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The meeting ends and I leave the office. It was weird being out in the city with nothing to do. Heather has work, and I don’t want to bug her. I wander the streets and find myself in front of a daycare that looks rough around the edges. I watch the children play on the old slides and ancient play equipment. How hard it would be to leave your kids at this place. I don’t have kids, but a few of my work colleagues do, and they talk about daycares and how to get into the best ones. This isn’t one of the best.
A woman who looked exhausted rushes in. Her purse catches on the door and the strap on her bag breaks. My heart squeezes as I watch her pick up the dropped items. I step forward and pick up her lipstick.
She jumps then gives a visible shake. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She rushes in looking even more frazzled than before. How can I help? There are so many people in this city. I head home with a lot on my mind as I begin looking at charities in the area that help mothers. I dig through sites, searching for information and come to the conclusion there were already some great charities. I wanted to help. Maybe I was being too arrogant. I can’t even solve my own issues. How can I solve someone else’s?
I head to the store and pick up food I’m cooking tonight. When I offered to cook, Heather lifted her brows and shook her head. Now, I need to prove I’m good enough to cook her a meal. I wasn’t a total slouch in the kitchen either. Since my dad hadn’t been paying me well, I’d learned to cut corners and make food at home.
She’ll be at my place at six. I chop vegetables, mix sauces, season them until it tastes just right. At six, she knocks on my door just as I’m pulling the chicken lasagna out of the oven.
She groans as she steps in. “That smells wonderful.”
“Thank you. It’s not too unhealthy. It’s actually rather good.”
“I’m so hungry.”
I pull her close and slide my lips over hers. She feels good in my arms. Every day I’d spent working late, burning the midnight oil, trying to prove I was good enough to run the company had amounted to nothing compared to holding Heather in my arms. I sigh and she pulls away, her eyes narrowing.
“Why the heavy sigh?”
“I wasted so much time.”
“No, we found each other at the right time. If we’d stayed together, I never would have traveled to those other places and found my inspiration.”
I nod, hoping she wants me in her life as much as I want her in mine. “Let’s eat and talk.”
The food is good, the company better. Heather likes my take on lasagna. After we finish, we sit on my couch, her head on my shoulder as we watch the cars below. It’s quiet and romantic. When I do turn to kiss her, it isn’t sweet like I’d planned. Lust takes over and I press her back, sinking into her as I make love to her like she deserves. I make sure she comes first, and I’m rewarded with her crying out my name.
After we’re finished, arms around each other, legs twisted together, I know she’s the one for me. She’d always been the one for me.
“I want you to think of something,” I say, praying I don’t scare her away.
She glances up, her eyes bright with something that looks a little like love. “Yes.”
“We should be living together.”
She sits up and turns to face me. “Why?”
“I want you to move in. I—I’ve always been a little in love with you. Now, that love is growing. I don’t want to see you every once in a while, I want to be a part of your life.”
She glances around and her lips twist. “My apartment has a room for my clothes. What you saw in my bedroom, was just a small sampling of what I have. This place is too small.”
“How about we work toward figuring it out.”
She nods slowly as a smile graces her lips. “I need you to date me for a while.”
I like her idea. Dating Heather sounds wonderful. “Good. Tomorrow I’ll take you to a nice little restaurant on the west side I know about.”
“Then I can take you to a Greek place I love.”
“We’ll date our way around New York.”
She giggles and then throws back her head and laughs. “I love it.” She cups my cheeks and pulls me in for a quick kiss. “I’m exhausted. Are you ready for bed?”
“Sure. I need to check my email first, then I’ll be right in.”
