Built for Love - Ella Goode Page 0,27

on 94th Street, I think I can get to Jimenez’s in about ten minutes.

“No. I’ll get my own food.”

“We don’t have to have tacos. We’ll get whatever you want.”

“I want to go home. Thanks.”

It’s the abrupt thanks that finally breaks through my thick skull that Pepper is really unhappy. “Home it is.” I turn the blinker off. I’ll run her a bath and massage her feet. She’s been working hard this week. I bet she’s tuckered out. She’s got another little body inside her.

“Not your home, mine.”

“Yours?” I’m confused.

“The apartment is done, isn’t it? That’s what we’ve been waiting for. I’d like to go there.” It is. A few units need a few more small things, but anyone who was living there before the units were finished are allowed to move back in.

“To see what it looks like? Sure. Let’s do that.”

“Not just to see what it looks like but—“ She stops herself. “You know what? Yes. I want to see what it looks like today.”

After that baffling exchange, she falls silent. Another thing my internet research revealed was that pregnant ladies can have mood swings which, again, is completely understandable when you’ve got another human inside of you. That’s crazy in my opinion. Biology is a wild motherfucker. I salute her.

We pull up to the newly renovated building. The parking lot is filling up as the workday is coming to an end. The white painted lines look fresh, and the concrete sidewalks don’t have a single crack. The boxwoods and small pines dotting the landscape make the big building look more like an estate home than a collection of apartments. It’s inviting but elegant. My chest puffs up with pride. I’m glad we came so Pepper could see the benefit of her hard work.

I tuck her hand in the crook of my elbow. “The outside landscaping is awesome, babe. You did a great job.”

“I did, didn’t I?”

“Yep. I gotta keep you a secret or firms are going to try to steal you away. Marist has been getting head-hunted for years. Beck’s always on edge she’s going to leave.” I help her up the stairs and hold the door to the building open for her.

“Maybe he should get his head out of his ass and let her know how much he loves her.”

“I think he’s doing that right now.” I punch in the code to override the security. The door pops open and we go through. The antique chandelier that Pepper found at the flea market brightens up the lobby and serves as a perfect accessory to the paneled walnut walls. The interior says stately old school but everything about this place is modern, from the high efficiency appliances to the double-paned windows. Energy costs won’t be very high, and the residents won’t be calling the management company with complaints about noise. “What do you want to check out first? Units 3, 4, and 7 aren’t rented out yet.”

“Mine.”

At the end of the lobby, a new resident comes around the corner. We both frown at him. Pepper steps up. “Hi, um, I’m Pepper.” She holds out her hand. The man smiles because who wouldn’t smile if Pepper was standing in front of them looking like a delectable cupcake? But she’s my dessert and I’m not having anyone touch her—not even her hand—so I slide in front of Pepper.

“And I’m Abel.”

The man looks at my hand and then over my shoulder at Pepper. “Eyes on me, dude.”

“I’m Peter and I live in Apartment 9.”

Pepper pushes me to the side. “Apartment 9? That’s my apartment.”

“Really? It’s quite lovely and there’s room for another per—“

I have my fist up before I know it. Pepper grabs my arm. “Stop, Abel!” she cries.

“Dude. I didn’t know she was your girl.” Apartment 9 raises both hands in surrender. “Sorry. I’ll just be on my way.”

The man steps nimbly by and skates out the front door. Pepper releases me with a sigh.

“Were you really going to punch him? You’re so easygoing and then sometimes you go off the deep end.” She shakes her head.

“I wonder what the common theme is here.” I frown at her. “You’re pregnant now. You can’t be touching other men.”

“You mean men I don’t know.”

“I mean any men.”

She rolls her eyes. “Come on. I want to go see my apartment.”

I pull her back. “Pepper...there is no your apartment. The only non-leased units are upstairs.”

“What do you mean?”

I kiss her shoulder. “I mean, babe, that your home is with me. I guess if you