24. Keats

24

KEATS

E sme seems content as we sit inside Foxy Rox for a bite to eat. It's the weekend and Esme just got back from Chicago where she spent the night there for a girls' evening. Last night, I missed our routine of me on my laptop for an hour or two of work while Esme goes a little crazy on the cleaning and house organization front, something I've learned during the last six weeks that she loves to do. We both end up in bed defeated and watch a movie before we have sex every day.

Now, I'm watching her smile as she watches people through the window walk by on Main Street. "Hailey is lucky. The bridesmaid dress for Liam's wedding that she had to try on last night is elegant. She's been spared horrendous dresses." My lips press together, and I only nod. "Anyway, Hailey mentioned that she heard on the Everhope grapevine that there might be a new restaurant opening down on the river. Family-style eating with specialty corn bread. I guess that appeases the older crowd and the young families popping up in Everhope."

I've only heard half her words because I'm anticipating this afternoon. The conversation that's been a long time coming.

She does a double take when she must notice that I'm caught in a daze. "What's up with you? You've been quiet, and they have Babka on the menu today. Even you can't pass up the twist of chocolate dough."

The corner of my mouth tugs. "Sorry, just lost in thought."

Her lips wrap around the straw of her drink, and to my surprise, she doesn't dig for answers. "It's great that the builders are putting in a little extra time on the weekends to move along my house. I should really start to order furniture."

I don't need that reminder. "Right." My T is sharp.

It causes her to chortle a laugh. "Just focus on your onion bagel with egg salad. I'm very familiar with what's brewing in your head."

"What might that be?" I ask before I take a bite of my lunch.

"The living situation. I mean, I know it will be odd going back and forth or deciding whose bedroom to sleep in every night, but… it is what it is." Such a liar she is.

We've only briefly discussed the several options of what to do. Sell, rent, live separately. I'm positive of what she wants, but to my surprise, she seems shy to admit her wish.

I'll just decide for her. Informing her of our fate will not be discussed in the town coffee joint where the new kindergarten teacher is getting hit on by the firefighter and a two-year-old just threw a muffin.

Our serious relationship move calls for my ability to impress and us alone in private.

"Esme, relax. Just enjoy your blueberry bagel with strawberry cream cheese and don't tell me that it meets your daily fruit intake." I give her a knowing look while her mouth is stuffed with food.

"Fair enough. I forgot that my boyfriend only deals with serious matters behind closed doors, or rather places that make it easy for him to fuck me into agreement." It sounds muffled as she's still chewing, but I understand enough.

I grin as I scan the place and venture a glance through the window for the view. A few months ago, I would have said that grabbing lunch at the quaint coffee spot, with a stop at the grocery store on the way home while discussing if we should throw in a load of laundry, was my idea of hell.

Not anymore.

Esme makes it fun, and I don't use that word lightly.

"We received the details for the hotel room for Liam's wedding. I'll book the tickets to Colorado once your assistant confirms with you what time you can get away for the flight. It will be off-season for the Spinners; do you think we can add an extra day or two to the trip?"

Point proven. We are in joint calendar planning. A serious relationship step.

"I don't see why not." I shrug.

She smiles brightly. "Perfect. It will be a change of scenery and a little romantic getaway."

My wry smile doesn't fade as my attention remains on the afternoon ahead.

Pretending to check the time on my watch, I tell her, "We should get going if you want to chat with the builders before they leave."

Esme finishes with her napkin and nods. "You are totally right."

I pay the check, and we walk down Main Street with the clouds now out. It always makes me laugh that they still have the old parking meters. Who the hell carries around quarters these days?

Our drive back is simple and quiet. I bet that Esme is beat after last night, and well, I'm silent because I'm replaying the plan in my head.

As we drive down Everhope Road, I can see in the distance that the crew are busy packing up their truck. "Just in time," I note.

Pulling up, I press the button to lower Esme's window. We could park and get out of the car, but this just seems easier.

"Hey, Esme," Steven says.

"Thanks for working what feels like around the clock. I'll have a look later. Anything major that I should know about?"

The guy winces and does his best to avoid Esme's face as he rubs the back of his neck. "Well, we're going to have to rewire again, as it seems a squirrel or raccoon bit through the wire. Maybe a rat even."

"What!" She shrieks, horrified, and even I find the thought pretty disgusting. "We have rats on this street?"

Stretching my upper body, I lean closer to speak. "Surely, you're joking, right?"

"Could be. Either way, some animal is determined to set us back." He throws his thumb over his shoulder. "Then we have the crew that the Tiller family hired. We have to coordinate when they are filling in cement or need to use machinery that might affect space. We're treading along but slowly."

Esme grumbles a sound and slouches her shoulders as she sits back and clicks open her seatbelt. "This is not what I wanted to hear."

It's completely what I wanted to hear.

Adds more fuel to the fire that I'm lighting today .

"Well, we'll be back tomorrow. We're going to start a little later since my guys worked extra today."

Esme nods in understanding, and I lift my hand from the wheel to wave. "Thanks. I know you are doing your best."

At a snail's pace, I drive up a few feet to the mailboxes. "Can you check that? I'm expecting some documents."

She rolls her eyes to glance sidelong at me. "Really? I just received that news and now you want to harass me about our old game that terrorized the neighborhood?"

I manage to keep my laugh under my breath, and Esme doesn't seem to enjoy my humor due to the last ten minutes.

But it all changes when we park and walk inside. Instantly, I step behind her, with my hands covering her eyes. "Close your eyes," I tell her.

She snickers. "Uh, you are kind of doing that for me. What's going on?"

Smiling to myself, I walk her forward down the hall toward the laundry room. I stop us right at the doorway to the small office that I never use.

My hands fall from her face and already I'm proud of my efforts.

Esme takes a few moments to flicker her eyes and adjust to her surroundings before she halfway turns to face me with confusion on her face. "What is this?"

Swooping up her wrists, I drag her along further into the room, her smile inching wider. "Your mood desk."

She's assessing the scene, and I'm along for the ride and following her view. A new desk with space for her computer, candles, a string of those white party lights, a cactus, and a few photos of her blown up and placed in frames that are hanging on the wall. Her entire face is in awe and still trying to comprehend what I've done.

"This is so sweet." Her fingertips touch my arm, and my heart warms because I wanted to do this gesture for her, and I'm pleased she seems happy. But then she swats my arm. "Leave it to you to pick those photos for the wall."

I yank her close so her back is to my front as I embrace her with my arms around her belly. "That was your mistake for sending me those sexy photos of you in nothing but a sheet a while ago."

She laughs, and it sounds so jubilant. "You realize that you can never let anyone enter this room."

"It also kind of means that you have a place that's a little more permanent here," I whisper into her ear. Esme quiets, but her body doesn't tense. "I'm not sure why I didn't think of this sooner, to be honest."

"Because I was supposed to be here temporarily even if we are madly in love. No pressure." Her tone is floaty.

"Not anymore. You're moving in. As in staying here and not leaving. I'll get the bed ties if I need to."

"I didn't hear a question in what you just said." She turns in my arms, her face poised and my look cunning.

My hand shoots up to cup her cheek and print my thumb onto her pillowy bottom lip. "I don't need to. I've made the decision for you."

Esme begins to smirk. "We should really assess your demanding and in-control-of-our-relationship aspect. But lucky for you, it's what I want. This is all why I magnetize to you."

"You're my good girl." There is an underlying lightheartedness. "You've been thinking about this decision, and as much as we might say that there are several scenarios that could happen, you've only ever wanted one of those, and me too. So, you're moving in on a permanent basis."

She purrs a breath and slides her arms up to latch onto my neck with her eyes tipped up while I look down to meet her. " Since I don't get to answer, then it seems as though this is happening… I was going to demand it too. You just beat me to it."

"Damn straight." I dive down to steal a kiss, and I can't help myself and let my hands wander lower to squeeze her ass. "Practical me needs to inform you that you're still going to have to do something with that house."

"I'll probably rent it out. I haven't decided yet. Hailey mentioned that she's looking for a place. We don't need to think about that now. We have animals intent on ruining the house, probably possessed by that evil spirit that once lived there, and I have a boyfriend to do wicked things with me on a hard surface." I'm never going to be disappointed by the way as Esme is insatiable and can keep up with my own level of needs.

"Not the desk." I'm serious. "It took me an hour last night to figure out where the hell to place candles and Post-its and all of that stuff."

She chuckles. "Your wish is my command."

Our next kiss is longer with more intention. We're becoming something longer lasting, she and I.

Her lips drag along mine. "I love you," she reminds me, and her voice is husky and sexy, and God, I'm going to lay her down on our bed to make love to her slowly.

"You may have a house next door but it's no longer a home. Your home is here."

Our teeth scrape against one another as our noses nuzzle. "It's the truth, and I'm well aware. I was going to share this all when I brought you your coffee and we somehow got in a lovers' quarrel where I burst out what I'm feeling."

My head falls back as I laugh because not one word of that is sarcasm. It's 100% Esme. "We can still role play that if you want. "

She puckers her lips to the side as she pretends to consider. "Nah, lying in bed and telling you how sweet this all is sounds better."

I kiss the top of her head. "I'll tell you that I love you over and over."

"Our usual weekend then."

"Now you're officially living here and never leaving."

Her smirk turns mischievous. "Why are we still talking about this?" She steps back and offers me her hand. "Come on, as much as I'm going to enjoy your fine work, we need a bed right now."

Lunging forward, I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder fireman style. "Say no more. I've exceeded surprise expectations and can now be rewarded."

Esme kicks her feet. "Fuck off, Keats. You can reward me for agreeing to stay." She's so unbelievably giddy and giggly right now.

Swinging her around before ascending the stairs, I pretend to be aggravated. "Don't even start. I'm going to tape your mouth shut."

"Ooh, wrists too? Please say my wrists." She's half teasing but also wants it.

I love this woman, and our future looks very promising.