all I can call it because it must have been accidental. I try not to let the disappointment get me down, because he constantly shows me how he feels. And actions are truly more important than words.

“So, what’s this I hear about my baby brother tagging along with us to go dress shopping?” Lynn asks, pointing her thumb over her shoulder.

It’s comical that she can call him baby brother when he’s nearly a foot taller than all of us.

“I told you he’s being ridiculous,” I say and give her a hug. I hug Steph next and whisper in her ear that I’m so thankful she made the trip.

“I couldn’t possibly miss a chance to look at pretty wedding dresses and sip champagne.” She winks at me just as Barrett gets all worked up.

“Hey, you didn’t say anything about drinking.” He points a finger at me and then his sisters.

“Relax,” I croon, rubbing his chest.

“Who’s drinking? Not Gabi.” Neal comes in the door with a scowl on his face.

Gabi is stuck to his side and she just rolls her eyes. “We’ve been here three seconds and already I’m being told no.”

She comes over and I wrap my arms around my sister. Being apart for two weeks has been harder than I thought possible. We’ve never been separated like this before and I don’t like it.

Reaching down, I rub her tummy and smile. “How are my twins?” I tease, and she pushes my hand away.