Page 3 of Sexual Healing

It looked like he’d been busy. Not only had he renovated the basement by adding three additional rooms and another bathroom – this one even larger than the one he already had there – but also a games room that led out on a lower deck. He’d made the doors he’d wanted her to see himself, and they matched the baseboards. She thought they were a perfect combination. He had replaced the only window with a larger one that offered a better view of the lake.

“Everything looks good, Reese,” she said, truly meaning it. After Jocelyn had decided to marry and move away, she and her sister sold what had been their father’s construction company. That gave Reese, who had worked as her father’s foreman for years, the chance to use the money he’d been left in Jim Mason’s will to open his own business.

The things Reese could do with a block of wood were legendary, and her father had always thought he was wasting his time building houses instead of making furniture. She had always agreed with him. And by using the money her father hadleft him in this way to start his business, it seemed as if Reese agreed.

When the construction company was sold, Leah had made a hefty sum from the sale. She and Reese had purchased a piece of real estate that was perfect for both of their needs. The land offered her the space she needed to open her restaurant, yet it was comforting to know Reese would be working in the building right next door. They were officially a couple again and did practically everything together—except live in the same place. He lived in this house, and she was staying at what had been her parents’ home.

Reese usually arrived at the warehouse an hour or so earlier before she opened her restaurant each morning. She looked forward to him being her first customer every day before she officially opened the doors.

“I have something else to show you,” he said, leading her from one room to another.

“What?”

Instead of saying anything, he led her into what had been an empty room. Tonight, however, it was filled with beautiful bedroom furniture that she knew he had built. And it was too massive and beautiful to be stuck in a bedroom in his basement. “It’s beautiful, Reese,” she said of the bedroom furniture–a king-size bed, dresser, and nightstand. It had been made of the finest oak wood, and the intricate carvings nearly took her breath away. It was so gorgeous.

She turned to him. “You built this furniture for someone?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

He met her gaze. “Us. I believe in my heart that we will share this bed one day, Leah.”

Tears she couldn’t hold back flowed down her cheeks. “I really want to believe that as well, Reese.”

“Are you sure you’re alright, Leah?”

She heard the concern in her sister’s voice. “I’m fine, Jocelyn. Honest,”

Although her sister had moved to Charlotte, they talked a few times a week. She was happy for Jocelyn, who had found the man of her dreams and happily married Sebastian, one of the infamous Steele brothers.

As was Leah’s usual routine, she had stuck her head in Reese’s warehouse to say good morning and let him know she’d arrived, before going next door to her café.

And while she was now sitting comfortably with a coffee, talking to her sister, it was getting a little ‘uncomfortable’. “I told you not to worry about me, Jocelyn. Your focus should be on that gorgeous man you married and his large family you’re getting to know.”

Since it had only been her and Jocelyn while growing up, she considered anyone with more than three siblings to have a large family. That was why she’d always wanted to have at least three kids—hopefully four.

Sebastian had three brothers – Chance, Morgan, and Donovan. He also had three female cousins – Vanessa, Taylor, and Cheyenne − who were like younger sisters. Leah met everyone at Jocelyn and Sebastian’s wedding. They were very friendly and didn’t hesitate to welcome Jocelyn to the Steele family. It was pretty much like the Singletons had initially donefor her when Reese had brought her home to meet his family and introduced her as his girl.

“I’m just checking in, although I know I don’t have to worry. I’m sure Reese is taking good care of you.”

Leah smiled. “Yes, he is. He’s so patient with me, Jocelyn.”

“Because he understands what you went through.”

“Yes, but I still haven’t been able to let him do more than kiss me. I try, but… I know Reese, and I can recognize the need in his eyes. A part of me feels like I’m failing him.”

“It takes time, Leah, and Reese knows that.”

Deciding to change the subject, she asked Jocelyn about something she had mentioned when they’d spoken last week. “Have you run into Sebestian’s ex-fiancée?”

“No, and if she does take it upon herself to confront me, the way she’s telling people, I hope she’s prepared for my comeback.”

Leah hoped so as well. Bas had ended his engagement with a woman named Cassandra before he met Jocelyn. However, that didn’t stop the woman from being a sore loser when he married Jocelyn a year later. Word had gotten back to a couple of the female members of the Steele family that Cassandra was going around saying she planned to get Sebastian back, and she couldn’t wait to meet Jocelyn to let her know it to her face. Obviously, the woman didn’t know who she was messing with. Jocelyn wasn’t someone anyone would want to tangle with. Neither was Leah. The Mason sisters were pros when it came to standing up for themselves. Leah had always been a fighter. She closed her eyes, remembering. That night with Neil, she had put up a good fight… But in the end, he had been too strong.

“Leah?”

Startled, she opened her eyes. “Yes, Jocelyn?”

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