We pick out another chair to sit by his couch, a coffee table, and end tables, opting to have his TV hung on the wall instead of purchasing a stand for it. Then we move on to the bedroom furniture, where he picks out a dresser, nightstand, and a bench to go at the end of his bed for both storage and aesthetics.
“What about decor?” I ask, totally forgetting that step as Jessica rings up our order. “Do you want to hang pictures on your wall or set things out on your coffee table?”
He searches around, seeing all the little things they have sitting out. “I guess we should.”
“How about these?” I head toward three ornate metal statues, each of a woman doing yoga poses that stand only about a foot tall. I then go into tree pose and hum, “Om,” long and slow, making him laugh out loud.
“Um, maybe not,” he teases.
“What? Too good for yoga? It’s athletic.”
“No. Not too good for yoga. And, yes, I’ve done it many times. But maybe a statue of a woman doing yoga isn’t the best decor for me.”
“Touché. Then what about this lovely peacock?” I point to a very colorful metal statue they have on the floor that sits about three feet tall.
He laughs out loud. “I’d go for yoga over a peacock any day.”
“The peacock is cool!”
“It’s a peacock,” he deadpans.
I put my hands on my hips. “It will add color.”
“I’ll get throw pillows.”
I crack a smile, and he does the same. The crinkles near his eyes make him absolutely adorable.
“Fine. No peacock, but I win with the yoga statues then.”
He raises his eyebrows at me, trying to fight back a smile. “You win? Is this your house?”
“No, it’s not. But I need something that will make you think of me so you remember who helped you buy all this stuff.”
“And you don’t think all this stuff will remind me of you?”
I pinch my lips together in thought. “Nope. You need a specific item.”
To my surprise, he wraps his arm around me and pulls me into him, and I feel his warm, muscular body against mine.
“I’m hopingyoubeing in my house will be that specific item, but if you want me to have some statues, too, then get the damn yoga ones.”
Speechless.
For the first time in my life, I’m absolutely speechless.
I stare into his hazel eyes and can’t think of a damn word to say in response.
We stare at each other until Jessica comes around the corner.
“I have the—” She stops mid-sentence when she sees the way he’s holding me.
Evan steps back from me, then looks at her. “Can you add the yoga statues as well?”
She gives us a curt nod. “Will do.” Then she turns to get the price off the statues and leaves to add it to his bill.
His phone rings, and he motions that he has to answer it. I thank the Lord above for giving him a distraction so I can get my bearings.
Jessica joins us again with all the paperwork and Evan’s credit card, just as Evan hangs up the phone.
