Hearing those words got to me in a way I didn’t expect. She gasped as I pulled her close and pressed her lips against mine. When we finally came up for air, I told her, “It’s true what people say: ‘A kiss is just a kiss until you find the one you love.’ Hell, until you, love was just another word. Now, it means everything.”
A warm smile crossed her face as she whispered, “That’s about the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“It’s the truth.” I ran my knuckles across her cheek as I whispered, “I love you, Marlowe.”
“I never thought I’d know love like this.”
“That makes two of us.” I kissed her, then teased, “Aren’t we just the pair?”
“I know.” She giggled. “It’s almost sickening, isn’t it?”
“Little bit, but I’m okay with it.”
“I’m more than okay with it.”
We both settled back on the bed, and after a few minutes, I turned to her and asked, “So, now what?”
“What do you mean?”
“Things are finally settling down. Things at the club are back on track, and your sister is finally out of your hair. So, what’s next on the agenda?”
“I don’t know. I have my college classes starting in a couple of weeks, so there’s that. I’m also thinking I might try to find a new apartment.”
“I thought you liked it here.”
“I do...Well, I did.”
“What’s changed?”
“It’s hard to explain.” Her nose crinkled with uncertainty. “After everything that happened with Eric, this place just doesn’t feel the same. In all honesty, I wish I could pack up and go somewhere else to stay for a while.”
“You can.” I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her close. “We could go stay at my place tonight. For that matter, you can stay as long as you like.”
“Wait.” She eased up on her side. “I didn’t even know you had a place. I thought you lived at the clubhouse with the brothers.”
“I stay there now and then, but yeah, I’ve got my own place in mid-town. Nothing fancy. Just a three-bedroom house, but it’s mine.”
“Sounds pretty great to me.”
“Well, get dressed and pack a bag.” I threw the covers back and eased out of bed. I grabbed my boxers off the floor and was putting them on when I noticed Marlowe hadn’t moved. “Well, what ya waiting on?”
“Are serious about this?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t want you to feel like I’m barging in on you.”
“What aren’t you getting here?” I walked over to the bed and sat down next to her. “I meant it when I said I wasn’t going to let you go. You’re mine, Marlowe. So you decide. Here. There. Wherever you are, I’m going to be right with you.”
A smile slipped across her lips as she replied, “I guess I better get packing then.”
“That’s my girl.”
I leaned over and kissed her on the forehead, then got up and finished getting dressed. While Marlowe got ready, I stepped into the living room and sent a message to Country, letting him know I wouldn’t be at the club tonight. Marlowe was off, and since we no longer had to cover shifts, I would be spending the night with her. I was just putting my phone away when Marlowe came out to tell me she was ready. I helped her put her bags in her car, then had her follow me over to my place. When we pulled up to the house, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Marlowe. After meeting Kate and her parents, I could only imagine the house she’d grown up in was much more extravagant than my New Orleans-style shotgun house. I was relieved to see she seemed to be pleasantly surprised as she got out of her car and started up the front steps.
“This is your house?”
“Yeah.” I walked up to the front door and unlocked it. “It’s not much, but it’s mine.”
“It’s amazing, Rafe.”
Her eyes were wide as she stepped inside and meandered into the living room. After saving for several years, I bought the place, then had it completely renovated with new hardwood floors and custom fireplaces. I decided to keep the vintage millwork and twelve-foot ceilings but gave the rest of the house a complete overhaul with paint, new furniture, and even a couple of pictures on the wall. But of all the changes in the house, I liked the screened-in porch and private courtyard the best. From the way Marlowe was going on and on, it was her favorite too. She ran her fingers along the marble countertops and said, “I can’t believe you never brought me here.”
“Does that mean you like it?”
“Are you kidding? I love it!”
“Good.” I walked over to her and placed my hands on her hips. “I’ll go grab your stuff, and you make yourself at home.”
“Thank you, Rafe. For everything.”
“Don’t mention it.”