“How was your nap?”
She smiled. “It was longer than what I intended. I had no idea I’d slept more than three hours.”
Reaching for her hand, Reese pulled her close to his body. She looked different with her hair off her face and styled in a ponytail. And with her bare face and wearing a sweatshirt, pants, and thick socks, she appeared no older than a college student. “Maybe it was because you needed the sleep. By the way, what time do you go to bed at night?”
“It varies. Sometimes I’m in bed before ten, and then it could be as late as two or three. But I have an internal clock that wakes me when the sun comes up.”
“Which means you never have to set an alarm?”
“Very rarely. I only set it when I’m expecting an early delivery. And that reminds me. I’m expecting a delivery of my dining-area furniture before ten Tuesday morning.” When she’d ordered the table and chairs, the salesman told her he had a set with seating for eight but not the six she’d wanted. Like the house, the beautiful table was larger than she needed, but she decided to purchase it and the comfortable chairs it came with because she didn’t want to wait another four months for the one with seating for six to become available.
“Speaking of furniture,” Reese said, “have you given any thought about what style you want in your office?”
A slight smile touched her lips. “Are you asking so I could commission you to make the furniture?”
His smile matched hers. “That is a distinct possibility. It’s been months since I’ve made anything, so I am offering my humble services.”
“Don’t play yourself, Reese Matthews. You’re anything but humble.”
He sobered. “What do you think I am?”
Cherie bit on her lower lip as she appeared deep in thought. “You’re brave, chivalrous, generous, well-mannered, and generally good-natured. I like that you’re honest, and you’re someone I’d trust with my life.”
Reese laughed. “That’s a lot.”
“You don’t think you’re deserving of the accolades?”
“I’ll accept some but definitely not all of them.” He paused. “Now, do you want to hear how I think of you?”
Cherie took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes, let me have it.”
Reese felt as if he was drowning in pools of gold and green as the overhead light slanted over Cherie’s face when she looked up at him. “You’re beautiful, crazy smart, loyal to your family and friends, and you’re sexy as hell in and out of bed. And I’m glad your ex was so undeserving of you that he couldn’t appreciate what he had, or you wouldn’t be here with me.”
Cherie buried her face against Reese’s sweatshirt. She wanted to tell him Weylin knew what he had, but his future had been mapped out for him from birth. He was heir to a real estate empire, and he was expected to take over once his father retired or go into politics like his maternal uncles. He’d chosen the latter and, as such, needed a wife with a similar background to help launch his political career.
Cherie knew she had the intelligence to hold her own as the wife of a politician, but not the pedigree. It hadn’t mattered that she’d graduated magna cum laude from one of the most prestigious colleges in the country, because there was the stigma to being raised by a single mother who had children from several different men. And if she had married Weylin and he’d entered politics, there was no doubt his opponent would’ve vilified her family, similar to what the British press did to Meghan Markle before she married Prince Harry. Reese was right. Weylin did her a favor by marrying Michelle, because it spared her the humiliation of having her life played out in the tabloids.
“And you don’t know how happy I am to be here with you,” she admitted.
Lowering his head, Reese pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Thank you, sweetheart. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to eat. What say you?”
“I say yes.”
Chapter 18
It had taken less than a week for Cherie to realize she could have an open relationship with a man without experiencing guilt or fear that someone would uncover their clandestine liaisons. She’d spent Sunday night and Monday afternoon with Reese before returning home. He’d taken her on a tour of his home and pointed out the tables, chairs, and head-and footboards that were crafted by several generations of Matthews carpenters.
His grandfather had bought the land behind the house with the intent of putting up a bungalow and selling it, but that plan died with Raymond Matthews when he’d passed away in his sleep. Reese said he’d planned to begin to fulfill his grandfather’s dream of building the two-bedroom house and renting it to vacationers when he went on vacation later in the year. He also showed her the woodshed where his grandfather had taught him all he knew about carpentry. Although small, it was well-ventilated when all the windows were opened. Reese said it was where the magic of turning a piece of wood into a functional item began.
He was currently scheduled to work the midnight-to-eight shift until Wednesday, then to take the eight-to-four afternoon shift on Thursday for the following two weeks. She knew her neighbors were aware that his pickup was parked in her driveway at odd hours, and when she’d mentioned this to him, he claimed he had no intention of sneaking around to see her, and if anyone had a problem with it, then it was theirs and not his.
He’d come over to measure the room for her would-be office. They’d discussed whether she wanted bookcases built into the wall or ones that could be moved, and when she couldn’t make up her mind, he suggested built-in ones because of the number of books, CDs, and DVDs she’d collected. She’d watched as he drew different configurations on a pad for the shelves, and now she knew what Kayana had talked about when she said Reese came from a long line of master carpenters. He planned to use one entire wall for floor-to-ceiling bookcases and suggested installing a railing and a ladder for easy access to the upper shelves.
When she’d asked him how much he was going to charge her, he gave her a death stare that had momentarily rendered her mute. Then, when she offered to pay for the materials, he put his tools away and walked out.
Cherie knew she had insulted Reese because he had volunteered to put up the bookcases and making them would give him something to do during his days off. She didn’t see him for two days, then without warning, he showed up with a bouquet of flowers and several bottles of wine as a peace offering. He claimed he’d walked away before saying something he would later regret and hoped she would forgive him for being rude.
She did forgive him in the most intimate way possible. The downside was they’d made love without using protection, and Reese reassured her if she did become pregnant they would have to discuss whether they wanted to marry right away or wait until they were certain if it was what they wanted, and not because of the baby.
