Rason & Eliza - Cee Bowerman Page 0,56

ass on his own porch for no less than six hours a day.”

“That’s funny. My mom says the store is doing well. I don’t know whether to be proud of myself that it works like a well-oiled machine or be sad that it’s not falling to pieces without my constant presence. And Janis rolled over. Hank’s picking out colleges because she’s so advanced for her age. He’s thinking Harvard Law.”

I laughed softly, and Eliza moved her hands to the middle of my chest and propped her chin on them.

“How’s everything going with your house?”

“Well, the cleanup crew took everything out. They were able to salvage most of my clothes. Nothing in the kitchen could be saved. I asked them about the vines and they thought I was crazy. Said there weren’t any plants in the house.”

“And your landlord?”

“Well, he’s not really sure he wants me to move back in and I guess I don’t blame him. The insurance is still giving me shit about paying for my Jeep because it was from a bomb. They’re saying it’s up to Robin to pay for it. Detective Lake referred me to a lawyer and when I called, he laughed so hard he couldn’t speak for a few minutes. When he recovered, he told me he’d love to take my case and then got started that same day. Insurance guy called me freaking out because I’d gotten legal representation and wanted to talk about a settlement. I told him to call my lawyer and hung up on his ass.”

“What about your renters’ insurance?”

“Well, they didn’t have a single problem paying out. I wish they’d call my auto guy and teach him how not to be a tightwad dick. I’ve got a nice chunk of change in the bank now and if the lawyer gets me anything for my Jeep, I’ll add to it and have enough for a sizable down payment on a place of my own.”

“I already own a house,” Eliza mumbled. “Why don’t you move in with me?”

“Really?”

“Well, yeah,” Eliza nodded. “I love my house. It’s old enough to have great quirks, but it has all of the new stuff too. The inset shelves in the hallway, the hidden cabinet where the ironing board used to fold out of the wall - quirky stuff like that. But it’s also got a new roof, double hung windows, and a central air conditioner that keeps it frosty enough to see my breath sometimes, I swear."

“All of that’s great, but are you sure you’re ready for me to move in? Are we ready for that?”

“I’m ready,” Eliza affirmed.

I didn’t even have to think about it before I gave her my answer. “I’m ready too.”

I lifted my head up and Eliza touched her mouth to mine in a soft kiss. It quickly turned passionate and I gripped her waist as I started to turn over so that she was under me. I forgot that we were on such a small bed, and I slid off onto the floor, pulling her down with me. When my body hit, there was a loud thud that seemed to echo through the house. Eliza landed on me and I grunted at the same time that she squealed loudly.

“Again? Jesus!” I heard Jace yell from the room down the hall.

With lots of laughter between kisses, I made love to my woman right there on the floor. And when we were both sated, I held her close to my side as we fell asleep together. This is what I wanted to do every night for the rest of my life.

◆◆◆

“I don’t want to leave you,” Eliza whispered against my neck. “I wish you guys would let me stay.”

“Now, baby, we’ve talked about this. Reba’s coming back and there’s as big of a target on her back as there is on mine. Maybe even bigger.”

“I know,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “It just sucks.”

“Hey, maybe we can do this again in a few weeks. If it’s not all over, I can see if Mace will stay for the weekend and I’ll get Jace to sneak me out to a hotel somewhere. We can have some more time together where no one knows us. Swim in the pool, hang out in the sunshine, have sex all over the hotel room.”

“That sounds heavenly.” Eliza leaned her head back and smiled at me. “Everything’s good when I’m with you.”

“Same.”

“He’s waiting for me.”

“Bye, sweetheart. Call me when you’re home safe, okay?”

“I will.” Eliza tiptoed