Page 56 of Mr. Edwards
“It all sounds wonderful,” Carlee whispers into the crook of my neck. I want to give her the life she’s never had, the one she deserves.
I hold her for the longest time, stroking her hair. When she eventually moves back to her seat, I make a conscious decision to keep the conversation light. There’s no doubt in my mind we just shared a powerful moment; I just hope she knows I meant every word. I can’t even explain what this thing is between us, it’s just there.
Carlee pushes her food around the plate, her appetite now lost. “Let me clear the table and we can watch a movie or something.”
“Let me help you.”
Bending, I place a kiss on the top of her head. “You’re my guest, pour yourself another glass of wine and relax.”
“That’s not how it works I’m afraid,” she says, rising and taking her plate out of my hand. “You cooked; I clean. That’s how Emma and I work.”
“Emma lets you heat up SpaghettiOs for her?” Her eyes narrow as she glances at me over her shoulder, making me chuckle. Carlee’s cooking prowess may be limited, but in her defense, she did make me a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich the other day.
“No, she cooks for me and I clean up, smarty-pants. I always pull my weight.”
I follow her over to the sink, wishing she’d let me take care of her. I want to argue the point, but I also know I’m going to get a whole lot of sass in return if I do.
She turns on the water, unhooks the coiled tap from its holder, and starts rinsing the dirty plates. There’s something truly sexy about seeing this woman doing dishes in my kitchen.
I lean against the counter beside her, folding my arms across my chest. I use the time to take her all in. Absorbing the visual until it’s seared into my brain. Imagining our future once I finally make her my wife.
“So, since I’m going to be the cook in our marriage, does this mean I’ll never have to wash a dirty dish again?”
She turns the tap my way, spraying me in the face. “Don’t get cute with me, Mr. Edwards.”
I just stand there for a moment in shock. The droplets of water drip down my chin and onto my T-shirt. I can’t believe she just did that to me.
Swinging around and placing my front against her back, I cage her against the countertop as I reach for the hose in her hand, trying to turn it around toward her. She puts up a good fight, but she’s not as strong as me.
“Grayson,” she squeals when the water hits her chest at close range. It soaks through her shirt instantly.
We’re both laughing as we continue the tug-of-war over the hose. When I finally manage to redirect it toward her face, she screams and releases her grip, ducking under my arm.
She spins on her feet and tries to run when I turn and direct the water at her retreating back, and my heart stops in my chest when she slips in the puddle on the floor, landing on her ass with a thud.
“Shit,” I say, dropping the hose back into the sink and reaching out to help her back to her feet. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She slaps my hand away, and when I notice the pretty blush forming on her cheeks and spreading down her neck, I bring my hand to my face and bite my knuckle to hide my amusement.
“You think this is funny?” she grumbles, but before I get a chance to answer she swipes out her leg, kicking my feet out from under me, sending me ass-over-head onto the kitchen floor.
All the air expels from my lungs as I lay there in a daze, blinking up at the ceiling, trying to wrap my head around what just happened.
Damn her and those fucking ninja skills.
“Grayson,” she says in a panic, moving to my side and hovering over me. “I’m so sorry, I acted on instinct. Shit, I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“I’m pretty sure my ego just took a battering.”
“Naww. Poor baby,” she coos.
My hands grasp her waist, maneuvering her so she’s straddling my hips. I’m still lying in a puddle of water, but I don’t care.
One hand fists her hair, bringing her mouth down to mine, while the other stays on her hip, holding her in place. She may have just winded the fuck out of me andbruised my pride, but that little tactic she just pulled was so damn hot I’m taking her right here on the kitchen floor.
Chapter 13
Carlee
