“It’s my privilege and husbandly duty to provide – and that includes us having a nice lawn to admire from the porch.”
“You’re silly.”
“I’m glad you finally noticed the rest of me instead of ogling my butt all the time. I’m starting to get a complex,” he teased – and then leaned down to gently brush his lips against hers. Soft, tender, not assuming in the slightest, but rather bridging the gap between them. “Are we good?”
“I hope so.”
“Then let’s take the first two totes over.”
“Thefirsttwo – implying that we’re taking over more than one?”
“Oh, didn’t I mention it? We’ve got an appointment at the justice of the peace in the morning – if you think I’m letting you get away from me again, then you’re wrong. I mean, the way you gawk at my rear is good for my ego, even if it makes me a little uncomfortable sometimes. I’m a good man, you know.”
Her lips parted in shock – and he pressed another kiss against them quickly.
“You can’t just kiss your way into things,” she sputtered.
“Then quit inviting me to try it all the time – if it doesn’t work, why are you always kissing me back?”
“I’m not.”
“Your eyes say something entirely different.”
“What are they saying now?” she retorted flatly – and he looked at her, before backing away, appearing to be worried. “What?”
“I feel like a piece of meat,” he gasped, fighting back a smile. “And you should be ashamed of yourself, thinking things like that,” he protested innocently before winking at her. “I’m in - but you’ve gotta make an honest man out of me first. My Mama would insist…”
Steffi shoved him playfully as he laughed in delight, his eyes sparkling as they shared a smile that said so much. It was going to be okay – and despite everything, he was still here, stillwanting to go through with this supposed ‘fake’ marriage that was now becoming very real.
Drake wanted to make their marriage real – and she couldn’t feel more special or precious in this moment as he hefted up the first tote and winked at her again. “I’m on the couch tonight because I know you can’t keep from pawing at me,Mrs. Walker… especially with those lewd thoughts. Tut-tut…”
“Oh heavens,” she muttered under her breath as if in despair – but smiled at him as her heart skipped a beat.
Several trips later,most of her things had been moved from the rental house into his home. Steffi was surprised to see that Drake hadn’t been joking. Half of his closet was empty and waiting for her things. There was a bedside table with a small vase on it – complete with a single red rose. Neither made a comment, nor said a thing… which was good because she wasn’t sure she could form a coherent statement.
It was weird walking into his home, realizing that she was moving in with her neighbor, who used to vex her all the time… and she was about to marry him. No matter how much they argued or snapped at each other, that connection and spark were there. Maybe it was recognizing that they could be very different people, but it was appreciating those differences that brought them closer. If she made a snide comment, he was quick to lob one back in her direction. It was as if they spoke their own language, understood each other in an unspoken way, and just seemed to click. People would probably look at them and think differently – but she didn’t care. What she cared about was this big goofball who was whining about her recliner not matchinghis sofa and threatening to burn her flannel pajamas for the last ten minutes.
“Can you do anything without whining or griping?” she asked pointedly and saw him straighten up, look at her, and wag his eyebrows knowingly. “Shut up and never mind. I don’t want to know.”
“Sure you do, because you love me – but you’ll have to be patient. I know it’s not your strong suit, but if silence is golden - we’re gonna be filthy…”
“Filthyrich?” she prompted, waving her hand as he stood there, not completing his thought and just looking at her.
“Nawww,” he drawled, chuckling and winked at her again. “We’re just gonna befilthyabout this time tomorrow evening - together. I mean, hello? Wedding night?”
Steffi rolled her eyes in disbelief before snorting. “Why do men always circle around to what is in their pants?”
“Because it’s special,” he gasped, looking aghast and going as far as to lay a hand on his chest very dramatically. “If you only knew…”
“I don’t,” she shot back as he reached for her hand, laughing. “You’re difficult to handle sometimes.”
“You know you never denied that you love me,” he whispered, smiling at her. “Maybe there’s a nugget of fondness trapped in that ferocious little heart of yours?”
“You never said you loved me either, you know,” she replied, but her voice was faint, breathless as they stared at each other, caught in a moment of clarity between them. “I’m a little fond of you…” she admitted softly as he leaned down to kiss her.
“I might be a little fond of you too…”
“Just a little?”