“Yeah, you’re right.” Biting my thumbnail, I turn to Grace. “But what if it is him?”
“Then you’ll be getting a new roomie.”
Ria - Let yourself in the back door.
Leo - A proposal I never saw coming from you.
Ria - My HOUSE back door. Christ I’m going to be gray by the end of this.
Leo - You Stones look good with silver strands. It works for Papa and Mama Stone.
Ria - I worry about you.
“Honey, I’m home,” Leo sings as he wanders into my townhouse, placing his laptop and overnight bag on my kitchenisland. His carefree tone should put me at ease but it doesn’t. I’ve been pacing and spying through the drapes as the moving company emptied van after van of beautiful furniture into the townhouse next door. So far I haven’t seen the new owner, but the moving company left half an hour ago after a smartly dressed lady in her fifties stopped by a few minutes and signed all the paperwork.
“You’re far too chirpy.”
“Would you prefer I was grumpy like Deacon?” His face transforms into a scowl, and honestly it just doesn’t look right as he slumps against the kitchen island.
“Actually, that’s disturbing.”
“I can’t win with you.” His cheeky grin creeps back onto his face, and his gray eyes glint with mischief.
“Correct.” Passing him a chilled bottle of water out of the fridge, I shrug my shoulders. “Welcome to married life with me.”
“I’m sure I’ll cope.” His eyes soften slightly, locking on mine as he gives me a half smile. “So…”—he takes a sip of his water—“have you seen who’s moved in next door?”
“No.” I sigh. “Do you think it’s him?”
“Yes,” he says with so much confidence my spine straightens.
“What? Why?”
He glances over my shoulder, replying, “Because he’s about to knock on your front door.”
Chapter 21
Leo
“Oh my God.” Ria panics as she watches Cole through the floor-to-ceiling window that streams light into her open living and kitchen space as he walks toward her front door. “It is him.” Gripping my forearm, her touch heats my skin through my suit jacket as she takes in short, sharp breaths.
“Breathe, Ri Ri.” Her midnight-blue eyes lock on mine. The usual urge I get when she pins me with them to cup her face and kiss her soft, plump lips hits me, and just like always I force it down. Repressing my own needs by interlocking our fingers, my tone is steady as I say, “Own this.”
“You’re right.” She nods. Her breath calms just as her doorbell chimes, but she doesn’t take her eyes off me.
Brushing my thumb over her delicate skin, I revel in the feel of her. “Want me to get that?”
“Huh?” She blinks.
“The door, Ri Ri.”
“Yeah. Would you mind?”
Reluctantly, I drop her hand and give her a reassuring smile before turning and releasing a long breath. Squaring my shoulders, I move through her bright living space. Every part is Ria.
Natural.
Beautiful.
