Sean
IT TAKES A lot to shock me, but that’s exactly what Paige has done. With very little convincing, she’s agreed to move in with me and I couldn’t be happier. We’ve come so far together, and the last thing I want to do is lose momentum. That’s why the next morning while she’s still asleep in my bed, I went out and bought paint, rollers, drop cloths, and tape so we can get started on fixing up her condo. She made a comment when I was finished devouring her that she couldn’t just put a for sale sign out front; she needed to do some touching up and staging. Whatever that means.
Entering quietly, I set my bags down and make my way to the bedroom. I’ll never get tired of seeing her like this. Her hair is fanned all over the pillow, mouth parted softly, face relaxed, and naked body tangled in the sheets. She’s a vision.
I slide back into bed next to her, careful not to wake her just yet. She stirs a little, reaching out for me. A smile crosses my face knowing even in her sleep she seeks me out.
Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, I caress her cheek. “Wake up, gorgeous. We have lots of work to do,” I whisper. Her brows pull in, but she makes no effort to move. “Paige,” I say into her ear and kiss up and down her neck. I see her smiling when I pull away. “Time to get up. I got you coffee.”
“Mmmm,” she mutters on a long stretch. Her body becoming cat-like as it arches and extends. “A man after my own heart.”
“Come on.” I swat her ass lightly, making her giggle. “Get dressed and be out in five minutes. I’ll put your coffee in a to-go cup.”
“What’s the urgency?” she asks while yawning.
“I told you, we have work to do.”
“We? What are you talking about?” She props herself up on her elbows and the sheet slides down her torso to expose her bare chest. I tighten my jaw and turn around to walk out of the bedroom before I ravish her again and nothing gets done.
“Yes, we. You said you needed to touch up the condo, so I went out and got stuff to do it.”
“Wait, what?” I hear her say even though I’m not in the same room anymore. “Sean, get back here.” When I don’t comply, I hear the rustling of sheets followed by the thumping of feet as she chases me down. “When did you go buy this stuff?”
“This morning. I just got back. I figured you could use the extra sleep.” I wink and watch as she flushes a gorgeous shade of pink.
“Again I ask, what’s the urgency?”
Maybe I’m pushing her too hard. She said yes with little resistance, I probably shouldn’t push my luck. “I just thought we could get a jump start on things,” I tread lightly. “We both work during the week, so if you want to get this on the market while it’s booming, you’ll need to do it soon.”
I see the wheels in her overanalyzing mind turn. But yet again, she surprises me when she says, “Okay, let me get dressed real quick.”
“Are you feeling alright?” I ask her, staring to see if some stranger has replaced my girlfriend.
“What do you mean?” she calls out over her shoulder.
“You’re just very . . . agreeable lately.”
Her soft giggle reaches my ears. “Am I normally that much of a pain in the ass?”
“You have your moments,” I mutter.
“I heard that!”
We stopped for food on the way back to her place. Paige has three stages of hunger, each level serving as warning to anyone within close proximity. The first time she says she’s hungry, you need to start coming up with a game plan to get food in her stomach. The second time she says it, you better at least be on your way to finding something. The third time, all bets are off. We were at a level two.
It doesn’t take us long to dive in. We set out a game plan with a to-do list and go into attack mode immediately.
“What do you call a cow with a twitch?” I ask as I touch up some spots on her wall. Luckily, Paige had some leftover paint from when she moved in. Good thing otherwise I’d be painting all the walls right now.
“What?” she asks in the same monotone voice as always.
“Beef jerky.”
I hear her snicker even though she tries to hide it.
“Have you thought about applying for David’s job?” It’s something I’ve been meaning to ask her since I got the bastard fired. My dad was pretty pissed at me for making such a scene at the party, but once I told him what that dick face said to Paige, he backed off and understood. He was terminated the same day for workplace sexual harassment. Of course, my dad was worried about lawsuits and assault charges, but my attorney sealed that up in the contract David signed.
“Not really. I mean, I don’t have much experience nor am I qualified enough for the job. Plus, I just got my current position a few months ago.”
“I think you should go for it.”
“You’re not calling in favors, are you?” When I glance at her, she has one hand on her hip and her head tilted to the side.
I hold my hands up in surrender. “I haven’t mentioned it to anyone. You don’t need me for this. Your intelligence, hard work, and reliability speaks for itself.”
Her posture sags on a sigh like she’s relieved to hear I’m not meddling in her career. I know how important it is for her to earn this, but I wasn’t responsible for where she is now, I won’t be for where she is in the future.
“I don’t think I’m ready,” she admits. “It’s pretty intimidating.”
“Well, just think about it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask or I can put you in contact with someone else if you prefer.”
A genuine smile hits her face. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
There wasn’t much painting to do, just a few scuff marks here and there that wouldn’t wipe off. Once I’m done, I wipe down the baseboards. I’m sure this is quite the site. Me on my hands and knees cleaning. If only Marcus could see me now.
“For a man who doesn’t even clean his own place, you sure are doing a good job,” Paige comments. I swear the worst thing I’ve ever done is tell her I have a cleaning lady. She busts my balls about it every chance she gets.
“I didn’t say I couldn’t clean, I just choose not to. And before you go giving me shit about it some more, just remember you’re about to reap the benefits of said housekeeper soon too.” She doesn’t respond to that. “Yeah, not such a bad idea now, is it?”
“It might be hard to get used to. Not all of us are as privileged as you.” She bites her lip and I know she’s seeking a reaction. Well, you’re about to get one.
“New item on the to-do list; fuck you on every surface in this damn place.” Scooping her up, I throw her over my shoulder and cross that one off the list.
I knew Paige lived in a sought-after area, but I had no idea her condo would sell that quickly. Judging by her wide eyes and parted lips, I guess she didn’t either.
Since Paige keeps the place in museum condition, it didn’t take much to get it ready to put on the market. The realtor listed it on Tuesday. By Thursday, she had an offer for full asking price.
“Talk to me.” My hands rub her arms in an effort to calm her. The panic hides within her eyes, and it’s my job to chase it away.
“It’s just so . . . fast.”
“Is that a problem? Are you sure you want to move in with me?” I hold my breath, almost afraid of her response.
“Yes, but I thought I’d have more time to get adjusted to the idea.”
“What’s there to adjust to? You’ll be well fed, sated every night, cozy in our bed, closer to work, and living with the most charming and awesome man to ever exist.” I flash her my killer smile and she throws her head back to laugh. At least she’s not freaking out anymore.
“I don’t want you to think I’m not excited about living with you, because I am. This has more to do with me than you, so thank you for being patient as always.”
“Any time, love. Any time.”
Whatever she needs I’ll always strive to provide. If it’s patience, then she’s got it. I used to stress over the worry lines around her eyes when they’d appear, but as time has gone, I realize this is who she is. She’s an over thinker and a self-doubter, a fighter and a lover. She’s passionate and funny, feisty and serene. There are so many facets that make up who she is, and I love every one of them.