Page 34 of Ghost

I kissed Luna’s forehead, then led her to the couch. After we sat, I handed her the glass of iced tea and picked up my beer.

“That is stupid. If the situation was reversed, you wouldn’t want Stormy sitting around brooding. And if every time you walk in this room throws you into the mood, we’ll put the stuff back in the box and shove it in the back of a closet.” Luna took a drink of her tea.

“Did you just call me stupid and a brooder?” I asked and tipped the beer bottle up and took a swig.

“If the biker boots fit,” Luna said unashamedly and placed her glass on the coffee table.

“You always could pull me out of a mood. Even when we were kids.”

“Because you were stupid and brooded then, too.”

I chuckled, sat my bottle on the end table, grabbed Luna and pulled her across my lap. Raising my hand, I placed it on the back of head, then ran it down her short blond hair.

“Thank you for setting them out. You didn’t have to do that.” I kissed the top of her head. “This is our home and I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

“Brax, they were your family, your life before us. Stormy was my friend at one time. Would I do anything that made me uncomfortable?”

“No, baby,” I said, pulled her to me until she leaned against me and laid her head on my shoulder. I moved my hand to her back and rubbed.

“And I wouldn’t do any thing to hurt you. But, Brax, you can’t hide from the past, and you don’t want to forget the things from it that you loved. I don’t want you to ever feel you have to hide your feelings from me.” Luna placed her hand over my heart and turned her head and kissed the underside of my chin before settling back in.

I rested my cheek on the top of her head and closed my eyes. When I opened them, the light was fading from the room.

“Did we fall asleep?” Luna stretched in my arms.

“Looks that way. You hungry, baby?” I asked when I heard her stomach growl.

“Maybe a little. Come in the kitchen and let’s see what we can throw together. Thank God, they stocked some basics, but we are going to have to go the grocery sooner rather than later.” Luna got off my lap and we headed to the kitchen.

“We can go tomorrow if you’re up to it. I’ll show you around town, take you around to the club businesses, so you’ll know which ones are ours.” I opened the fridge and pulled out the pack of steaks and set them on the counter. “How about I throw those on the grill?”

“Okay, and I’ll throw a salad together.”

“Salad?” I wrinkled my nose, and Luna laughed.

“Such a guy. Salad is good for you. One cannot live on meat alone. Besides, I saw potato salad in one of the bowls.”

“Well good, ‘cause lettuce and shit should be left to the rabbits. I gotta have meat and potatoes to survive.”

“Can’t have you whittling down to nothing,” Luna said and shook her head. I smacked her ass as she walked around me.

I found a pan and tongs, then unpackaged the steaks and located some seasonings. Luna pulled out the salad makings and a cutting board and knife. We moved around each in the kitchen like we’d done it forever.

When I brought the steaks in, Luna had the table set and the sides set out and ready. While we ate, she told me about her time with the women, and that they set up a time to go shopping next week. She smiled as she talked, which made me smile. I wanted her to be happy here and accept this as her home. A home with me.

“You don’t mind if I look for new living room furniture and some other stuff for the house?”

“Baby, you can change anything you want. The only furniture I bought new was the bedroom. I’ll give you my credit card and you buy whatever you think we need.” I leaned in and kissed her, then stood and carried out plates to the sink.

“That reminds me. I’m going to need to change banks, switch my insurance and tag for my bike. First, I’m going to need to transfer my driver’s license. Maybe we can hit the driver’s license place Monday or sometime next week?”

“Both the licensing offices are located in the courthouse. We can swing by next week to do it or another day. You got thirty days to transfer them. As for the bank, I can take you to the one I use. But you don’t have to worry about that right now.” I wrapped her in my arms after she put the leftover potato salad in the fridge.

“I’ve got money, Brax, and I’m not going let you spend all of yours while I sit on mine. Don’t argue. I’m here because I let you strong arm me. I won’t always be so tranquil.”

“With me you will be. ‘Cause you can’t tell me no.” I bent and swooped her up in my arms and started toward the stairs.

“You don’t have to be such a smug bastard,” Luna said and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Maybe I just like using your body.”

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