Page 30 of Keeping My Wife
I laughed. “Thanks. I’m sorry I keep asking you to fix stuff.”
“It’s what husbands do, I hear.”
“You’re not my husband.”
“Yet.” He let me go and retrieved his toolbox. “Speaking of that.” He started messing with the dials before pulling it out from the wall.
My stomach jittered. Was he going to back out? Not that I’d blame him. My life was a shitshow. Orgasms could only take us so far in this insane plan.
“I talked to my mom.”
“What?” Dumbfounded, my mouth went dry.
He looked over his shoulder. “It’s not a secret right? That’s the deal.”
“I know, but...” I blew out a breath. “What did she say? Run for the hills, son!”
He laughed. “Actually, she said we can have the wedding at the farmhouse. Evidently my brother Gus is ordained or some such shit. He can do the officiating. So, if you’re done with the other contract for me to sign, we’re good to go.”
The rock in my chest got so big I couldn’t breathe. I bent at the waist.
“Maxie.” He crouched beside me. “Honey, what’s wrong?”
“Why are you being so wonderful?”
He laughed. “We have a plan, right?”
“Yes, but. I’m just such a mess and this plan is absolutely ridiculous. You should run far away from me and my terrible mother.”
He lowered to the floor, sitting cross-legged, then pulled me into his lap. “None of this is going to get done in a hurry. This is an old house with lots of issues. But handily, you have a guylike me who loves big projects. And some very adept brothers.” He stroked down my hair. “And I was actually thinking about it. This might be too big of a project for my very busy brothers.”
I sniffled. Of course, it was. “I understand.”
“What I mean is I’ll help you find some good guys who renovate old homes. I have some contacts from my furniture work. You’re not in this alone. I promise.”
I’d never been anything other than alone.
“Why on earth would you hitch yourself to me? The furniture you earmarked is not worth my mess.”
“I don’t care about the furniture. I mean, I love it, but the restoration part is what I love. Bringing this place to life with you is almost a big enough draw.”
“Almost?” I eased back enough to look him in the eyes.
He brushed a few tears that leaked out away with his thumb. “The rest is you. Pretty sure it’s always been you, Maxie. You, standing in the middle of this place with those big green eyes, it was like something clicked into place when I saw you.”
“Lust at first sight for my furniture?”
“Love at first sight for the girl who was always supposed to be mine.”
“You’re nuts.” I scrambled out of his lap. “You can’t love me.”
He stood up slowly. “Pretty sure I’m the only one who can say that for sure.”
“You’re just having a hero moment. Or whatever it is.”
“I’m no hero. I’m just a guy. I’m going to annoy the shit out of you because I get wrapped up in renovations or furniture restorations and forget to come up for air. So...” He stepped forward and slipped his arm around my waist. “You’re going to have to remind me that I have a beautiful, vibrant wife waiting for me at home sometimes.”
“You’re crazy.”
