“You’re sure about this?”

I snuggle up to Black, my ear pressed against his heart, listening to it beat. The sound makes me happy.

Black makes me happy.

“If I wasn’t sure, sweetheart, I never would have shown you the place.”

“Living over top of a restaurant isn’t an ideal home. It’s not good for babies or dogs or…”

“Addie, we’ve discussed this. You want this. Your own restaurant might not be what you had in mind. I know you were set on working your way up with a prestigious name. But, you can build this one to whatever heights you want. You have that ability.”

“You have that much faith in me?” I ask, more than a little awestruck.

“Sweetheart, I have all the faith in the world in you. Plus, I eat a lot of your cooking. Trust me, if anyone can put Mason on the map as the place for culinary excellence… It is you.”

“It’s a lot of money, Black,” I remind him and it is.

The building itself might be a bargain, but we’ll be taking out loans for renovations, and staffing… so much that it makes my head spin.

“It’s an investment,” he argues and looking at him, I feel his confidence in me and it makes me feel powerful.

“You don’t have to do this you know?” I’ll be fine working for a small restaurant. I don’t even care if it has a big name. As long as I have you to come home to, I’m fine.”

“I know,” he says, kissing along the side of my neck. “I want you to have a restaurant, Addie and to be honest, I kind of want to remain in Mason.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. I love it here, I love being close to my family and I enjoy my job. This is where I want to raise a family and this is where I want to grow old with you.”

“Me too,” I whisper.

“Then we’re doing this right? We’re buying the building and my woman is going to be the most kick-ass Chef this side of the Pecos.”

“We’re doing this,” I giggle, then I flip so I’m straddling him and kiss him. It’s a kiss of hope, promise and love… definitely love.

“I only have one question,” he asks.

“What’s that?”

“Did you say that tomorrow is the day that Petal is going to take the pink out of your hair?”

“Yep, by this time tomorrow night you will be sleeping with a blonde again,” I tell him. “It’s starting to grow again too, thank God.”

“Then, I guess I better get busy,” he says.

“Busy doing—” I never finish my question; it breaks off into a squeal instead. “What are you doing?” I laugh as he flips me over on my back and then he straddles me, a knee on each side of me.

“I’m running out of time,” he says, grabbing the ends of his t-shirt that I’m wearing and pulling it over my head. I help him get it off—it’s not like I have much choice… or that I want one.

“For what,” I ask, still laughing even as he wraps his hands under each of my breasts, kneading them.

“To have wild sex with a girl with pink hair. It’s on my bucket list.”

“Then I guess you had better hurry,” I smile, as I reach down and circle his cock in my hand.

“I’ll see what I can do,” he grins, right before he sucks on my breast.

Heaven.