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I give her a little ‘hey’ with a jut of my chin and notice her eyes dart down, avoiding my gaze.
It’s only then that I realize with a smile, and trying not to laugh that I’m standing fully naked in the dorm bathroom.
Not even caring who sees me now.
Knowing who I belong to. Who’s gonna be waiting for me and just what he has in store for me when I get there.
Even though I know Michael wouldn’t be impressed that anyone, even another girl saw me naked. But something inside lets me know that from now on, he’s the only one who will ever see me like this.
Lesson two learned. How to hold my head high, not giving a fuck, and enjoy pampering myself, ready for my man.
Chapter Fourteen
Michael
Leaving Sheree behind isn’t my idea of fun, but a surprise house in the country won’t be a surprise if she knows about it before I’ve even secured it.
I manage to catch the agent on the phone before he leaves the office for the day, announcing I’m interested in the place.
“Great, Professor? I can meet you out there at say… Nine o’clock Monday morning if you’d like to—”
I hear myself growling, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white.
“I said… I want to buy the place,” I tell him, trying to keep calm but my impatience is showing through. “I was thinking I could take a look around there now,” I add, also telling him I’m heading out that way right this minute because I am.
I dunno what I was thinking, but I thought if I just called, said I wanted it, and then arranged payment and I’d have a house.
It’s been a while…
I can hear the agent sucking air through his teeth.
“Well, there is another couple who is interested, and they’ll be out there having a poke around today. I lent them the key,” he explains.
You what! You gave them the key to my fucking house.
“Ah, okay. I see then,” I remark dryly, internally combusting with rage.
“Whatever they’re offering, I’ll pay an extra 15 percent,'' I blurt out. “That’ll fatten your commission, won’t it?” I add with a broad grin.
The agent sounds shocked, but he’s also not an idiot. Not a complete idiot anyway.
Talk is cheap, and I’m sure he’s heard it all before. But I actually have the money to put my mouth wherever I want.
“I’ll make a note of your offer, Mr. Errr… Professor Grayson. Feel free to pop by the old place, the Stevenson’s are the couple’s name. Nice people and they should be there around the time you arrive if you’re on your way.”
I feel my foot weigh down on the gas as soon as I’m out of town. The country road opening long ahead in front of me rather than wider.
If anything, it seems to get thinner as I go.
The snow’s falling heavier and by the time I’m almost at the country house, I get stuck behind a truck driving the local snowplow clearing the roads.
It’s really coming down out here, and not even an hour out of town.
I wait until I can pass the plow, taking the private road leading up to the house.
I don’t see any other tire tracks in the snow, and figure, hope like hell that the Stevenson’s got cold feet on account of more than just the snow.
My car slips a little on the icy road, but I’ve driven in worse. I had a contract in Alaska for a few years, that’s snow and ice. This is just postcard stuff.
Crunching to an icy halt by the clichéd red barn nearest the house, I get out to take a look.
Before I even clear the windows to peer in, I know this is it.
I’m home.
I almost wish I had brought Sheree up to see the place now, but I reason it would be too cold to claim her here.
I can’t get inside without breaking the lock and then I’d have to get a fire going…
No.
I’ve seen enough to know this is our home. Our future. Looking around, all I see is a wholesome, open space waiting to be filled with our kids. Lots of kids.
Kids and animals, running around in the open fresh air. Doing what kids should these days, playing. Exploring, and not worrying about a thing.
Not having their faces buried in some damned phone or computer game either.
I always did the best I could with Zoe, making sure she’s always had what she wanted and needed. But fortunately for me, she’s always been the kind to be outdoors and live life like an adventure.
Not cooped up inside, her nose in a book like I’ve been most of the time the past twenty years.
Pacing the property, and noticing there’s been nobody else up here, not for a long time, I call the agent.
