“And what about a wedding? Are you saying you want to get married at the courthouse?”
He couldn’t tell if she was on board with the idea or not.
“I’d get married in the damn woodshed if you said yes to it. I don’t care where it happens, just as long as it does.” He reached for her hand and placed it on his chest. “We will do whatever it is that you want, but I just want you to know how I feel. The minute you say yes, we’ll start planning.”
She didn’t say anything for a minute as she studied where her hand was on him. But when her gaze met his, he saw the hint of a smile.
“This just isn’t the time to be planning a wedding,” she said. “The resort’s opening, the summer schedule is going to be insane, and we definitely need a bigger place to live than the cabin.”
Trying not to sound too eager, he nodded. “All good points.”
Her smile grew. “I know.”
“But that all sounded like a yes to me,” he said, feeling his own smile grow. “A roundabout yes, but still a yes.”
“That’s because it was a yes. So…”
Before she could say anything else, he rolled her under him and extended their stay in the room. After all, this was deserving of a private celebration.
Slater was already gone by the time she made it back to the office.
After the third time and a quick shower, it was almost one in the afternoon. She felt terrible about it, but Nora assured her that everything was fine. So, she settled at her desk and dove into her list of things to do.
At some point, Connor brought her a sandwich and let her know that the kids were fine and had eaten lunch down at the cabin.
Her cabin.
She knew he was being overly cautious because he wanted to keep his parents away from his daughter, and she honestly couldn’t blame him. With any luck, the Winslowes checked out and are long gone. It would be nice to have dinner without that hanging over their heads.
By five, he was back and convincing her that her workday was over.
“Connor…I was gone for four days and then missed half the day. I really should stay and take care of some things,” she argued lightly.
“Nonsense. Everyone else is done for the day, and you were only scheduled until five.”
“I know that, but I was also scheduled to start at eight, and I didn’t actually start until one, so…”
He wasn’t listening, and even though it was sweet that he wanted them all to have dinner together, she saw this had the potential to turn into a sticking point for them down the road.
Turning off her computer, Lexi stood and faced him. “I appreciate what you’re doing, I really do. But you have to accept the fact that I am going to work even after we’re married. I like this job, and I’m good at it. Well…so far. But you get what I’m saying, right?”
Stepping in close, he nodded. “I do get it, but just know that you don’t have to work if you don’t want to.”
Her head was already shaking. “I want to, Connor. That’s what I’m telling you. I want to work. I like my job,” she reiterated slowly to make her point. “And it’s not because of anything that anyone is going to think, so please don’t go there. This is about me feeling good about myself. I have a college degree in business that I never got to use because I couldn’t afford childcare. This is the first time I feel challenged and…I don’t know…like this is where I’m supposed to be. I’m finally comfortable in my own skin.”
She waited for the argument, but it never came.
“Okay. I will never bring this up again.”
“Thank you.”
“Except…”
“Connor…” she whined.
“I just have a nice dinner planned for us and the kids are waiting, so…”
That meant she had to call it quits for the day.
