Chapter 44

We finished our meal and left the diner, but I wasn't ready for our night to be over.

"I appreciate your faith in me," I said softly, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Absolutely." She smiled.

"I don't want to take you home," I said.

"Ever?" she teased.

"Hell, if you're offering." I laughed.

"I'm not ready to go home," she replied.

"Want to go back to my place?" I asked.

She hesitated. I knew exactly why she was hesitant to go to my house. Cole. I had proven to her I was reformed, but Cole had not. And if I was being honest, I didn't want to bring her around Cole either.

"Cole is gone for the night," I said. "It'll just be us."

She smiled. "I'd like that."

I walked her back to the car, and before I got in, I pulled out my phone to send Cole a quick text. I didn't know if he had plans to stay out, but he needed to. I told him to stay out late. I had plans and a third party was not welcome.

He texted back just as I got in the car. "Got it kid."

"All clear," I said to Mary Ellen.

"Did you just tell him to stay gone?" she asked.

I winked at her. "It is my house."

Mary Ellen chuckled and shook her head. I drove her back to my place, parked in the garage, and led her inside. "Want a drink?" I asked. "I have a full bar, wine or whatever. I have some of those mixers. You look like a pina colada kind of girl."

"Do you mix drinks like Rylee?"

I snorted as I turned on the lights over the bar in the corner. "No one mixes drinks like Rylee. I can't imagine she makes her bosses happy. I think they prefer their bartenders to water drinks down."

"Oh no." She laughed. "At work, she follows the rules. At home, she goes wild and tries to kill us with her toxic drinks."

"I'm still suffering the aftereffects of her cocktails," I joked.

Mary Ellen smiled as she perched on one of the bar stools. "Well, I trust your mixing skills more than Rylee's attempt at coming up with new recipes."

I chuckled, pouring some rum into a shaker. "Let's hope I can at least manage a decent pina colada."

As I shook the cocktail, I couldn't help but watch Mary Ellen out of the corner of my eye. She looked relaxed and very comfortable in my house. I liked her in my house. I couldn't wait for Cole to move out so we could have more of these moments.

I handed her the drink. She sipped it and then nodded. "That's really good. I feel like we should be sitting on a tropical beach."

"I don't have a tropical beach, but remember I have a pool and a patio heater," I offered.

Mary Ellen grinned, her eyes lighting up. "A pool and a patio heater sound perfect to me," she said.

"Let's go then," I replied, leading the way through the house to the back patio. The night air was cool but not cold. I turned on the patio heater, its warm glow filling the space with a cozy ambiance.

Mary Ellen settled into one of the lounge chairs with her drink in hand. I sat in the chair next to her and took a moment to just enjoy the evening. The sound of crickets filled the air as we sipped our drinks.

"This is nice," she said with a sigh of contentment.

I nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of peace settling over me. For once, everything seemed to be falling into place. Mary Ellen's presence brought a sense of calm that I hadn't felt in a long time. As we sat there in comfortable silence, the tension of the day melted away.

I leaned back in my chair, studying Mary Ellen's profile as she gazed out at the pool, her expression thoughtful. I wondered what was going through her mind, what she thought of me and my complicated life. But I pushed those thoughts aside, not wanting to ruin the tranquility of the moment.

"We looked at a condo the other day," she said, breaking the silence.

"And?" I asked. I knew they had been looking, but so far, they hadn't found anything they all liked and could afford.

I could hear the uncertainty in her voice. "It's nice," she said. "Better than what we've seen so far."

"But?" I prompted.

"Moving from the big house to a condo is a big step." She sighed. "You were at our house. There are so many memories there."

"It's a beautiful house," I agreed.

"I'm starting to come to terms with the idea of moving, but I don't like it," she said.

"Like I told you before, sometimes stepping out of our comfort zones is necessary for growth."

She laughed. "I forget just how much you read. I stepped out of my comfort zone recently."

"And?"

"It led us to this moment," she said.

"Want to have another moment?" I asked with a grin.

"That sounds dangerous."

I got up from the chair, downed the rest of my drink, and started to unbutton my shirt. She leaned back and watched as I pulled off my shirt and then undid my pants.

"I'll get my purse." She grinned. "I don't know how much cash I have, but I have a coin purse."

"Nope. No money is needed for this show. Come on, let's get in."

"I don't have a bathing suit," she protested.

I stepped out of my briefs, standing before her in all my naked glory. "Me either."

I turned and dove in, letting the water wash over me. When I resurfaced, she was standing at the edge of the pool. I grinned. "Getting in?"

"Are you sure your roommate won't come home?"

"Yes," I replied. "It's safe. Even if he did, he's not going to come out here."

"That's not reassuring," she said.

"The water is great," I told her. "You have no idea what you're missing out on."

Mary Ellen hesitated for a moment, eyeing the inviting water in front of her. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she slipped off her shoes and dipped her toe in the pool, testing the temperature. She let out a small gasp before stepping back.

"Alright, turn around," she said.

I laughed and then stopped when I saw she was serious. "I've seen you naked," I reminded her. "A few times."

"But that's different," she insisted.

"Fine, I'll turn around." I turned around, closing my eyes and picturing her getting naked. It took all my self-control not to watch her. I heard a splash and felt the water ripple around me. When I spun back, Mary Ellen was swimming toward me, her eyes sparkling.

She reached me and splashed water at my face. Before I could retaliate, she dove underwater, disappearing from sight. I waited a moment before feeling her hands wrap around my ankles, pulling me down into the depths with her. We surfaced together, laughing and gasping for air.

"Okay, you win," I said, trying to catch my breath.

Mary Ellen grinned triumphantly, her wet hair framing her face beautifully. The moonlight reflected off the water, creating a magical glow around us. I couldn't help but stare at her, emotions welling up inside me. She must have sensed it because her expression softened, and she reached out to cup my cheek.

I leaned into her touch, closing my eyes to savor the moment. The air between us crackled with unspoken words and unresolved tension.

"Me too," I finally admitted, my voice thick with emotion.

Without another word, Mary Ellen closed the distance between us, her lips meeting mine in a tender kiss. It felt like coming home after a long journey. Her beauty was illuminated by the soft glow of the pool lights. What had I done to deserve someone like her? She was good through and through, yet she stirred something primal within me, igniting a fire that I couldn't ignore.

"How was your wedding rehearsal?" I asked her.

She groaned. "Brutal. Jenny is taking no chances. I am very happy for her. She's ecstatic. When you're the bride, you get a free pass on crazy."

"Are you wearing an ugly dress?" I teased. "I've always heard bridesmaids hated their dresses."

"Actually, it's a pretty dress." She nodded. "Jenny had us all give our opinions about what to wear."

"That's cool," I said, pulling her naked body toward mine. "I think it's crazy how much time and effort goes into a wedding."

"It is a lot," she agreed. "I'll do whatever it takes to make sure her day is perfect."

"That's cool."

"What about your roommate situation?" she asked. "How is that working out?"

"Am I a dick if I say I want him out of the house?"

"Not at all," she said. "Did you meet him in prison?"

"Yes."

"So it isn't like you knew him all that long," she said. "I don't think you owe anyone anything."

"I haven't even really talked to him since I got out. I think he's called me a couple of times and that was it. I just worry he's not going to stay on the straight and narrow."

"You did all you could," she said. "You are responsible for you, not him."

"I feel like a dick for wanting him out, but I guess after living with men for months, I like my space. And I want you to be here more often. I don't want to have to worry about getting busted naked in my pool with a hot lady."

She giggled. "That would definitely not be good."

"And I miss working out in my gym," he said. "Again, I feel like a dick. He sweats on my shit. And when he works out, he grunts like an ox."

She started giggling again. "That sounds interesting."

"It's not just him," I said. "The grunting. Guys grunt. It's just weird to have a man grunting in my house. If we were in the gym, it wouldn't be a big deal."

"I get it," Mary Ellen said, her laughter fading as she studied my face. "It's your space, and you're allowed to feel comfortable in it. Maybe it's time to have that conversation with him."

I sighed, grateful for her understanding. "I did, but I think it came out a little harsh."

"Sometimes, you have to be harsh." She shrugged.

"I guess," I said. "But we're naked in the pool. The last thing I want to do is talk about Cole."

"Oh yeah," she said in a sultry voice.

And then, in an instant, it all came crashing down. Our lips met in a passionate kiss, igniting a spark that set my senses ablaze. Her touch was electric, sending shivers down my spine as we moved together in the water, lost in a whirlwind of desire and longing.

The world around us faded away as we gave in to the intoxicating pull of each other, the water swirling around us like a silent witness to our hidden desires. Every touch, every caress, felt like a promise of something deeper, something more profound than mere physical attraction.

This woman was absolutely incredible. Everything about her turned me on. She was so much more than I could have asked for. I didn't know how I had been lucky enough to stumble upon her, but I was always going to be grateful. That day I ended up in her library was the best day of my life. Rather, it was going to lead to many more best days.