Page 47 of Guarding Glenda

My chest tightened. “You mean like hanging at the clubhouse, or sleeping there?”

“Well, I dunno. I guess I thought this was a temporary thing. I didn’t think it through too much. I just called you to come get me.”

“And I did. No questions asked. No hesitation.”

“I know. And I’m glad.” Her hazel eyes reluctantly looked up, her fingers tracing circles over my chest.

My fingers dug into her hips. “Glenda. I told you last night that if we do this, it's for real. That you’re mine. I wasn’t just saying that.”

“I didn’t know if you meant…”

My hands went to her face, cupping her cheeks as I got closer. “I want you here. With me. All the time, Glenda. We’re past the games and bullshit. You’re mine, and I’m yours. This is your home now.”

Her cheeks pinkened and her eyes filled with tears. “Okay.”

“Okay or yes?”

She swiped away the one tear that finally rolled down her cheek. “Yes. I’ll stay. With you.”

I pressed my lips to hers in a chaste kiss, and her phone buzzed on the counter.

Pulling away, I grabbed it and handed it to her. “Here. Before they send a search party.”

She giggled again, leaning on the counter as she looked down. “How did you know who it was?”

“You don’t talk to anyone but Linny, Allie, and maybe a couple of the girls.” I pulled the carafe from the coffee maker and poured her a mug, handing it to her. “By now, Runt and Skeeter probably have the whole place buzzing with their valiant efforts to stop me.”

“Something like that. What was their problem?” she asked, sipping slowly.

After pouring myself a mug, I said, “Hammer and his bullshit.”

“Was that there?” she asked, looking up at the broken window.

Looking over my shoulder at my makeshift fix to the glass, I said, “Hammer and his bullshit.”

She shrugged, sending another text. “Um. If I’m staying, do you think we can get my stuff? It’s not much but I have a few things I’d like to keep and the rest of my clothes. Especially since the temps are dropping.”

Nodding, I said, “Sure can. We talking truck or saddlebags?”

“Truck. But I wouldn’t mind a ride.”

“We’ll make a visit with Sam soon. See what he says.”

“You weren’t worried about what Sam thought last night. Or this morning…” She sipped her coffee as she stared at me over the rim.

“I tried to be gentle but if you recall, you started it.”

She grinned.

“I need to talk to him about something anyway. But we’ll run by the clubhouse in a bit, get your shit, get you settled here. If he’s still there once we’re done we can swing by later. If not, tomorrow.”

“Okay. I need to know when he’ll let me drive again, too. I need to call this doctor and see about setting up something.”

I opened the door to the back porch and she headed out then I followed. She went to go sit on the other side but I grabbed the shirt again, sat, then pulled her into my lap.

“Are you cold?” She was only wearing my t-shirt and the morning air was cool.

“I’m good.” She sighed as she relaxed into me. “I could get used to this.”