Page 15 of Timeless Valentine

I don't know what to say to that so instead I just kiss her forehead and help her into the car.

We drive to her apartment where we pick up three large laundry bags. She gives me an embarrassed glance. "Since we have your car, I figure it's a good time to do all the towels and sheets."

"Exactly. And for the record, I really like driving you around."

After I toss the bags into the trunk, Grace directs me to her usual laundromat, just six blocks away. "There's a washer and dryer in the bottom of my building, but it's super dingy down there."

"I found a place that's quite nice, just a bit farther away. Do you want to try it?"

She grins. "I'm feeling adventurous today. Why not?"

I will never tire of surprising her. This new laundromat has gleaming fresh machines and a café on one side where people can hang out while they wait.

Soon we are seated at a cozy table within view of her spinning machines, enjoying coffee and muffins while she runs me through a few more features of the HourFlow software.

When I notice the laundry is nearly finished, I open a tab with my grocery service already loaded.

"Order anything you want, baby." I watch her rich brown eyes as she begins to hesitate. "Especially heavy things like cans. I hate the thought of you lugging groceries around."

"I don't know if—" I place a finger over her lips.

"I am a terrible, terrible man. In return for chauffeuring services during the strike, I demand that you let me help with groceries. Remember, you did save me a lot of money by teaching me HourFlow." She still pauses, until I add, "Just this week. Then we'll see."

Grace sighs with relief. "Okay. Just once. Thank you."

As she scrolls methodically through the site, clicking on basic, healthy staples, I keep thinking about one strange detail.

An hour later, as I help Grace chop up carrot sticks and put together trail mix for quick snacks, I sneak another careful look around her tiny apartment. Given the size and location, it would have to be quite affordable. Her office job should be enough to pay for that plus utilities. Not to mention her two other part-time jobs.

Yet there is no television, no modern furniture, and her laptop looks several years old. Grace clearly isn't the type to go out for fancy dinners and drinks all the time. What is she spending all her money on?

Perhaps it's something simple like school loans. In a few weeks, when she trusts me a bit more, maybe I can propose helping her refinance or renegotiate her money problems, whatever they are.

I arrange vegetables in reusable containers, taking note of her food preferences. Every chance I get, I brush her hip, or steal a quick kiss.

"You said that we'd work, Mister," she smirks.

"Yes, and look at us go. Laundry finished, meal prep nearly done, and…what's left besides rubbing your shoulders?"

Grace looks around carefully. "I did the dusting and the floors before work. I guess all that's left is to make dinner."

She looks up at me from under her lashes. "I assume you'd like to stay for dinner?"

"Only if you'll let me order in so that we can lounge on the couch like lazy lizards."

Her head shakes as she tries to glare through her smile. "What am I going to do with you?"

Stepping closer, my arms slip around her, pressing our bodies together. "How about…keep me?"

Her lips part in surprise. Then she smiles, and slowly nods. "Okay."

Kissing her softly, my heart pounds from the joy surging through me at those two tiny syllables.

Grace saying that she's my girl is a huge step forward from her original opinion that she had no time for me. I'm going to take every single opportunity to show how perfect we are together until she understands my feelings for her are too monumental to be set aside.

And hope that she's starting to feel the same way.

9

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