When she says it like that…
“What’s bothering you?”
I hang my head in resignation. “I don’t know what house I like. Condo, house with a porch, without a porch, garden, no garden… I just don’t know. It’s all overwhelming.” Even thinking about all those pictures right now clouds my brain.
She leans closer to me. “You can always talk to him, Rosie. That man worships the ground you walk on. Why are you so nervous? Just think about the house you see yourself living in with Zander. Imagine your dream house.”
Dream house. Six months back, I never considered having a house of my own, let alone a dream house.
But how would it be if I had one? I close my eyes, imagining it. Something in Cherrywood, for sure. No other place has felt more like home than this town.
* * *
“Why aren’t you ready to leave?” Zander walks into my office.
I look up from my PC, and my stomach does cartwheels at his slightly disheveled state. The top two buttons of his shirt are undone, and his tie rests loose around his neck. He takes off his jacket and drapes it over one of the chairs.
Goose bumps appear on my skin when he rolls up his sleeves, giving me a good view of those sinewy forearms. My breathing accelerates as my eyes follow his every movement until he stands still.
I look up to find him smiling.
Crab. His heated gaze brings those no-longer-foreign storms of flutters back to my stomach.
When he doesn’t say a word or move but continues to stare at me, I squeak, “What?”
This man! How does he make me all mushy?
He bites his lower lip, barely hiding his breathtaking smile. “You can check me out as long as you like, couch girl.”
“I wasn’t…checking you out.” My voice shivers when he bends until we’re at eye level.
He kisses me briefly on my cheek before moving his head further down to my neck. My collared shirt gives him only partial access.
Smelling deeply, he asks in a husky voice, “What is it today?”
I know he’s asking about my body wash. Just as I have a specific breakfast every morning, I have a different body wash reserved for each day of the week. And for some inexplicable reason, Zander finds all my quirks adorable.
“Summer kiss,” I whisper.
He takes one more whiff before pulling back, but not far. “Close your eyes, Rose.”
I’m still getting used to hearing my name on his lips.
“Why?” I ask, but I do as he says.
Before my eyelids drop completely, he breathes over my lips. “I’m gonna give you a Zander kiss.”
With that, he places his lips over mine. His tongue licks my lips, seeking permission, and I let him in as I always do.
We remain glued to each other until I hear sounds of doors opening and closing and people chatting from afar. I pull back, but Zander’s hold on my face tightens, not letting me move.
“Zander, there are still people in the office.” How I managed to form a sentence in my half-drowsy state is a surprise.
“I don’t give a fuck.” He leans in, but when we hear footsteps just outside my door, he pulls back with a suppressed groan.
“Zander, I was hoping to find you here.” Kristy walks into my office, followed by Oscar. She gives me a knowing smile, and I narrow my eyes, asking her to shut up.
“How’s the site coming?” Kristy asks before she sits on a chair and pulls Oscar onto the one next to her.