“Oh, I like that one,” Crystal said. The woman had three more dresses in her hands and set them across the back of a chair near the dressing rooms for Bella to try on. “It sets off your aura nicely.”
The woman’s eyes went soft and she sighed as she looked between them. “It’s so wonderful.” She walked over and wrapped an arm around Calvin’s waist. “You and my Calvin.” She chuckled.
Since he’d met Sarah’s mother, the woman had taken to him like a second mother. Well, actually, Crystal was the mother he’d always wished he’d had instead of his own.
“I knew the two of you would be a great pair,” Crystal added. “Oh, you need some jasmine.” She snapped her fingers and quickly disappeared.
Bella chuckled and turned back to him. “I missed being home.” She grabbed up the other dresses, kissed him, then disappeared into the dressing room again.
Chapter Seventeen
It was so nice having a different place to sleep. One where someone hadn’t broken in. Just the little intrusion was enough to creep her out.
Stepping into Calvin’s house again this night was a lot different than the night before. Sure, she felt passion for him bubbling up inside her again, but tonight they were both weighed down by bags of items she had purchased.
Her luggage, filled with her remaining clothes, sat just inside his front door.
“Want me to help you put your stuff away?” he asked, setting some of the bags on his sofa.
She had been dying to ask him how long he expected her to stay. After all, she only had a week left of her planned vacation time.
Her brother and his family were due back tomorrow. They’d heard about the break-in and had cut their trip short.
She’d assumed Calvin had invited her to stay at his place for the night, until she could move over to Ben and Sarah’s place.
“That depends,” she said after setting down the bags she’d been carrying.
“On?” He moved over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.
“Your plans,” she said under her breath.
“My plans?” he asked, his dark eyebrows slowly going up. She nodded and swallowed at the feeling she got when looking into his eyes. Feeling his body next to hers always caused her breath to catch in her lungs. “Well, currently, I plan on helping you get settled upstairs.” He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. “Then I plan on eating something before taking you to bed and making love to you slowly for the rest of the night.”
She closed her eyes on a moan at the thought. “I mean…” She shifted slightly so she could look up at him again. “How long do you plan on me staying with you?”
His smile slipped slightly. “As long as you want.” He shrugged. “I’ve got plenty of room. For your own safety, I plan on you coming to work with me each day so I can keep an eye on you.” He frowned even a little more. “Or you’ll be hanging out with your brother or Sarah. We’ve all decided not to let you out of our sight for too long.”
She groaned when she remembered the conversation she’d had with her brother. “Right.” She nodded. “I didn’t know if you expected…” She shook her head and leaned against him further.
“If you want, I’d like you to remain here with me.” He used his fingers to raise her chin up until she was looking into his eyes again. “Is that what you’re asking?”
She nodded. “I’d like that.” She smiled.
“Good. Now that that is settled, let’s get your stuff upstairs.”
They spent the next hour hanging her clothes in his massive walk-in closet. Over half of the space had been sitting empty except for the empty boxes from when he’d moved in two years ago. He folded them up and took them out to his garage as she hung each of her new items and inspected the other clothes that had been salvaged.
She was thankful that most of her shoes had survived the attack. When she was done, she moved into his bathroom and found an empty drawer to put her toiletry items in.
“Settled?” he asked from the doorway. He’d disappeared about a half an hour ago to head downstairs and make them dinner.
“Yes.” She turned to him and looked around. “I don’t want to invade…” He stopped her by walking over and kissing her.
“You aren’t,” he said smoothly. “Don’t even think about it. While you are here, treat this like your home. Don’t be one of those guests that make it weird.” He chuckled. “Okay?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“Good, now come on downstairs. You can set the table while I finish up with dinner.” He kissed her again and then pulled her downstairs.
She busied herself setting the table after he showed her where to find everything. She was happy that he didn’t treat her like a guest. When she stayed with Ben and Sarah, they had treated her the same way.
It was strange to remember living with her parents. She had always felt like a guest in their home growing up.
The last time she’d visited them, before she’d graduated school, they had put her up in a guest room, since they’d changed her bedroom into a study for her mother. Like her mother needed a study. The woman hadn’t held a job Bella’s entire life.
“You’re deep in thought,” Calvin said to her as he set a tray of cheese and crackers on the table.
Taking up one, she shrugged. “Thinking about my parents.”
He stilled as his eyes ran over her. “And?”
She shrugged as she chewed, then reached for the glass of wine he’d given her before she’d started setting the table. After taking a sip, she answered.
“I was just thinking how I feel more at home here than I do in my childhood home.”
He walked over and wrapped his arms around her. “I know how that feels.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m happy you feel comfortable here.” He chuckled. “Everyone feels comfortable here. I think it’s the place.” He glanced around.
She laughed. “No, it’s the company.”
He smiled down at her. “Come on, dinner’s ready.” He stepped back and then pulled out a chair for her.
She sat as he carried out a tray of grilled chicken covered in a honey barbeque sauce sitting on rice and vegetables. The meal looked amazing.
“Wow, this looks great,” she said as he set it in the middle of the table, then took a seat next to her.
“Don’t get too excited. This is one of the five meals I know how to make.” He wiggled his eyebrows causing her to laugh.
“That’s better than the three I know.” She held up her fingers. “Grilled cheese, mac and cheese, and—my all-time favorite—carryout.”
He shook his head. “I remember living in the city, a carryout restaurant on every corner. Where else could you have Chinese one night and Middle Eastern food the next?” He sighed. “Those were the days. I had Adam teach me a few basic meals so I could survive. Not that we don’t have some good choices in town.”
“I get it. Sometimes you just want a quiet meal at home.” She glanced around.
Last night, she had been too busy with him to really get a good look at the home.