I shut the truck off and hurry to her truck so that I can open her door for her.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Madden.” I reach for her waist and lift her to the ground.
“You know I can climb out of a truck on my own,” she reminds me.
“But then I wouldn’t have an excuse to put my hands on you,” I smile down at her as I flex my fingers against her hips.
Bliss winks at me. “Don’t you know that’s one of the best things about being married? You don’t need an excuse to touch me.”
“Now that is a great benefit.” I lean down and kiss her slowly. Bliss kisses me back and I never want this to end. But then I remember the little project I had Charlie handle for me. Hopefully, she was able to get it done in time.
Pulling back from Bliss, I grasp her hand and start pulling her toward the house. She follows behind with a breathless laugh.
“I have something to show you,” I tell Bliss as she steps onto the porch.
She turns to look at me, a serious glint in her eye. “Just so we’re clear, if we’re going to do this, there’s going to be nothing between us. It’s going to be a real marriage, where we have a relationship and look out for each other.”
“Agreed.”
She opens her mouth to say something else, but then snaps it closed again. “You agree?”
“Of course, I agree. It’s past time that we give it our all. No more holding back. No more walls.”
Bliss smiles brightly at me. “Yes. Exactly. Thank you.”
I take her hand and lead her into the house and down the hallway toward the bedrooms.
I stop in front of her door. “You said you wanted to get cleaned up.”
The bright look falls from her eyes, and she looks embarrassed. “Oh, yes, of course. I don’t like the hotel feeling.”
She opens the door and steps inside, keeping her eyes on me the whole time as I walk to my bedroom door.
I step through the door and close it softly. Then I wait.
She takes only a moment to turn around.
Bliss yelps and slaps a hand against her chest. “The—the wall!” she stutters.
I grin as her eyes meet mine.
“The wall is gone!” she exclaims. She glances around the room. “My bed is gone.”
“No, our bed is right here,” I say as I gesture to my king-size bed with the newly added canopy.
Magnolia texted me and told me it had a nice, feminine touch and that Bliss would like it.
“You took out the wall!” Bliss is still stunned, but now she’s laughing about it.
“You said you wanted nothing between us anymore.” I take a step toward her.
She smiles up at me and steps closer. “Well, Mr. Madden, I’m happy to say, I’ll gladly share a room with you.”
“Mrs. Madden, I’ve been waiting a long time to hear you say those words. I love you.”
“I love you more.” She grins in challenge.
I raise an eyebrow at her. “I love you the most.”
