Wrong Car, Right Guy

I feel a huge smile spread across my face. How can I refuse such a tempting offer?

“Let’s do it,” I whisper.

I watch Tate’s face crack into a smile. “You’re sure?” he asks, smiling at me.

I can only nod fervently.

“I want to be close to you, and I can’t do that if I’m living here in the city. I want to spend my days around you. It’s as simple as that. I’m happy to drop everything here and move in a heartbeat. There’s nothing for me here and everything waiting for me with you.”

Tate pulls me in for a long kiss and I wrap my arms around him, feeling utter ecstasy taking over me. This isn’t how I expected my love life to unfold, but I have no complaints whatsoever. Tate makes me happy, and that’s all I care about. I’m going to start over again with him at my side. I don’t have to think about backstabbing friends and creepy men when I have Tate to protect me, for now, and always…

“I’m so glad you said yes,” Tate growls against my lips. “I don’t think I can live without you at my side, Macy.”

“I need you too,” I breathe. “Shall we start getting ready to move?”

Tate laughs. “Don’t you need to speak to your landlord?”

I smile. “That can wait. I want to get out of here as soon as possible. I don’t want to wait another day to begin my life with you.”

Within a few hours, after we make slow and sensual love, we begin packing up my things. We don’t have room for all my possessions in Tate’s car, but we take the important stuff. The rest can wait since I still have to officially move out. But it still feels completely overwhelming and exciting. This is our first big step as a couple, and it fills me with so much love and hope, and joy for our future.

Tate keeps one hand on my knee as we drive to his house. It feels crazy to think that our journey together only began a few days ago and that his hand on my knee already feels like home to me. I watch the world whizz by as we drive through the city. I thought I might care about leaving a lot of it behind, but I don’t. It’s not like I’m a world away, but things are going to be different now, I know that much. And for whatever reason, it doesn’t bother me one bit. In fact, I’m excited.

When we pull up in front of Tate’s house, I feel my jaw drop. It’s an absolutely beautiful little house, bigger than I thought it would be, with plenty of room for us to raise a family. I feel a flutter in my stomach at the thought. It’s hard to believe that this place is going to be mine too. That I can make memories here and build a new life within the walls of this place. I’m only twenty-one, and already my life is coming together right before my eyes.

Tate’s hand on my knee gives me a squeeze. “Does it feel like home?” he asks. All I can do is smile and lean in to kiss him.

“You’re my home,” I tell him. “Wherever you are is home to me…but this house is beautiful. I can’t wait to see inside.”

“It’s all yours. What’s mine now belongs to you too,” Tate says with conviction. “I don’t want anything in return, except you.”

“Well that, I can definitely offer,” I smile.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Tate

Home sweet home. Having Macy here with me has suddenly turned my house into a home. The workroom feels warmer when she walks in, holding a cup of coffee in her hand to serve to me.

I greet her with a kiss on the lips. “Thanks, baby.”

She’s only been here a few hours, but she already fits into the place so well. It’s like she’s always been here. And she certainly brightened up my workday, popping in and out of my workroom, chatting with me, and making my day so much better.

“What are you making today?” she asks, examining the woodwork on my table.

“It’s going to be a memorial bench for a customer’s garden,” I explain, showing her the carvings that will go along the top of the bench. I never expected her to take an interest in my work, but it seems like she enjoys talking to me about it. Plus, I know she likes seeing me shirtless, working away at the wood bench with a saw, showing her the body that is all hers now.

“It’s beautiful,” Macy whispers with a soft smile. “You’re so talented.”

She seems to really mean it.

It makes me feel good about myself. Of course I know I have some talent, otherwise people wouldn’t buy my products, but hearing her say it means a lot more to me than anyone else.