Chapter Twenty
THE NEXT MORNING Kurt drove Leanna home before going for his run so she could prepare for her day at the flea market, and when they got there, he didn’t want to leave. Actually, he never wanted to be apart from her.
Leanna flitted from room to room, packing up what she’d need for the sunny afternoon. Sunscreen, paper towels, bottles of water. She stopped in the middle of the kitchen floor, looking cute as a button in her shorts and tank and tapping her lips with her finger as if it might bring forth whatever she was looking for.
Kurt folded her into his arms. “Have you thought any more about how much time you want to commit to your business or where you might want to set up shop?”
She ran her index finger down the center of his chin to his chest. “Mm-hm.”
“And?” His heart raced. He didn’t want to put added pressure on her, but heck if he didn’t feel like he’d go crazy if they weren’t together.
She looked up at him, and he saw the answer in her hazel eyes. “I think I want to keep the business as a summer business. That’s when fruits are freshest, and I can specialize in gift baskets or something similar and equally as fun, the rest of the year. And…” She lifted up on her tiptoes and kissed his chin. “I want to be near you.”
Near me. Kurt could hardly believe it. He filled the silence with an embrace.
“Near me. You’re sure?”
She nodded.
“I live just outside of New York City. Is that someplace you would really consider moving to?”
“If that’s where you’ll be, then I want to be there, too. Unless you don’t want me to. I’d totally understand if you didn’t, I mean, we haven’t known each other that long, and I can be noisy, and you like quiet, and I can be a little messy, and you’re neat, and—”
He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I want you there with me. In my house. By my side. Talking while I try to write and making messes that I have to clean up.”
He felt her heart beating fast and hard against his chest.
“You want me to move in with you?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t have to feel pressure or anything. I can find an apartment nearby.” Her voice shook. “I have some money saved from my real jobs, so I can manage for a while without dipping into my trust fund.”
The love in her eyes betrayed her offer. “Leanna, I feel it in my crazy heart. I love you.”
Her cheeks flushed pink, and her finger made quick work of tracing the edge of his tricep. “You heard that?”
He kissed her. “I love you, and you love me. It’s fast, but I trust my instincts. When you’re not with me, I’m looking for you.”
Pepper pawed at his leg.
Kurt glanced at Pepper. “Yes, you, too, Pep.”
Her eyes welled with tears.
“Is this too fast? I’m sorry. I’m a pretty focused guy, but if it’s too fast—”
“No.” She gripped his waist. “No. I want to be with you more than anything in the world.”
“Then what is it?”
A tear slipped down her cheek. “It’s just…” She buried her face in his chest. “You fill my empty spots.”
He loved her so much that his heart ached. He wiped the tear with the pad of his thumb and held her close. “You fill mine, too. Even the ones I never knew I had.” They hugged until Leanna pushed him playfully away.
“You need to go for your run or I’ll steal your writing and your running time, and then you’ll rethink my moving in with you.”
“I’ll probably need to write pretty late tonight. Want me to come over after I’m done, or would you like a break from me for a night?”
“Break? No way. I’m working with the girls on organizing the brochures and stuff. Just come over when you’re done.”
“It might be pretty late.”
“I’ll leave the door unlocked.” She kissed him and patted his butt on the way out the door.
“Careful or I’ll miss my run and you’ll miss the flea market.”
On the way back to his cottage, Kurt’s pulse raced. He’d never felt so aware of everything around him or so alive. The trees looked more interesting, the wildflowers on the side of the road more vibrant, the grass greener; the air even smelled clearer. His mind ran in a hundred different directions, and every one of them circled back to the studio. Leanna. Forever.
He called Savannah’s brother, Treat, on the way back to his cottage. Treat owned luxury resorts all over the world.
“You realize it’s seven in the morning, right?” Treat asked.
“Yeah. I’m sorry to bother you so early. You’ve got a contractor friend who works in New England, right?”
“Blue Ryder. He does excellent work.”
“Think he’d do work for me on the Cape?” Kurt’s mind was going a mile a minute. He had a plan in place, and surprising Leanna with the studio was the tip of the iceberg.
“Of course.”
“Great. I have a studio that needs to be renovated.”
“He’s doing some work at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis, I think. I’ll text you his number. I’m sure if he can fit it in, he’d love to do it.”
“Thanks, Treat. I’ll see you at the wedding.” Kurt pulled into the driveway and walked around the house until the studio came into view.
“Yeah. I hear you might be bringing a date?”
Kurt laughed. “That old Remington grapevine.”
“Oh, Siena and Savannah made quick work of that. Burned up the cell lines. Everyone knows, and I think they expect you to bring her along. Siena told us it’s a big deal that you have a girlfriend.”
“It is a big deal. And yeah, she’s coming with me. Thanks for texting Blue’s number. I’ll get in touch with him as soon as you send it over.” He ended the call and gazed at the studio, feeling the pieces of his heart falling into place. No wonder I didn’t know what to do with you. You were waiting for Leanna.
Maybe I was, too.