I nodded, seeing his vision. “True. And we’ll have pride in it because we’ll make it our own.”
He kissed my cheek. “Exactly. Now, I have one more surprise.”
“More? You bought us a house!”
He grinned wildly. “Something tells me this next surprise is going to be even better.”
I scoffed. “Not possible. Did you see where I’m going to be living? It’s a palace compared to my old tiny apartment, your one room at Ryan’s, or even my old room at Kerrighan House.” I started to hop up and down as the reality set in. My man not only asked me to move in with him, he bought us a freakin’ house to build a life in. I squealed like a little girl.
Jonah smiled so wide I had to wrap my arms around him and kiss him silly.
After I’d shown my man my gratitude, he led me back up the basement stairs, through the house, and out into the yard.
Oddly, he whistled and from around the corner came a bouncing, auburn-colored golden retriever puppy.
Chills raced over the surface of my skin as I kicked off my heels, dashed down the stairs, and fell to my knees in the grass. The adorable puppy jumped all over me.
“Oh my goodness, you are the most beautiful thing in the entire world, yes you are.” I put my face to the dog’s and she licked me like crazy. I snuggled her close and pressed my nose against her soft fur. “Who do you belong to, sweet girl?” I asked the puppy who wiggled all around until I let her go. Then she scampered around my form, jumping at me then running in a circle, then pouncing back. She had the most stunning auburn coat and dark amber eyes.
“She’s ours, sweetheart. Well, our first baby.”
I picked her up and stood barefoot in the grass cuddling the precious angel. “You bought us a dog,” I whispered through the tears. I’d always wanted a dog.
He casually walked down the stairs, put his hand to the fur baby, and pet her. “I knew you wanted one along with a family one day. I love dogs. And I thought it might be good to have something that’s loving but can be protective when trained, which I plan to do as soon as she’s a bit older. Then I’ll feel more comfortable when I have to travel and leave you alone.”
“I love her so much,” I confided, kissing the soft brown of her nose.
“I can tell. So does this mean you’re moving in today?” He grinned.
I nodded. “We don’t have a bed.”
“Which is why Ryan and his buddy should be arriving any time with mine.”
I let my pretty girl down and walked right into Jonah’s chest. He wrapped his arms around me as I hugged him tight, pressing my ear over his heart so I could hear it beating.
“You’ve made me so happy, Jonah. I’m not sure what to do with it all. I feel like it’s going to explode out of me, and I’ll be a pile of goo on the ground.”
He chuckled and cupped the back of my head until I lifted my chin and our gazes met. Blue eyes to a dark espresso brown I planned to live my entire life looking into and loving for the rest of my days.
“After everything we’ve been through, Simone, after Tabby, and Helen, we deserve this. We deserve to carve out some happy for ourselves without feeling guilty.”
My bottom lip trembled as the emotions soared through my form. “I want to believe that. I really do. It’s just so hard after such loss.”
He nodded and cupped my cheek. “That’s why we need to live every single day to the fullest. Starting with making this house our home. Naming our fur baby.”
I chuckled and looked at the gorgeous girl pawing at Jonah’s pant leg. “What about Amber?”
He ducked down and scooped up the dog. He pointed her body so her muzzle was facing him. “How’s about Amber? Do you like that name?”
The dog licked his face. Then again, she probably would have done that anyway.
“She likes it. Amber it is.”
I smiled and petted our dog. “Welcome home, Amber. We’re your parents and we’re going to give you so much love and tons of treats!” I promised and snuggled her soft neck. She licked my cheek.
“Hey, yo! Can someone open up the door! We got a giant bed out here!” We heard Ryan calling from the side of the house.
I laughed and dashed up the steps, jetted through my gorgeous house, and opened the front door.
Shockingly, it wasn’t just Ryan at the door. It was our entire family. His parents and brother. My mother and sisters all holding boxes. A small moving truck was parked behind Jonah’s car.
“Wh-what are you guys all doing here?”
Blessing nudged her way through holding a box with my name on it. “Moving our sister into her new home, of course.”
I clasped both of my cheeks and spun around. “Did you do this too?”
He held up our pretty girl. “Mama is happy, Amber.”
“Aw, you named her Amber.” Charlie cooed at my dog as she set down a box in the open space and reached for the dog. “Look, your auntie is a redhead too.”
I went over to Jonah smiling with stupid girly happy tears in my eyes. I held up my hands in the air. “I’m so happy!”
He tugged me into his arms and laid a hot and heavy one on me.
Later that night, after all of the boxes were moved in, we ordered pizza and beer for everyone. We still had to unpack what we had and go out and buy furniture but we were in our own bed, Amber curled in a cute little dog bed on Jonah’s side so he could take her out regularly to potty train.
Jonah and I had just made love for the first time in our house.
He twiddled my fingers over the bare thigh that I had slung across his naked form. My head was to his warm chest and I was listening to his heartbeat.
“You like our home, baby?” he asked.
I grinned against his chest then kissed him there. “Love is the word I’d use. I can see us being blissfully happy here.”
He hummed happily but kept playing with my fingers. “And that marriage idea…how’s that percolating in your mind?”
“Honestly, planning a wedding is not something I’ve ever had a desire to do. Though I’d marry you if it was something super small.”
“I had the big shindig traditional thing with Helen. I wouldn’t want that either. Plus, we now have a decent mortgage and a basement to renovate,” he added thoughtfully.
“This is true. I think that will be fun though. We can take our time, do it how we want.”
“What about a destination wedding?” he hinted.
“Like Vegas?” I scrunched my nose. I’d spent a lot of time working in bars and smoky spaces over the years. Plus, I was not the type to gamble away my hard-earned dollars.
He groaned. “Not my scene. I was thinking more along the lines of Hawaii.”
“I’ve never been to Hawaii,” I breathed, awe in my tone.
“You in a sundress, me in a linen shirt and khakis. The beach, flowers in your hair, the sun at our backs. Nothing but you and me and a man of the cloth.”
I traced my fingers down his chest. “Sounds beautiful but I think my sisters, mother, and your parents would be pretty disappointed if they didn’t get to participate. I have another idea?”
“Yeah?” he murmured, sounding tired.
“What about here? We have a small service and reception in the backyard. Then Hawaii for the honeymoon.”