Our deal about building me a bed pops into my head, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with. Although, I’ll sleep on a mattress on the floor for as long as it takes to get to that point. With the injections, my back isn’t totally fucked in the mornings anymore, so getting up off the floor no longer poses the challenge it would have a few months ago.
I start thinking about what I want our life to look like. Things like moving into this house with her, getting a dog, run like a motion picture through my head. The land she has here is perfect, but I would want to add to the house. Really turn it into something that works for both of us and possibly any additions we bring home.
I’m so caught up in my daydreams that I don’t realize the power tools have stopped and the gorgeous woman I can’t stop thinking about is standing right in front of me.
“Must be thinking about something really good,” she observes with a small smile on her face.
“You have no idea, Emmerdeur,” I whisper.
“I’d love to hear all about it at dinner. I need to change, and I didn’t know if you did as well.” She gestures to my “distracting outfit”.
“I do. We could stop by my place on the way out if that works for you.”
“Since you aren’t leaving my side, apparently, that works.”
“Don’t act like you don’t love it,” I tell her as I get up and walk around the desk.
“I do, but I can’t let you know that. You’ll just get a big head, and Lord knows, it doesn’t need to get any bigger.”
I lean down and press a kiss to the side of her mouth. “You like my big head. Who else will you spar with every day?”
“I’ve done well on my own so far,” she snarks, but it hits acord for me.
“Have you? Are you living the way you want to?” I ask softly as I wrap my arms around her waist.
“I-I don’t know. You make things complicated, make me question a lot of things, and I’m still trying to figure out what that all means.”
“Well, we’ve got all the time in the world, and I plan to be right by your side as we figure it out together.” I press another kiss to her temple before stepping back and tapping her ass. “Go get ready. We’ve got a date to get to.”
I happen to know Rina hasn’t been to the new bistro that opened up in Rosedale yet, so I thought it would be the perfect date night spot tonight.
Somehow, we didn’t end up getting distracted as we changed, so we made it on time for the reservations I called in a couple of days ago. She changed into a dress I’ve never seen her wear, her long hair floating down around her shoulders with just the hint of makeup around her eyes. I tossed on a button-down black shirt and the only pair of nice slacks that I have when we stopped by my house. Although technically not our first date, I wanted to make sure it felt like I was still courting her, still putting in effort to show her how important being with her is to me.
The hostess walks us to a table near the back, and I pull out Rina’s chair once we get there before I sit down.
“I feel out of place,” she leans forward and whispers.
My heart drops, and I start to backpedal. “We can go. If you don’t feel comfortable, we can go somewhere else.”
“No! God no, what I mean is, I live in leggings and usually have a layer of sawdust on me at all times, and this is fancy and normal. I’m used to not being put together enough to go somewhere like this, but I love it. I love the change of pace, I promise.” She places her hand on mine and gives it a soft squeeze. “And you look hot as hell in a button-up, not going to lie.” She smirks.
A surprised laugh leaves me. “If I had known all I needed to do was dress up occasionally, I would have done it sooner.”
“Oh please, you look good in anything. It’s insulting, honestly. I look like an overworked science experiment most of the time, and you just stroll in looking sexy as hell every single day.” She rolls her eyes.
“You know you could be in a burlap sack and I’d still want to fuck you, right? You are literally the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, especially when you’re covered in sawdust. Never doubt for a second that you are anything short of gorgeous, every single day.” I grab her hand and press a kiss to the top.
“Did you learn how to be poetic from Oakley? Because you’re damn good at it, and I need someone to thank for it.”
“Why do you think I would learn it from Oakley?”
“Because he’s dating Willow, and she’s the resident writer; it makes sense that they would both be decent with words, and I’ve heard the way he talks to her sometimes… Poetic, I’m telling you.”
And I’m suddenly in competition with Oakley.
“This is all me, Emmerdeur,” I tell her with a sternness that I only let out in the bedroom. The arch of her eyebrow tells me she didn’t miss it.
A throat clears next to us, and we see a young man holding a notepad ready to take our order. We both jerk back, Rina’s face turning red as I roll my lips to keep from laughing.
