“You’re here all the time. I love sleeping next to you. I know we don’t get to eat dinner together often, but when you change careers, that’s going to change. You could save money on rent, and I have that extra hers closet in my room that has just a measly few hangers of things you leave here. It’s being underused. That’s a travesty. You moving in would fix that.” He grins, proud of himself.
He opens his mouth to start again, but I place my fingers to his lips to stop him. “Okay.”
“Okay?” There’s a sparkle in his golden eyes that has butterflies taking flight in my belly. Will it always feel like this? Like I’m floating on a cloud of love. I’m happy. So happy, and for the first time in my life, I know true, honest love and happiness. All thanks to the man sitting next to me.
“You promised me forever, Deacon Setty. I plan to hold you to that.”
“Done.” He kisses me hard but quickly pulls away. “When? When can we make this happen?”
I shrug. “Whenever.”
He leans forward and snags his phone off the table. He taps the screen before holding it out in front of him. It rings three times before a deep voice that I recognize answers.
“What’s up?” Orrin asks.
“What are you doing today?”
“Nothing. I have adult shit to do like laundry, but I’m thinking about pushing that off until tomorrow.”
“Good. I need your help. And your brothers’. As many of them that you can find that are free.”
“What for?”
“Well, it’s Ramsey who needs help, actually.”
“What happened?” Orrin is instantly on alert, and my heart swells.
“She’s fine. She’s perfect.” Deacon leans over and kisses me.
“Are you kissing her?” Orrin asks. “Can you not hold that shit until we hang up? Now, get your paws off my baby cousin and tell me what she needs.”
“She’s moving in with me, and we need manpower.”
“Today?”
“Yes. Today. Before she changes her mind.”
“I’m not going to change my mind,” I speak up.
“Rams?” Orrin asks.
“I’m here. He has you on speaker,” I explain.
“You sure you want to move in with this guy?” There’s humor in his voice. “I could tell you some stories…” He lets his voice trail off.
“Nothing you could tell me would make me change my mind.”
“Fair enough. When are we doing this?”
“We’re heading to her apartment now.”
“I haven’t even packed anything yet.”
“Bring boxes,” Deacon adds.
Orrin laughs. “Congratulations, guys. I’ll gather my brothers, and we’ll head over to you in a couple of hours. Rams, will that give you time to start packing?”
“It really doesn’t have to be done today. How about we play it by ear? I’m going to pack and purge some of my things and decide what to keep and what to donate. Then, when that’s done, I would love it if you and some of the boys would help us.”
“Can I tell them that you called them boys?” Orrin begs, the humor evident in his tone.
“Not until after they help me,” I reply with a laugh of my own.
“All right. You do you, Rams, and let me know when you’re ready.”
“Thank you. In the meantime, I’ll be staying here. So if you need me for any reason, if I’m not at work, I’ll be… home. With Deacon.”
“Damn right you will. We’ll call you,” Deacon says, ending the call and pushing me back on the couch. He kisses me like today is our last day together. His phone rings, and he groans. Pulling back, he glances at the screen and shows it to me before answering, again placing it on speaker. “What?”
“What are you two getting into tonight? You hanging out while Rams works?” Orrin asks.
“No. She’s off tonight.”
“Isn’t there a band at the Tavern? I was thinking about rounding up a few of my brothers and going to check It out. You two should come.”
“We’ll discuss it and let you know. I’m sure Ramsey doesn’t want to hang out at her place of employment on her only night off.”
“Actually, I heard the band is supposed to be good. We should go.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Fine. We’ll be there. Seven.”
“Seven,” Orrin agrees, and the call ends.
“Now, let’s go to your place and grab what we can. Clothes, toiletries, and whatever else we can pack before you change your mind.” Deacon stands and offers me his hand to help me off the couch.
“I’m not going to change my mind.”
He nods. “I’m still not taking any chances with you. Come on. We’ll take the truck.”
“I need to get my phone and my purse, and I don’t have shoes on.”
“Hurry up, woman! It’s not every day the love of my life agrees to move in with me.”
“I need to call Palmer too.”
“What? Why do you have to call my sister?”
“To give her the news. I don’t want her hearing it from someone else, and I want to invite her to the Tavern tonight.”