Chapter 18
Aweek later found Travis and me standing at the register of the high-end furniture store we’d spent the last few hours in. Project home-ify had been briefly put on hold, but I’d finally convinced Travis it was time to leave the house.
“Are you sure?” I asked worriedly, not for the first time.
He shook his head in exasperation. “Yes, babe. For the hundredth time.”
“It’s just going to be so expensive,” I fretted thinking of the kickass couches, coffee table, area rugs, mirrors, upholstered headboard, bedside tables, and armoire I’d picked out, with very little input from Travis. He’d simply nodded at all of my choices, offering a few grunts of agreement.
“I can afford it.” He shrugged, undeterred.
“But we still have to get linens and a few things to hang on the walls….” I trailed off.
“Linens aren’t going to break the bank, Em.” He chuckled, handing over his card to the woman who’d been helping us. I had a feeling we’d just made her month if she worked on commission.
“You have lovely taste,” the woman commended me.
“Expensive taste, apparently,” I muttered.
Travis threw an arm around me and kissed my temple. “Where to next?”
I sighed. “Linens, I guess. I thought for sure you’d be over this by now,” I added, my tone almost accusing.
He shrugged. “All I have to do is follow you around. Far from unpleasant.” He dipped lower, his mouth to my ear. “You know I love the view from behind.”
I blushed and swatted at him as he put his card back in his wallet. He took my hand and led us out into the sunshine.
After two more stops, even I couldn’t shop another minute. A lot of the items would be delivered later that day, with a few things arriving in the coming days. I couldn’t wait to see it all come together.
“We could have a housewarming party for you, five years late,” I suggested as he fired up his Jeep and we headed for headquarters. We’d left Able there that morning. He’d become a mascot of sorts, along with Trixie. They made quite the pair.
“I like that idea.” He nodded. “A party for us, welcoming you home.” He grinned over at me.
“Well, that wasn’t really what I was thinking,” I protested.
“It’s what I was thinking.” He grinned, enjoying the blush that covered my cheeks. I didn’t relish attention, and he knew it.
I let the subject drop for now. “I’m starving, can we stop and see Curtis on the way home?” I asked hopefully, my mouth watering at the thought.
He lifted a brow as we pulling into the Talon parking garage. “Curtis will see right through you. You don’t want to see him, you want a cheeseburger with the works,” he accused with a grin.
“Fine, you caught me,” I grumbled. “But seeing Curtis is an added perk,” I defended.
When we walked into the Talon reception area, still unoccupied since Travis hadn’t hired anyone, Able came to greet us both enthusiastically. Part of me thought the guys were being too picky. This Sarah girl seemed to be irreplaceable in more ways than one. No one could measure up, and yet, they desperately needed the help.
Just the other night Travis had missed an event because no one had written down the details.
Theo looked up at us when we walked in, eyeing Travis steadily.
“What?” Travis demanded.
Theo threw up his hands. “Just making sure you still have your balls after all that shopping.”
“Armstrong, my balls are none of your fucking concern,” Travis returned.
Sid chuckled from his seat.
“What are balls?” Hudson asked loudly as he appeared from the back of the building with Sam behind him.