Since I sat down, my feelings have been oscillating between excitement and worries for our future. If this works out, one of us would have to move. Could I? I’m not sure I could leave my mom alone. She has a couple of good friends, but my whole life’s been just the two of us. I know she’d encourage me to go if I really thought Malcolm was the one for me, but could I? I would never wanthimto move. His family is fantastic, and they are all wonderfully close.
It’s something I wish I had. And I could, if I moved here.
I hear his key in the lock and realize how far ahead of myself I’ve gotten.
Malcolm walks in carrying the most beautiful bouquet of flowers. It’s bursting with pinks and corals. The only flowers I recognize are dahlias tucked in with the rest. I stand and move to meet him. I don’t even get off the living room rug before he’s made it to me and swept me into his arms. He presses me hard against him, and I giggle when the stubble along his jaw sweeps across the side of my neck.
He leans back. Keeping one arm around me, he offers me the flowers with the other. “I missed you.”
“Oh, yeah?” I take a closer look at the gorgeous flowers. “Thank you.”
“I was a wee bit worried you’d think it was cheesy.”
I shake my head. “Mmm-mmm. Or if it is, I’m really into cheesy.”
“Good.” He runs the backs of his fingers across my jaw, studying me intently, “Can I kiss you again?”
“Anytime. You can kiss me an—”
His lips are on mine. I’m grateful for my forethought, not putting on any lip gloss.
If he hadn’t told me he missed me, his kiss would have made it obvious. It isn’t the slow, tender movements from last night, this is a man starved, and I cannot believe it’s for me. He slides his hand back into my hair, while the other slides up my spine.
Gosh, I could get used to this.
He stops and rests his forehead against mine. “I’ve never been happier to get home from work.”
“I’m pretty happy myself.”
Malcolm grins, then presses a lingering kiss to my cheek. “I have something to get out of the car, then we can go. Are you ready?” Malcolm asks.
“I’m ready.”
I move closer to the door as I wait for Malcolm to get whatever it is from the car. He comes back in and pauses when he sees me.
“So, so bonnie.” His voice is a whisper, almost like he’s talking to himself.
I smile and swing my dress around a little, then I notice he’s carrying a guitar.
“I stopped by Rory’s on the way home and grabbed this,” he says, lifting the instrument.
“What are you going to do with his guitar? Is it different?”
“I wanted to know if you would do a song or two with me at my gig Friday night.” At my concerned face, he continues. “We have a few days to practice before, and if you don’t want to, that’s fine. Worst case, we have some fun playing together here.”
I nod. “I never thoughtworst casewould be my preference.”
Malcolm grins and takes my chin with his free hand. He brings his lips to mine for a quick, but knee buckling kiss. “We’ll see what happens, sweetheart.”
40
Malcolm
AsbeautifulasMakennalooked tonight with her dress and long hair teasing me every second, my heart squeezes at the sight of her after she changes when we get home. She’s in her frog jammies again, and she’s pulled her hair up on her head.
“I didn’t want to play guitar with a dress on, so …” She shrugs.
“That’s perfect. I think it’s easier to sing with jammies on anyway.”
