“You played hockey… in high school,” she deadpans.
The line of my mouth slants. “Fair point. But to further explain, there are only tiny moments where my mind is snapped out of my work grind.”
Once I say it, I realize that nothing about this scenario seems appealing now that it’s happened. Or rather, goals are checked off, so what now? Fuck, she has me thinking, and it’s leading me down to my deeper subconscious.
She raises her brows. “Those tiny moments, such as?”
“Probably if I think to recently, then I think of my sister. First, my brother-in-law passing then my nephew entering the picture. Secondly, moving to Everhope and the renovations. But then… I got a hint of something else, something new and totally out of control.” I encourage her to lean back and join me to lie down and stare at the blue sky with spotted white clouds.
“Everything of what you said is external. Someone else’s life events, and I don’t consider picking paint colors life-changing. Let me guess, you didn’t even do that and had the designer handle that.” My face strains, and her sidelongglance causes her to release a short laugh. “I knew it. Now tell me about this hint of something else. What is it?”
I pause for a second, wondering if I should really open this conversation, but I’ve never been a man to not be direct, it just doesn’t normally involve feelings. “Well, I shouldn’t be debating why negotiating with cocky sports agents have fallen low on my list, because it turns out there is someone I enjoy squaring off with more… You.”
Her head lolls in my direction with the corner of her mouth tugging into a smile. “I think I might like that answer, even understand it.”
“Good, because we might be arguing on the way home that you’ve taken me to a place where I’m confident I need to get a tetanus shot after.”
Her eyes give me a fake glare before she inches closer to me.
“This sort of feels like being in high school and sneaking away with a guy to make out somewhere.”
“Whoa, that took a turn in the conversation. I don’t particularly care to hear about your younger self’s escapades. Because I sure as hell… most definitely did the same.”
We both chuckle and enjoy a moment of quiet, hearing only the birds chirping.
“Let’s agree that we will both stop and evaluate our lives more to ensure we don’t remain boring people with no route to a future dream.” Esme offers her hand for me to shake.
My fingers touch her palm, and after a few seconds, I shake her hand. “Agreed.”
“Phew, heavy conversation out of the way. You might still have a hot mess of a woman staying in your house once the adrenaline kicks off and the builders inform me that my house is as good as burnt toast, but at least I was optimistic for a few hours.”
“Just shut your mouth, Esme, and let me make out with you.”
She rolls on top of me. “If we must, Keats.” She feigns the inconvenience.
It’s one kiss, but then she stops, with so much beauty and fragility on her face. “Thanks for coming here. I’ve never actually been here with someone outside of photography. Just maybe… I’m happy it’s you.”
She doesn’t let me process because she slams her mouth onto mine.
This is my life on pause. Seriously, stopping to smell the flowers, and it doesn’t feel half bad; in fact, it feels downright positive and hopeful. There is something about this woman that has me spinning, and it appears I might just land in the right spot.
17
KEATS
Arriving down the stairs after showering after the gym, I find Esme towering over the kitchen island. I know this look. She isn’t pleased, but my dick sure as hell is. The last few days it’s been an admin nightmare with figuring out how to process the fire.
“You have some nerve.”
My eyes grow wide. “Clue me in.”
She folds her arms over her chest. “You hired a contractor without me!”
A smug smirk spreads on my mouth. “I did.” And I don’t regret it.
She begins to fume. “You can’t just do that. It’smyhouse that’s burnt to a crisp.”
I approach her with an easy stride, still feeling satisfied with my actions. “Yes, and after the adjusters come from both insurance companies, then things will need to move. Contractors are booked out long in advance, and Steven is a great one. He helped with my home.”
