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He held my hand as we joined the group in the kitchen. Wes and his father were now there, along with Marisol.
“Mom, Dad, got a question to ask you.” They turned to study us with the rest of the group. “In light of the proposition that Roxy just received, we were wondering if she could stay here, or more like come back after I take her home first, and then stay here until she can find a place to live. They want her to start next weekend, but that’s not a lot of time to deal with everything back home and find a place here.”
His mother didn’t even bat an eye. “Of course, she can stay here. We would be happy to have her, and then while she is getting situated, she can give me advice on what needs to be done with the Valentine’s party.”
“That’s a great idea,” Charlotte added to the conversation.
“You really don’t mind? I don’t want to impose on you.”
His father was walking toward us and paused beside me. “Helping one of the family is never an imposition, my dear.”
And with that, my eyes grew all teary, and Lee pulled me to his side. I sat down while he returned to cooking and told them all that I knew. Before we knew it, the rest of the family was in the kitchen, and my new job was the news of the day. My heart filled to almost bursting as everyone said they were thrilled for me, and his mother asked if there was anything that she could do to help with getting moved into Lee’s room.
I thought about that for a moment before telling her no, everything was perfect, and I could take care of what needed to be done. These people, this family, had already given me more than I could ever have expected. I was beyond thankful for all of it. From being accepted into their home, to the friendships I was cultivating. As we sat around the table, laughing and joking about subjects near and far, I found myself almost overwhelmed by it all. Lee must have known, as he took my hand and squeezed it over the table.
By the time we got the kitchen cleaned up, Lee and I had decided to head back early. Now that there was a plan in motion, I had a lot to get done, and he wanted to help while he could. On Thursday, we would come back, and I’d get situated here before he had to return to Plattsville to work over the weekend.
The ride home was filled with excited chatter, and we’d barely gotten into my townhouse when I was pulling Lee up the stairs to my room.
“Are you sure?” he asked as he took my hands and faced me. “I know you have a lot to do.”
“I do have a lot to get done, but it can wait. Right now, I just want it to be you and me.”
He wrapped his arms tightly around me, bringing me to his lips, and we started walking backward to my bed. As he laid me down, he paused and stood back up, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing his wallet.
“Just to be safe,” he said as he pulled out a condom and set it on the nightstand.
“Do you have more than that in there?”
“No, just the one.”
“Well, then, I guess you better hit the drugstore later. I have a feeling you’re going to need more than that this week.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Henley
Things were moving fast. Not just between Roxy and me, but with everything. After we spent an hour in bed, I helped her start making a plan of what she would need to bring with her right away. I even dug out her suitcases so she could start packing. We snuggled on the couch after we’d grabbed takeout from the local Chinese place for a late lunch and early dinner, and I’d made sure to stop by the drugstore and stock up on contraceptives.
I was just wondering if I should say goodbye and let her get a good night’s rest when she turned to me and asked, “Will you stay the night? I’ll only be in town for a few more days. I’d like to spend as much time with you as I can before I go.”
Like I was going to say no. Ha! I carried her up the stairs and laid her on her bed, ready to worship her body for the second time that day when someone began to bang on the door downstairs. She dropped her head back to her pillow, slamming her fists into the mattress in a little temper tantrum. “Ugh!”
“Let me guess, it’s Roman?”
“Yeah, probably,” she muttered as she shifted off the bed. “Stay up here; let me get rid of him.”
“Would you rather I leave?”
“No!” She spun back around, putting her hand to my chest. “I’d prefer him not to be here and for you and me to be naked again.”
I kissed her once and winked. “Then go get rid of your brother.”
“On it!” she called as she limped out of the room. I took a seat on the side of the bed and waited for her. As much as I would like to get naked and be waiting for her, I wasn’t keen on doing that while her brother was in the house.
I heard voices, and for a moment, they were calm, but then his voice raised. “Don’t tell me that dog is still here? Doesn’t he have a home to go to?”
“Roman, lower your voice.” I heard her hiss, and I got to my feet and approached the door. “Of course he does. He has been helping me all afternoon.”
