“I’m going back to the city,” Chris said to Erica the next day.
“Okay. Would you mind taking me with you? I’m done with my vacation. It is too stressful.”
Under the table, they held hands. He felt so relieved whenever they were touching. Chris didn’t know if she felt the same, but to him when they were touching, nothing else mattered in the world. That morning, he’d woken her up in the most delicious of ways, or at least to him it had been in the most delicious of ways. He’d made her climax twice before sinking inside her. For the rest of his life he would love to wake her up making sweet love to her. Chris loved waking up to her. The nightmares that used to plague him had disappeared with her in his arms. He wanted to take the next step and ask her to move in with him.
It was too soon. He didn’t want to scare her off. They’d known each other a long time, but their feelings for each other had only just been awakened.
He knew she was the woman for him.
“My suitcases are packed. We’d need to stop at the beach house.”
“I’ll take you. I look forward to your company. This has certainly been a summer I’ll never forget.” She chuckled, taking a bite of waffle.
They said their goodbyes. David looked really happy at having his wife at his beck and call. Molly appeared happy at having her husband back. His other siblings had gone. He drove to the beach house to find Ben waiting with her suitcase. Chris watched the other guy hug and kiss her. She got in the car, and Chris gave Ben a wave and drove on his way towards home.
Chris reached over, taking her hand.
“I can’t believe how I feel,” she said.
“How do you feel?”
“Loved, cherished. Like nothing is going to break us apart.” He kissed her hand, keeping his eyes on the road.
“Nothing will break us apart. I won’t let it.” Their mistakes were over. “I want to show you something. Do you mind coming with me, and then I’ll take you home?” he asked.
I hope you don’t want to go home.
“Yes.”
He kept her hand in his as he drove towards his home. A year ago he’d bought a place on the outskirts of the city. It was a nice plot of land with a house that needed some tender loving care. There was a garden out back, and he hoped to one day turn it into his family home. It wasn’t a large house, just a modest four bedroom house with a large kitchen, dining room, and sitting room. He’d purchased the place thinking about Erica.
Most men wouldn’t have made plans with a lost love in mind. Chris had held onto the hope of winning Erica back.
The radio was on, and he smiled listening to her sing. She would never be a singer, but he liked how open she was around him. She really was unlike any other woman he’d known.
Two hours later—traffic in the city was a pain to get through—he pressed the digits to the gate and then drove down the short drive to his home.
He parked the car and got out. Erica was already standing in front of the car. She turned to him with a beaming smile on her face.
“Wow,” she said. “Is this house yours?”
“Yes. It was finished a week ago. I hoped to move in sometime in the next three weeks.”
“It looks so quaint.”
“Would you like a tour?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He opened his arm for her to loop her hand in. When she did, he started round back on the garden. “I figured I’d employ a gardener to start off with. I think growing some fruit and vegetables would be good for the environment. It also means I wouldn’t have to worry about going to the shop every damn day.”
She chuckled as he pointed out plots of land. Chris had made some plans in the hope of turning into a full time family home. He wanted the house, the wife and children. At forty years old he was more than ready to settle down. Before he met Erica, he’d been wild, sowing his oats and all that. But now there was no fun when love wasn’t involved. That weekend three years ago with Erica had shown him what it meant to be in love and feel love from another person.
Erica Black had unknowingly ruined him for other women.
“This is amazing.”
“I think I could fit a swing down there.” He pointed at the bottom of the garden.
“You’re a lucky man, Chris.”
He took her inside through the back, which led straight into the kitchen. Her gasp bought a smile to his face.
“I’m envious of the person who’ll get to cook in this kitchen,” she said.
His heart pounded inside his chest. “I’m hoping you’ll agree to cook in here.”
She turned to him with a frown on her brow.
“What?”
He got down on one knee. Chris knew he should wait. They hadn’t been reacquainted for long. Still, the feelings inside him were too strong to ignore. Maybe he was using his father’s situation to make his move. He didn’t care. Erica had been the only woman he’d ever wanted in the past four years. What had started out as a challenge had turned into need and love.