Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Rhys walked me around the empty house, and though, in my mind, I was still determined not to accept such an extravagant gift, my heart couldn’t help being excited. There had always been something that felt right about the place, some sense of destiny, and I couldn’t shift the feeling.
Then, as my eyes ran along the wall that adjoined Rhys’, an idea formulated. I placed my hand on the wall then turned to face him. “Okay, so I just had a thought.”
His expression was affectionate. “Go on.”
“I want to be with you, Rhys. Like, not just for now but forever. You realise that, right?”
He released one of his trademark gruff breaths and came to stand before me, his arms wrapping possessively around my waist. “Yes, and I hope you realise I feel the same.”
Oh, man, don’t cry. His love made me feel like I was going to burst. “Well, obviously I don’t want to rush anything. I’m happy with my little apartment, and I want to take this at a steady pace, but someday, I would love to move in with you.”
His features softened at my statement as he drew me closer and pressed his mouth to the hollow of my neck. “What was your thought, baby?”
My eyes drifted closed at the pleasure of his lips on my skin, but I forced myself to keep on track. “Well, my thought was we could look into tearing down this wall and basically making the two houses into one larger house. So, someday soon, when I’m ready to move in with you, it can simply become ours.”
“Ah, you’re a genius,” he smiled, his mouth returning to my neck and sending tingles down my body that had me clenching my thighs.
“You think it’s a good idea?”
“Yes, it’s an incredible idea. When the time comes I’ll have your name added to the deeds, so you’ll have that security.”
“Okay, but only if you let me pay for all the renovations since you paid for the house. Well, both houses.”
“No,” he muttered roughly, still kissing my neck as his hand found its way between my legs. “You’re not paying.”
“Rhys, you have to meet me partway.”
“We’ll see,” he finally allowed.
“Oh, don’t think you can put me off with a ‘we’ll see.’ I’m paying, and I won’t accept anything else.”
“Fine,” he growled. “Now, are you going to let me make you come, or are you going to keep arguing?”
I released a giddy chuckle, happy to have won the argument. “Okay, then. If you must.”
A second later, I squealed as he lifted me, carried me into the kitchen, and set me down on the counter before doing exactly as he promised.
Yesterday had been a great day, but today was even better. And I had a feeling that with Rhys Doyle there were even more amazing days yet to come.
Epilogue.
Charli
One year later
Hiding in the bathroom next to Rhys’ and my new main bedroom to take a pregnancy test was not how I’d planned to spend our housewarming party.
The trouble was, I was late, and everything had been so hectic the past week that I hadn’t gotten around to taking the test.
How was I having a pregnancy scare the very first week we decided to move in together? Well, okay, I knew how. I was on birth control, by my own choice, but Rhys and I had been having unprotected sex. A lot of unprotected sex. I’d thought it was okay because we were both clean, and I was on the pill, but I should’ve known it wasn’t one hundred percent. The trouble was I often let go of sensibility when it came to the man in my life. My passion for him made me just a little bit dumb, and currently, I was sitting on a closed toilet seat facing the consequences. A paw scratched at the door, followed by an annoyed “Meow.” Bobby didn’t appreciate me closing the bathroom door since he often liked to come in and watch me pee. Yeah, he was a weird cat.
My mind ran through the possibility of a positive result, but oddly, it didn’t fill me with fear or trepidation. I’d always wanted kids, but that dream had been lost somewhere along the way as I’d just tried to survive through my marriage to Jesse. But I was with the love of my life, and there was no fear. I wanted Rhys’ child. I just didn’t know how he would react to the news. I imagined positively, given he sometimes waxed lyrical about filling our newly joined up houses with a couple kids. I’d brushed it off as fanciful imaginings. I didn’t know if the reality of a baby would change his mind.
The first six months of our relationship had been pure bliss. Honestly, it still felt like a honeymoon even though the second six months had been much more stressful as we’d committed to tear through walls and hire contractors. But our love for one another never faltered. Whatever hiccups we’d faced only made us better as a team, stronger and more united.