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“Now we go down to the basement and fuck on the washing machine.”

I laughed. “That’s a pretty specific answer.”

“It’s all I’ve been able to think about for weeks, baby.”

“Why the basement?”

“Because that’s where I fell in love with you. Probably the first time you came down, and I was already there. I knew damn well I should’ve left. But I couldn’t. You were impossible to walk away from. I came down every day and washed my already clean clothes, just hoping I’d catch you again.”

I touched his cheek. “You really think we can figure this out?”

“I sure as hell hope so. Otherwise, I’m going to get my ass kicked.”

“By me?”

“No. By Calder. The last thing he said when he told me to go get my girl was, ‘if you fuck it up, I’m going to beat the shit out of you.’”

CHAPTER 42

Three weeks later, Rafe and I were packing up the brownstone—not just our apartment, but Rosie’s, too. Her cast was off now, and she was up and around, though hobbling a bit since she still had to wear an ankle brace.

The doorbell rang just as I piled another box on top of the last one. Rosie started to get up, but I held out a hand. “I’ll get it. It’s probably the couple coming to look at Rafe’s apartment.”

Rafe and I had decided to go out to Vegas. He’d accepted a six-month run doing multiple shows a week at local galleries. Between the art sales and the fee the show producer was paying him, I wouldn’t have to get a job right away. That worked out perfectly because it gave me the time I needed to finally write the book I’d always dreamed of writing.

I’d given notice to my boss last week, and she’d asked if she could have first crack at my manuscript whenever it was done. So not only did I have my man, but I had the chance to do something I’d wanted to do for years.

Rafe’s aunt Rosie had come with us to Vegas two weeks ago to check out the city some more. She’d not only fallen in love with the weather on her first visit, but she’d also met a nice gentleman named Theodore, and the two of them had been keeping in touch. She hadn’t committed to moving there permanently yet, but she was coming with us for at least a few months. Everything seemed to be falling into place in a way I could never have imagined.

As I headed to the front door, I looked over at Rosie. She was smiling as she texted away on her phone. She’d been doing that a lot since meeting Theodore. Seemed I wasn’t the only one smitten these days.

I was expecting a couple when I opened the door, but three people stood on the stoop—two women and a man.

“Hi. Are you Talia?” one of the women asked.

I smiled. “I am. You must be Amber?”

She nodded and extended a hand. “And this is my fiancé, Marcus. I hope you don’t mind, but we brought a friend along. You mentioned there were two apartments available when we spoke?”

“Yes, the third floor is already vacant. And the second-floor apartment will be empty in a few days.”

“Great.” Amber smiled. “This is Therese. Would it be okay if she checks out the third floor? When she and I met this morning for our usual Saturday exercise class, she told me her landlord had just sold the building. She has to move by next month, and I thought maybe it was fate that you had two apartments available. Then I’d get to live with my best friend and my fiancé.”

I smiled as I stepped back. “Sure. No problem. I’m happy to show you both.”

They followed me inside, and I led them toward the stairs. “Why don’t we start with the third floor, since it’s empty.”

Amber looked around at the boxes stacked in the entryway as we climbed. “This place is beautiful. Is someone moving out of the ground floor, too?”

“No, that’s the owner’s apartment, Rosie. She’s coming with us to Vegas for a few months, though. So if you do wind up taking both the second and third floors, it will be like having the entire brownstone to yourselves for a while.”

When we reached the top floor, I unlocked the door and pushed it open. For a second, I forgot the people behind me. My heart squeezed when I stepped into Calder’s empty apartment. No couch under the window in the living room. No coffee mug sitting next to the Keurig. No running shoes lined up neatly next to the door. The silence of it all hit harder than I’d expected.

I was going to miss having Calder in my life. Not the same way I would miss Rafe if he hadn’t come back for me, but Calder would always have a special place in my heart. What was the old saying? People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Calder had a permanent place with me for so many reasons.

“Talia?” Amber asked quietly.

I blinked and turned to them. “Sorry. I was thinking about the last tenant. It’s weird to see the apartment empty. He was…a friend.”