“Gabby, be quiet,” he whispers slash bosses in my ear and I press closer trying to pull in a deep breath to calm myself down. We sit here like this for what seems like a long time, him rubbing my back and me trying to take in air.
Finally, he gently pulls the back of my hair and I answer by lifting my head. We’re so close, all I can see are his eyes—melty and warm again. I can tell he has a small smile when he simply states, “You like it when I’m bossy.”
Closing my eyes again, I shake my head slowly. “Seriously? Is that all you got out of what I said to you?”
He gives me a squeeze, I open my eyes to look at him. “Yeah. And that you feel the same way I do, which I gotta say, I thought you did but it’s really fucking good to hear out loud.” He pulls me to him, kissing me soft and sweet. Letting me go, he sighs. “Let’s get ready for bed, Gabby. It’s been a long day, I’m drained.”
That sounds perfect to me. He helps me up and we both go through our getting ready for bed routine, mine taking about five times longer than his. He lets Mia out one more time, closes down my house and sets the alarm. Such has become our going to bed routine.
I look at myself in the mirror thinking I can’t be happier about the man in my house, my bed and that we actually have a going to bed routine. He knows my fears but he wants to stay. He wants me. It’s time for me to relax and trust him. So, I make a choice. I’m going to hang on to Jude and let go of the loneliness.
I turn, head into my bedroom and come to a standstill in my nightie. I see Jude lying on his back, the covers up low to his waist, and his chest is bare. One hand is tucked behind his head and the other one is scratching Mia behind her ears since she is lying on his big, bare, muscular chest, her back legs stretched straight out behind her. Her head is leaning into his hand to deepen the scratch.
I look up to find Jude staring at me with a resigned look on his face. “She wouldn’t leave me alone.” He tries to rationalize his attention on Mia. “I pushed her off twice and she keeps climbing back on. Then she paws at my hand until I pet her. And if I don’t pet her, she gets up in my face to lick me. Offense seems to be my best defense with your dog.” He’s half-frustrated, half-amused.
Tilting my head to the side, I look at the beautiful sight in front of me. Sweet Tiny Little Mia sprawled out on Big Bad Hot Jude Ortiz and I can’t take it. “You like my dog.”
“You’re not gonna cry again are you? I mean, she really didn’t give me a choice here.”
“You like my dog,” I repeat. He just shakes his head but continues to scratch Mia. Then I go on to say with a slightly naughty grin, “Lucky Mia, she looks comfortable. I think I’m a little jealous, Jude Ortiz.”
Grinning back at me, he rasps, “Come to bed baby, I’ll make sure you get all the attention you need.”
And with that I grin and head to the bed to kick my dog off my man for some well-deserved attention.
I walk into Gabby’s kitchen as she’s pulling something that smells like garlic heaven off of the stove. I walk up to her as she turns her head up to me and I kiss her quick. It’s been a long day.
She brings her hand to the lapel of my suit jacket. “You’re hot in a suit.”
Lifting my head further I return, “Thanks. I hate it, but I can’t wear jeans and a t-shirt to court. I’m gonna go change, be back in a sec.”
Wanting out of this suit, I walk to her bedroom and turn through her bathroom as I start yanking my tie off and make the next turn into her closet.
I stop in the doorway of her big walk-in closet. The bomb that was my bag is no longer strewn all over the floor. I look around, spotting my t-shirts folded neatly, stacked on a shelf next to some of Gabby’s workout clothes. I keep turning, to find my jeans hanging in a row next to the few button-down shirts that have made their way to Gabby’s house. Making another move, I see three pairs of my shoes and boots neatly aligned next to a row of Gabby’s high heel shoes. And I can’t take my eyes off of our shoes, sitting next to one another and what they represent. Turning one more time, I start to open drawers of one of the built-in dressers and in the top two, I find my socks and boxers. For fear of sounding like a chick but not really giving a shit, it feels fucking great seeing my stuff next to Gabby’s, but knowing she put it there feels even better.
I turn one more time and make my way back to the kitchen before changing my clothes. She’s doing something with her salad, so I turn her and pull her up to me immediately, kissing her long and hard. Surprised at first, she finally gets into it, her hands are in my hair and she’s up on her toes pressing into me as hard as she can.
Finally coming up for air, I look into her clear blue eyes. “Thank you, sugar. Thank you for trusting me, I’ll take care of that. I promise you.”
She’s surprised and a bit out of breath. “I know you will.”
I kiss her again quickly, but reluctantly let her go. I head back to Gabby’s closet with my stuff put away where it’s meant to be.
Chapter Fourteen
Territorial
It’s been a long day. I was up early to get to The Stables that will host the fund-raising event for the Children’s Home this year.
They aren’t real stables anymore, they’ve been turned into an event venue that people can rent and have been donated for the charity gig tonight. It’s a beautiful setting, a long building that look like stables would have looked a hundred years ago. The venue is set on a hill overlooking a large, winding lake surrounded with willowy trees and a dock that walks out deep into the picturesque setting. Between the stables and lake, the terrain flattens out nicely with a square shaped gazebo open on all sides with deck flooring. It’s the perfect place for weddings, buffets or in our case, it will house the band. A dance floor has been laid in front of the gazebo with thirty round tables spotting the landscape. Down by the lake, there are huge fire pits with old tree stumps and bales of hay with thick blankets on them for seating. One side of the stable has three large old fashion sliding barn doors and they are all open for our event and will house the BBQ buffet, bar and silent auction items and I’ve decorated it all.
I roped my aunts and some cousins into helping me, but it still took a long time. Thank goodness I’m only the decorations committee and not the cleanup committee. It’s late afternoon and I’m just pulling into my garage, past Jude’s truck that is parked in his now normal spot on my driveway along with Tony’s Harley. Smiling to myself, I think about the past few days.
Crazy with Jude was pretty damn good, but normal with Jude has been amazing. I’m back to work trying to catch up on projects, finishing up a powder room for a client that has been ever so patient with my leave of absence. I’m also starting a master bedroom that needs to be done before their Christmas Party the first week of December. Not to mention, a few of my clients have hired me to decorate their houses for Christmas, so busy is an understatement.
Since my insurance came through for me in a big way and I was able to repaint my entire basement, I’ve decided my basement guest room needed a mini makeover, too. My days zip by, but I still get regular phone calls and texts from Jude, checking in, saying hi, or to make plans for our evening. Thursday we even had time to meet for a quick lunch and last night he grilled steaks that he picked up from the store on the way home, apparently needing some meat. Most importantly, my days begin and end with Jude, mostly in delicious ways.