Her kitchen…
Oh.
“Did you have a look around to see if my house will work for you?” she asked thoughtfully, then something occurred to her, and she groaned. “I didn’t, like, leave…dirty clothes on the floor or anything, did I?”
Dammit.She could almost picture yesterday’s panties and bra lying on the rug next to her bed. Lace wasn’t known to be messy. She liked things clean, but still, a little clutter never bothered her. Until now.
Vince grinned. “Yeah. You did.”
Lace bit back a moan. Clearly the man was enjoying himself as he continued.
“I put your, uh, fallout in your bathroom hamper.”
He was about to get cheeky. She just knew it.
“Purple is a good color for you.”
Lace scowled at him.
“Really,” he snickered.
She’d never be able to look at that lingerie set again without picturing his fingers on it.
His impish smile let her know she shouldn’t poke the subject any further unless she wanted more shit, so she went back to her original question, hoping he’d forget the underwear.
Fat chance.
“So. Do you have any thoughts on the layout here? The house? The yard?” she asked, this time making it through her kitchen door.
She opened the fridge and took out the meal she would heat up.
Vince followed her in.
“Idohave a question.” He was still grinning.
If this was about her undergarments, she was going to lose it.
“Go ahead,” she answered cautiously.
“What’s the sledgehammer for?” he inquired with an arched brow. “I saw it by the front door, and I’m thinking if it’s for protection, it’s a bit heavy to be of much help. A baseball bat would be a much better choice.”
Any remaining embarrassment over her lingerie fled.
She chuckled. “That was actually my grandfather’s sledgehammer,” she apprised. “As you may or may not know about antique houses, theyleana little.” Lace found herself grinning. “So, it’s actually been used for…decades probably, as a door-stop.”
Vince looked suitably amused.
“When I was little,” Lace continued, “I was in charge of dragging it out over to the door on grocery day, and propping the thing open with it. Then after all the bags had been brought in, I’d put it back in the closet. It always seemed so heavy, but now…” Her eyes filled with unshed tears. “…I keep it out and handy, to remind me of Gram and PeePaw.”
“Peepaw,” Vince repeated. “I like it. You miss them,” he then stated.
“Every day,” she admitted. “It hasn’t been easy being here alone, without them, especially with what I’m going through.”
So what if she gave herself a little pity-party. She deserved one every now and then.
“Well, you’re not alone any longer,” Vince responded strongly. “I’m here now, and this whole place is actually perfect for what we have in mind.”
He went back to pragmatics, for which Lace was thankful.