“All right,” Rose finally agreed with an exasperated smile. “If I can get the time off, I will go. But—” She started to speak but was silenced by Xander’s hungry lips on her own.
“No buts,” he said, backing her down the hallway to her bedroom.
* * *
“This is my place,” Xander said, leading Rose through the entryway of his town house and into the living room. “It was built in 1909 but was fully renovated in 1990. I had the hardwood floors refinished and put in some new appliances, but that was about it. The previous owner had taken great care of it.” He set down her bags and turned to look at her when she didn’t respond.
She was lost in her thoughts, taking in every detail. Rose brushed past him to look up the staircase and step into the large kitchen. It had oak cabinets the same shade as the floors and brown-and-black-swirled granite countertops.
She paused at the kitchen island with the bar-height stools that lined it. He could just picture her serving Joey Pop-Tarts at that counter, a thought that made him smile. He wasn’t certain if he could get Rose to agree to live with him here, but this trip was a start. He needed to convince her that D.C. wasn’t scary.
Xander wasn’t entirely certain he was succeeding. Rose looked a little overwhelmed. He could tell her brain was struggling to keep up with the fast-paced changes her life had taken since Wednesday night. Once she’d agreed to go with him, the wheels had been set into motion and there’d been no changing her mind.
Sweet-talking her boss into giving her the weekend off was like child’s play. Earlier today they drove to Hartford and caught a small charter jet provided by his publisher. The flight was short, but their time in the air was luxurious, with plush leather seats and a flight attendant who plied them with champagne and an amuse-bouche the moment they boarded.
They were picked up by a limousine, which made the rush-hour D.C. traffic a little easier to bear. Fortunately, it wasn’t a long drive from Reagan Airport to his town house. He asked the driver to take the scenic route, allowing Rose to see the glowing sights of the National Mall in the dim evening light. He wished he had time to walk with her down to the Reflecting Pool and chat with Lincoln, but if all went well, they would have plenty of opportunity to do that later.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
Rose chuckled and ran her fingers along the exposed brick wall. “It’s wonderful.” She pushed aside the drapes to look into the small private courtyard in back. “That’s the perfect space for entertaining. And this kitchen is like a dream. I love the double ovens and the grill built into the range. I bet you could make—” She paused and turned to him with a smile. “You don’t make anything in here, do you?”
“Not at all. I think I’ve microwaved popcorn and soup.”
Rose shook her head and strolled back to the island to lean against the countertop. “Such a waste! And I cook at home in an oven older than Joey. It’s really amazing how much space you have. It looks so small from the outside.”
“It really is deceiving. It has a full finished basement downstairs that’s perfect for a family room. There’s three bedrooms upstairs, too.”
“It’s a big place for just you. How long have you owned it?”
“I bought it a few weeks after I was elected. I decided this was where I belonged and I fell in love with this place the moment I saw the bay window out front. I knew that if and when I married, it would be perfect for a family.”
Xander wasn’t going to admit to her that the house had felt very empty since he’d moved in. He had envisioned the potential, but as the years went by and he remained single, the town house had almost started to mock him with its large hollow rooms. Just another reason to stay late at work.
But now he could just picture Rose baking in the kitchen while Joey played video games in the basement family room. It was as crystal clear a vision as if she were really there, surrounded by pans and bowls of batter.
“Would you like to see the upstairs?”
Rose nodded, stifling a yawn. “I’d love to get up close and personal with a bed.”
Xander smiled and scooped up her bag from the living room. “I can arrange that. We’ve got a big day tomorrow. You need your rest.”
“Big day?” Rose asked, following him up the stairs. “I thought there was just the signing and the party.”
“Well, yes. But preparing for those things takes time. I wanted to take you shopping in the morning before the signing. And after, I thought you’d appreciate some salon pampering.”
Rose stopped on the stairs and frowned. “You don’t think what I packed is nice enough, do you? It’s the fanciest thing I had. I don’t go to many charity galas.”