Page 44 of Half Blind

“Wow,” he said, not knowing what to add after that.

“My turn, riddle me this,” Helen said. “Do I get a honeymoon or a vacation? I mean a real one? Oregon was the furthest West I've been in the U.S. I want to lounge on a white sandy beach, hell a black sandy beach, near a resort with tiny little umbrellas in my drink. Can I have that?”

“Of course. Do you want more, jewels, furs, expensive handbags?”

“If I do, I'll buy my own,” she said, winking at him. “However, if you want to give those things to me, and I don't need to accept three contracts to get us a little place in the Poconos, then have at it, but that stuff isn't important to me. I like things that are central to who I am. Those kinds of gifts mean you know who I am a person. A purse is nice, but it’s a purse. A concealed carry purse would be cool, but honestly, designer handbags are to impress other women and your friends. I don’t have many of those and the friends I am making, don’t give a shit about a named brand purse unless it’s carrying an arsenal.”

“Yep, bat shit crazy, and I'm here for it,” Mustang said, pulling her into an embrace. She was becoming more comfortable with him reaching for her, and he was becoming more comfortable waking up next to the woman called Cranberry. The lady was finding her way and her voice, and he would give her the space. When she was ready, she'd let him know.

Chapter 14- Fascination

Sunday morning, Mustangwas awake, lying next to Helen and feeling better than he had in years. A calmness washed over him as he watched her sleeping. This was his woman. She would be his wife. He took his finger and gently stroked the side of her face, a lovely face that was perfect without makeup, eyes that observed everything, and lips which didn't spew poison.

“I'm going to make you my wife,” he whispered.

“So, you've told me,” Helen replied, her eyes still closed.

“Funny, I've mentioned it several times, but you've never asked me when or suggested a timeline,” he said.

“Neither have you, my fine stallion. Any reason why you haven't, if I may ask?” she said, fully opening her eyes to look at him.

On the nightstand, she had left a few breath mints for early morning encounters. She popped one in now before turning back to speak with Mustang. Her eyes met his as she waited for the nonsense to roll off his tongue. This was what she was waiting for, the letdown and him wanting her to be something she was not while servicing his needs. Helen blinked a couple of times, girding herself for the words which she prayed wouldn't end the beautiful thing they were trying to build.

“We aren't ready,” Mustang said. “You are healing and finding your way. This new direction your life is heading has a steep learning curve. The last thing you need in the middle of all that is happening in your life and in that head of yours is what to make me for dinner. Helen, you sure as hell don't need the constant interruption of your journey with me barging in with my needs and dick and muscles, screaming, ‘Look at me’ while on the path of your success.”

Helen sat up in the bed, looking at him with fresh eyes. “I wasn't expecting you to say that at all.”

“When the time is right for us to become husband and wife, we won't need to discuss it. You'll let me know if you want a church wedding with Bunny and Michelle as flower girls or if you want to do a cheesy thing and jet off to Vegas to get hitched by an Elvis impersonator. I figured, you'll let me know when you are ready,” Mustang said. “Until that time, we’ll work our way through, gently finding our path.”

She smiled at him. “You're trying to make a chick fall in love with you, aren't cha?”

“Dunno, is it working?”

“Yep,” she said, winking at him. “Breakfast or sexy time?”

“Breakfast. I’ve got a lot on my mind since I’m starting a new job tomorrow. New people in a very homogeneous workplace,” he said.

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