The Gun Runner(69)
“Three months,” Terra said.
Her head cocked to the side and she stared back in disbelief. “Months?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Chloe gasped and covered her mouth with the tips of her fingers. “Oh my. I was going to guess years. You two have an undeniable aura about you.”
“Thank you,” Terra said.
“Again, if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” I said with a false nod of gratitude.
Terra rested her head on my shoulder. “Do you think we have an aura about us?”
“I don’t know. It’s hard to say what others see.”
She nestled her head into the space between my shoulder and neck. “I think after that little mess we went through that we must have something pretty special, because being without you was absolute hell.”
“Cap says he’s never seen me happier.”
“If you could describe it, how would you? You know, what you feel?”
“I can’t,” I said. “It’s indescribable.”
She lifted her head from my shoulder. “Really?”
“Well. I don’t know. I’d hate to try and define what I feel. It wouldn’t do us justice.”
“Do it in one word.”
I put my arm over her shoulder. “Indescribable.”
She leaned forward and puckered her lips. “That’s cheating.”
I kissed her lightly. “Best I could do. And you? One word.”
“Life-changing.”
“That’s two words.”
“It’s one. It’s got a hyphen.”
I stood and alternated glances between the two couches. She said my home looked clinical, and maybe she was right. The darker leather was by far the better choice, but not what I would have chosen if shopping alone.
“So, what do you think?” she asked.
I added the prices of the couch, ottoman and love seat. “About what?”
“Furniture shopping. Did you think six months ago that you’d be doing this?”
“No. I was pretty sure I’d be single forever.”
“When the right person comes along, though.” She stood. “There’s not much you can do to argue with it.”
I shook my head. “You’re not the right person.”
“I’m not?”
“No,” I said. “You’re the only person.”
Chloe’s irregular steps in her oversized heels did little to disguise her approach. “So, have you two lovebirds made a decision?”
I looked at Terra. “Do you want it?”
She nodded eagerly. “I really like it.”
“We’ll take the ottoman, love seat and couch. In this color.”
“Really?” they asked in unison.
“Really,” I said. “But there’s a catch.”
“What’s the catch?” Chloe asked.
“I want it delivered by the weekend.”
“I’m sure that won’t be a problem,” she said. “We have trucks that deliver seven days a week.”
I grinned and nodded. “We’re going to look around a little more.”
“Take your time. And just let me know if you have any questions.”
As she turned away, I glanced at Terra. She was smiling from ear to ear.
“What are you so happy about?” I asked.
“You’re actually going to buy it?”
“You said you liked it.”
“I love it.”
“I want my house to be a place where you want to be. A place where you’re comfortable.”
“I am comfortable there.”
“You said it looked clinical.”
“Everything’s white. It does look clinical. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be there.”
“I just. I want you to be happy. Happy with everything. I’m tired of us going back and forth and spending time at both places and eventually spending nights apart. I just. I want my place to be comfortable for you.”
“Are you thinking. Do you mean you think we should...are you...” she stammered.
“I’m thinking you need to start thinking about whether or not you want to live with me.”
There, I said it.
“Oh, wow. Yes, I uhhm. I’d love to start thinking about that.”
“Well, get busy thinking about it,” I said with a laugh. “And let me know what you come up with.”
“I’m done,” she said.
“Done what?”
“Thinking.”
“And?”
She walked toward me with her arms outstretched. “Let’s do it.”
“Go pick out some bedroom furniture,” I said.
“Are you serious?”
I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight to my chest. “Anything you want.”