“We should plan a night out. I’ll put Conrad and Marshall on that. They’ll be all over it.”
“That sounds like something she would love.” She laughs. “My keys are on the counter. The post office key is on there. Thank you, babe.”
“I’m on it.” I climb out of bed, and she rolls over on her belly.
“This bed feels cold and way too big without you in it.”
“Mine’s a king. How do you think I feel?” I ask her. Sliding into my jeans, I button them and quickly pull my shirt over my head. “Get moving, lazybones.” I smack her on the ass and head for the small living room.
After slipping into my shoes and socks, I grab her keys and make my way down the steps. The post office is just two blocks over, so I decide to walk. It’s a nice morning, warmer than normal for early May. It’s going to be a great day to be out on the water. Maybe a little chilly with the wind, but I’m still looking forward to it. Not only do I love being out on the lake, and the first time of the season is always full of anticipation after a long winter, but this time Aurora is going to be there with me. That alone is a game-changer.
I’m headed back to the bakery with my arms full of mail. I need to remember to check this for her at least every other day. I know her hours are crazy and she’s exhausted trying to do it all on her own. Well, with just her and Aspen. She’s finally placed an ad in the paper that’s supposed to go out today. Her previous interviews didn’t show up. Hopefully, she gets some good candidates out of the ad so they can both get a break.
As I round the corner, I spy a man with his face pressed to the glass of the bakery. “Hey!” I call out to him as I quicken my steps. “Can I help you with something?” I ask him.
“Nah, just looking for my fiancée.”
“Well, the bakery is closed today.” Something about this guy is off. He’s shady at best.
He nods, mumbling something under his breath. “You should probably get going,” I tell him.
“Yeah,” he says, turning to look back into the bakery windows. “She knows I’m around,” he says cryptically.
I’m ready to tell him to move the fuck on when he turns and walks away. I watch him go until I can no longer see him. An uneasy feeling sits in my gut. I’m not getting a good vibe from this guy. I need to make sure Aurora and Aspen both know to keep an eye out, and I need to get someone in here to take a look at their security system. Hell, maybe they should move in with me for a while. My condo has three bedrooms, one is an office, but we only need two. Aurora can room with me.
Unlocking the door, I slip inside, ensuring that it’s locked and the door is pulled tight. I take the stairs two at a time. “Aurora!” I call out for her.
She sticks her head out of her bedroom door. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. There was just some creepy guy standing outside the bakery, and my first instinct is to make sure you’re okay. Even though I knew you were.” I take the final few steps down the hall and press my lips to hers. “I have your mail. I’m going to have to start checking this for you. Look at all of this.” I hold up the stack of mail.
“That’s unusual. We’re on paperless billing for most of our accounts. We hardly ever have any mail. Just place it on the counter in the kitchen, and I’ll look at it later.”
Going back to the kitchen, I place the mail on the counter and grab a bottle of water out of the fridge, just as she comes out dressed and ready to go. “Ready?” she asks.
“Change of plans, we’re just going to stay home.” I let my eyes roam over her curves and fuck me, I want to take her back to bed.
“What? Why?”
“Because you look hot as fuck, and we have the place to ourselves.”
“Actually, we don’t. Aspen is on her way home. She’s going to meet us at your parents’ place in an hour.”
“Fine.” I pretend to be put out when I’m anything but. “I guess we better get moving. You want one?” I hold up my bottle of water.
“Yes.” I reach into the fridge and grab her a bottle, following her to the front door. “I’m going to have a guy come out and check your security system. That guy freaked me out. I hate the two of you living here all alone.”
“We’re big girls, Grant. We can handle it,” she says on our way to my SUV.
“I knew you would say that. That’s why I didn’t start with the two of you staying with me.” I toss the suggestion out there. I open her door for her, lean in, and press a kiss to her lips before rounding the SUV and sliding behind the wheel.
“No. That’s crazy. We’re fine. Don’t let some random stranger make you paranoid.”
“When the love of my life has some lunatic snooping around her closed bakery looking for his fiancée, I have a right to be worried.”
“Calm down, hulk,” she teases. “You can have your guy come check out the system, but I know it’s good. I had it installed new when I leased the building.”
“How long is your lease?”
“A year. I wanted six months, but I couldn’t get them to agree to the shorter terms. Luckily, it’s worked out, and here I am six months later and still going strong.”
“Because you kick ass.”
“Oh, go on,” she jokes.
“Is Sunday dinner still on for tonight?” she asks.
“Yes.”
“What time do we have to meet everyone at the lake?”
“Not until two.”
“Aspen is going to be there at noon. Do you care if I have her come to your place to hang out? And can we stop at the store.”
“Yes, she’s always welcome, and yes we can stop at the store. Wait, what do we need from the store?”
“I want to make something to take to dinner. We could always go back to the bakery.”
“No. I like the idea of you baking in my kitchen. Preferably, naked, but I’m thinking Aspen wouldn’t like that too much.”
“She’d cheer us on.” She laughs, digging in her purse for her phone.
I love that she’s so carefree these days. She doesn’t clam up when I talk about intimacy or tell her that she’s beautiful. I’m damn proud of how strong she is and how quickly she let the past fall behind her—where it needs to stay.
“Hey, a slight change of plans. We’re not meeting until two at the lake, so you should just come to Grant’s and hang out.” She pauses. “Okay. See you soon and drive safe.”
“She coming?”
“Yep. She’s making good time, so she should be there in about thirty minutes.”
“Sounds like Aspen has a lead foot.”
“The open road with no traffic and the radio blaring, it’s easy to do.”
“Here we are,” I say, pulling into the grocery store. “I need to pick up a few things anyway.” Together we make our way into the store. I grab a cart and begin to navigate each aisle while we both toss things into the cart. It’s very domestic, and I don’t hate it.
“Stop.” Aurora swats at my hand as I try to sneak another one of her magic bars.