Chapter Nineteen
“Um, Sean, dinner’s ready,” she said from the kitchen doorway.
He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t expect you to do it all yourself.”
“It wasn’t hard. I liked listening to you two talk.”
The guys stood and walked into the kitchen grabbed bowls, plates, and cups before sitting down at the dining room table. Both men moaned when they took their first bite of her pasta.
“Hell, girl. This is really good. I think you need to dump this guy and come with me,” Jace said.
Sean grinned when she giggled but shook her head.
“She’s not going anywhere, bud.”
Jace held his hands up. “If you change your mind…”
She glanced at Sean and then down at her plate. “I won’t.”
“You’re a lucky bastard,” Jace said.
“Oh, I know it.” Sean reached over and squeezed her hand. “And I’ll do whatever I need to keep my little woman with me.”
She turned her hand over to grip his. “Just be with me. That’s all I need.”
Sean heard Jace clear his throat and could see the emotion he tried to hide.
“It will happen for you, man,” Sean told him.
“I hope so.”
After dinner and a movie, Sean showed Jace where his room was and helped him get settled.
“I’ll see you in the morning. Make yourself at home.”
Jace smacked him on the shoulder. “Thanks for having me. You might rethink Mack staying here, too.”
“We’ll see how it goes. I’ve got another guest room ready for him.”
Sean closed the door, walked to his bedroom door, opened it, stepped in, and smiled. Ava stood uncertainly by the bed, waiting for him.
“Baby, do you want to take a shower before bed?”
She nodded.
He could tell she was anxious and wanted to try to make things as calm as possible for her.
“Why don’t you get what you want to sleep in tonight, and then I’ll show you how to work the shower.” He turned and walked into the bathroom, grabbed a towel for her, and waited. Within a minute, she came through the door, holding a white nightgown over her arm. He wanted to warn her that she wouldn’t be able to wear anything to bed later but didn’t want to rile her up.
“Will you want to wash your hair?”
“No. It takes too long to dry. I usually do it in the morning.”
He watched her put it up in a messy bun. “Okay. I’ll wait in the other room but yell for me if you need me.”
She nodded again.
Sean closed the door behind him and grinned. He could tell her awareness and need for him was already building again, and he wondered if she’d do anything about it.