Page 24 of More Than A Fixer-Upper
“What the hell are you doing?” she hisses. “You don’t sleep with women who have kids!”
“Why do you automatically think I slept with Rosalie?” I snap.
“The claw marks down your back gave it away,” she says, trying not to laugh.
I curse. She laughs harder. “Seth, Adam, and Gerald think you two would be perfect together!”
“Stop it. We agreed to take things slow. Get to know each other. Spend time with the kids. That’s it.”
She nods, smiling like she’s already planning our wedding.
I walk out of the laundry room. Winnie’s standing there, arms crossed.
“Are you trying to get with my mom for her money?”
“No,” I say calmly. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to let Rosalie know she has company. I think I’ll take my stuff upstairs to work.”
I head to the bedroom. Rosalie’s in the bathroom, hair dryer humming. I toss my stuff on the bed and stand in the doorway.
“Where’s my drink?” she asks.
“I got a little distracted. Winnie, Hailey, and Ellen are here. Ellen loves the claw marks on my back.”
The hair dryer clatters. She bites her lip.
“I told Ellen we’re becoming friends. Seeing where things go. Winnie wants to make sure I’m not after your money.”
Something must pass across my face, because Rosalie steps into me.
“What was that look?” she asks.
I hold her close. “My past. We’ll talk about it tonight. Or soon.”
She nods against my chest.
“I brought my stuff up here to work. Our clothes are in the dryer.”
“Okay. I’ll go deal with everything while you chicken out,” she teases, trying to give me a dirty look. I kiss her nose.
“I also need to get dinner in the oven. Are you staying?”
“If you’re okay with it, I’d love to.”
I kiss her deeply before she leaves the room. I climb onto the bed. She’s changed the bedding it smells like her. I pull out my sketchbook and start drawing cabin designs.
I could do this with Rosalie.But will she still want me once she knows everything?
Chapter Eighteen
Rosalie
Makingthewalkofshame down the stairs makes me nervous, but Chase doesn’t make me second-guess things. I throw on a black tank top and white shorts. Ellen sits at the table with Winnie and Hailey. “How is shopping?” I ask, moving into the kitchen to get the meatballs going. I check the cupboards for spaghetti sauce and grab two jars. I get back to mixing things. I feel the heat creep up my neck and face as I know they’re all staring at me.
“Are you not going to talk about Chase being naked in the house?” Winnie asks. Hailey gags, reminding Winnie that he is her uncle. “Fine. Are you and Chase dating? Are you just FWB?”
“FWB?” What the fuck is that? I really need to get a teenager's dictionary.
“Friends with benefits.” Winnie and Hailey say together.
