Page 48 of Everything I Desire

“Okay, I’m sorry.” I loop an arm around her shoulder, pulling her in to hug her goodbye, and wave as she goes in the house.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

Addy: Let her go. She will be fine. No hovering.

She knows me too well.

Me:On the way home. I didn't hover too bad.

Addy:Better hurry, there might be a surprise for you waiting. >

Throwing the truck in drive, I take off and make it home in record time.

She meets me at the door before I can knock, in only a matching bra and panty set, this time in a dark forest green color that makes her long blonde hair look even more golden.

A grin spreads across my face as I cover her body with mine and push her inside before someone else gets the chance to see her. She lets out a squeak when I scoop her up and run up the stairs.

I guess we’re going to be a little late for dinner.

Mrs. Harper is one of the top five cooks I've encountered in my life. I can see where Addy gets her cooking skills from. Although no one will ever take Maria and Tony's spot as number one.

In all the time we were together in high school, I had never been invited into the house for dinner. Or at all. Mr. Harper was dead set on making my relationship with Addy as difficult as it could be before forbidding it.

“What has you thinking so hard with that dish?” Lorelei asks me, waiting for me to hand her the dirty dishes.

I shake my head of the thoughts, and hand them to her. “Just thinking about way back when Addy and I started dating. And the, uh, issues.”

“Porter. We’ve talked about this. My husband would be proud of the man you have become, no doubt.” She places a soapy hand on my forearm.

“I’m slowly accepting that things aren’t as I always thought. But I was just remembering being with Addy before and how difficult it was. I don’t want being with me to make her life harder in any way.” I shrug, taking a towel off the counter to dry the dishes.

“Absolutely not.” She throws the sponge down in the sink, “You stop it right now.” She points a finger at my chest.

“You make my girl beam with happiness. Always have. She would take any hardship with grace as she always has. Not having you in her life is the only hardship she couldn’t face again. So you stop worrying and keep being the man you are for my girl.”

Before I can respond she turns back to the sink, picking up the sponge again and handing me a dish to dry. Ending the conversation and making my chore clear. I continue to stare at her back, trying to find the words I need.

Colton and Preston come into the kitchen carrying more dishes.

Preston looks at me and raises his eyebrow toward Colton. “Hmm. Looks like someone just got the Lorelei Harper lecture.”

Colton laughs at his brother’s accurate observation.

“Oh you two hush.” Lorelei swats them with the sponge in her hand.

“You could say that. I guess I needed it.” I laugh with them. It feels good to be a part of this.

“Yea we usually do.” Colton slaps me on the shoulder. “What did you do this time?”

“He thinks he isn’t a good enough man for Adelaide.” Lorelei interjects. “After I already told him he was good enough once before, so he's just plain not listening to me.”

She levels me with a stare, “I thought we had an understanding.”

“Oh boy. Not listening will for sure get you into trouble. You better mind Mama H.” Preston laughs, putting dishes away without being told.

I’m in awe of the ease in the kitchen. Me, Preston, and Colton all seem to have been in this same spot at some point.

“I didn’t listen to Scarlett. I blamed her for wanting to move back to Boston, then ignored her. The lecture I got when I told Lorelei I was going to propose to fix things was an epic one.” Preston tells the story as we finish our chores. Lorelei leaves us in the kitchen to go sit with her daughters and grandson.

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