Page 40 of Oz Wisdom

"It did. But I was nervous as hell."

"How do you feel now?"

"So much better. I'm glad I did it."

"That's what matters.”

"I looked at a few apartments."

“Really?"

Taylor noted the surprise in his voice. "Nothing definite yet. Just looking. I've kept you long enough. Have fun and be safe."

"I'll see you in a couple of days,” he promised.

Taylor ended the call. The sound of his voice lingered in her mind, igniting an unusual warm feeling. She placed her phone down and picked up the envelope he had given her when he left. She opened the flap, pulling out the bills. Not that she didn't trust him. No. She found herself trusting him like no one she ever had. This was a very generous gesture. Paper. She placed the small stack on the envelope and flipped open the note.

Her heart swelled as she stared at his handwriting.

I’m very proud of you!

Love, Oz

She stuffed the money back into the envelope and stuck it in a drawer while keeping her gaze on the note. Her hand seemed to move on its own free will as her fingertip trailed over the words. Over his thoughts. His feelings. Proud of you. She smiled. Love, Oz.

Eventually, she placed the piece of paper on the nightstand, spreading it flat with her hand. A quick sidestep to flip off the light switch and another touch to Oz's name, and she climbed into bed.

Chapter 18

The heated air rushed across Oz’s knuckles and into his beard, whipping it against his neck. He rolled his head stretching his neck. He was almost home. A week of rally events and shenanigans topped off with the winding roads and scenery was energizing as always. But he was ready to walk through that door and see Taylor.

Never before had he had anything to come home to. At one time he had considered adopting a pet. But with living alone and being on the road or at the clubhouse so often, he decided it would not be fair to an animal to be left alone. So he lived alone. More and more nights alone as his brothers began families of their own, until boredom set in at times. One night, he pulled a romance book from his shelves. One that had been given to him as a gag gift. He read it. Then another. And another. After that he picked up pen and paper and began writing them. Granted, his books were not the so-called normal sweetheart of a couple stories, but they had become best-sellers.

Even with his success as a writer and the times he spent with his brothers, none of that compared to the feelings that emerged when Taylor was near.

The writing he had kept to himself. Why? He wasn't sure. His growing feelings for Taylor he had also kept to himself. Or so he had thought. During the rally he had learned different. They had sensed it and he caught the normal razzing about it. The corner of his lips lifted. He would take that razzing and more. But what he would not do is intentionally influence her decisions. The past months had been a strain at times guiding her to grow her confidence while keeping a distance. But he knew she must be happy with herself before she could be happy with him or anyone else.

The night she announced that she had been looking at apartments, his heart dropped. He had hoped she would stay where she was. Correction. He wanted her to stay but not where she was. He wanted her in his room. In his bed.

The house came into view. He may learn her decision soon enough.

The lights in the windows called to him like a beacon directing him home as he pulled into the driveway. The kickstand was down and his helmet off in record time as he stood. He ran his hands through his hair and finger combed his beard back into place then unstrapped his bag from the bike.

He jogged the short distance to the side door and swung it open. A mouthwatering aroma met him along with a lively beat drifting in from the living room. He dropped his bag next to the door and eased through the house. There she was.

"You should lock the door when you're here alone."

Taylor whirled toward him with a squeal.

Laughter bubbled up from deep inside as he caught her in his arms. "Miss me?"

The squeeze of her arms and the heat of her body against his felt good. Like coming home. Really coming come. Not like walking into the space where you live after a day's work.

He loosened his hold, and she stepped back. "Sorry.” Taylor laughed. "I may have gotten carried away.”

"I could get used to coming home to that."

Pink filled her cheeks and Oz had to force his gaze from her teeth tugging at her lip. "Something smells wonderful."

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