Page 21 of The Widower's Girlfriend
I reach over quickly and dig a finger in her ribs, prompting her to yelp. “Alright, funny lady. No. What I mean is, most women who live around me are too concerned about ruining their nails to do home improvements. It’s refreshing to hear you like to do those kinds of projects.”
She tilts her head. “Well, I truly believe anything worth having requires hard work. I don’t expect things to be handed to me. I expect to get my hands dirty to get what I want.” She shrugs. “Besides, working in a hospital with sick kiddos, you can’t expect to have pretty nails and clean clothes for very long.”
I literally feel it. The falling every poet has ever written about. I feel myself tumbling head over heels for her and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I don’t want to stop this sweet slide into heaven. I’ve identified as a widower for so long, I’m awed that she’s careened into my life. I’m stunned to have this opportunity to have another partner in life. Yes, logically, I know it’s too soon to be speculating on our future or this relationship’s longevity, but this feeling in my gut is telling me to pay attention. To make it work. That it’s worth it.
Before I can answer her or share any of my inner musings, the car pulls up outside my house, a narrow but tall house right on the strand.
“We’re here.” I kiss the back of her hand, then deposit it back on her lap to exit the vehicle and get our bags out of the trunk. She gets out and cranes her neck left and right, taking in my neighborhood. I look around too, seeing it with new eyes.
“Wow, nice digs.” It’s a compliment, but somehow she says it in a way that doesn’t sound complimentary.
I set our bags on the curb and slam the trunk closed. Tilting my head toward the side gate, I gesture for her to follow me inside. “When I finally started making some decent money, I only cared about one thing: finding peace. What’s better for a broken heart than to stare at the ocean every morning and night while you contemplate life?”
My set of keys is buried in my bag. I dig for it while Jemma shifts nervously next to me.
“Lost your keys in your purse?” she asks me with a wink.
I sigh, full well knowing she’s teasing me. “It’s not a purse. It’s a men’s carry-all.”
She pretends to sneeze yet still manages to say, “purse!”
I give her a wry smile and bring my keys out with a flourish, then open the door to my house. Shoving the bags inside the foyer, I grab her hand and pull her into me. “Welcome to my home.”
She follows me inside and I give her the tour, ending at the main living room on the second floor. This is my favorite room and what sold me on the house. The entire back wall is a giant, floor-to-ceiling folding glass door with an unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean. Right now it’s deep blue, sparkling in the sunlight, with pelicans swooping by on a hunt for their mid-morning snack.
I take a huge breath, the calm coming over me instantly, like it always does when I view the water. I glance over at Jemma to see her staring at the waves, mesmerized. It’s surreal to see her here in my home, taking in the same view that healed me.
“You said you’re a blogger?” she finally asks, incredulously.
I huff out a laugh. “Funny when you put it that way. But blogging didn’t buy this house. The blogging turned into a book deal, which turned into a second book deal, which turned into a speaking tour and sponsorships. The books and the speaking bought this house.”
She blinks and finally looks away. “I don’t know. Seems like lots of people blog and don’t make a fortune from it. I thinkyouwere the deciding factor, Walker.”
My chest expands with her praise. My head seems to increase in size seeing how she believes in me. I tug her closer and pull her into my arms. Her head fits right under my chin, her sweet-scented hair overwhelming my senses. I thought my view was complete before, but now I know it was missing Jemma. Because there’s nothing more beautiful than her, standing in front of the window, the ocean her backdrop.
“Thank you for believing in me and what I do,” I whisper to her. “That’s why I want to work with Asher and get this right. I want to keep helping people, but I can only do that if they understand that opening themselves up to love again is part of the grief process.”
She nods against my chest. “I get that, I really do. Let’s call Asher and work it out, huh?”
Jemma pulls away from my body and I lean in to brush a quick kiss across her lips. The sooner we get this out of the way, the sooner I can be out and about in public with her and woo her the way I want to. Speaking of dating again, I need to come up with a plan there too. I haven’t tried to sweep a woman off her feet in a long time. I feel rusty and Jemma deserves five-star wooing.
We move over to my huge leather couch and I get Asher on the phone. Putting it on the glass coffee table, I put it on speaker so Asher can meet Jemma.
“Hey, my man, Walker. Back in town?” Asher’s voice booms out over the speakerphone.
“Just got back to my place. I got Jemma here with me on speakerphone. Jemma, this is my agent, Asher.”
“Hi, Asher, lovely to meet you.” Jemma smiles at the phone as if Ash can actually see her beautiful face.
“Likewise, Jemma.” Ash clears his throat. “Well, my first thought was it would be better to hide this situation and slowly introduce Jemma. Kind of step her into the picture, if you will.”
I interrupt him before he can go any further. “And you know that option is not acceptable.”
To his credit, I don’t hear exasperation in his voice. “Yes, fully aware. So, I think the only thing to do here is be completely upfront and as honest as possible. I think we release a statement on your website with how you met, where you’re at emotionally, and not show any weakness. You’re not asking for public approval to date Jemma, but you do want to use this as a way to help more people.”
Jemma flinches. Something doesn’t feel quite right with what he said. I pull at my collar. “I agree with being upfront and honest, but I’m notusingmy relationship with Jemma to do anything.”
“Wrong choice of words. What I mean is that moving on and learning to open up to love again is part of what you can share with people. That’s where you are on your journey, and since you’ve been so open and honest with people right from the start, it makes sense that you’d share this with them too.”
