This I promise you (22/?)
Nick allowed a soft chuckle to escape his lips. “So is there anything else I need to know about you?”
“Let’s see here, I’m a border line diabetic, I have a three year old daughter, no I think that about covers all the bases I need to cover. If I come up with anything else though I’ll let you know.”
“Good. Now why don’t you come get some sleep.” I wasn’t sure if he was exhausted or if I looked that tired but he seemed to be pushing for it. “Alright, alright. If you insist.” Curling up beside him on the bed again, I decided that for tonight, I was going to settle for just being happy laying here beside him and pushing the rest of it out of my mind.
“Good night Stephanie.” He offered before flipping the bed side light off.
Chapter 8-
“Come on, you’ll love it.” Stephanie was flipping the key in the lock of the cottage as she looked at me. “It’s not the Rampart but after a week you aren’t going to want to leave.”
“It’s nice, cooler than Nevada but I don’t know what I was expecting.” I offered moving to the end of the porch above the stairs heading towards the lake. “And a beautiful view. And while I hate flying, it was worth it.”
“Come on in, I’m going to run and get Nala and Simba out of the car. I’m sure by now they’re thoroughly pissed off about having been stuck in their carriers this long.” Even having not had a shower this morning, only tossed her hair up and wearing a simple sun dress and sandals I was amazed by how beautiful she really was.
“You think you can manage to handle both of them by yourself?” The question was a simple one and so would the answer but I still asked it anyways.
“Yep, get yourself acquainted with the layout and such. Careful everything’s baby proof.” She gave a wry smile before disappearing out another doorway, followed by the shutting of another door.
The room I was standing in was obviously the living room which opened into a kitchen on my right that over looked the lake. On the left side of the living room was a hallway that led back to a tiny bathroom and what I assumed was the master bed room. To the left of the hallway and a step down was another living room like room. This one though had a patio door leading out to the lake, a rocking chair and, from the size of it I could only imagine, a fold out couch and the door Stephanie had disappeared out. Moving over to the patio window I began to take in the yard outside. An old swing set showed it’s age in the yard, though rusty and weathered something told me if it was still standing it would still stand up to the test of three year old Isabella. An old, wooden swing seemed to have stood the test of time, for as many years as Stephanie had been spending here, down on the lake’s edge. It might need a new coat of stain but it still seemed to be standing well on its own. Maybe that was why she enjoyed this place so much, it was like her childhood was frozen in time, waiting for her whenever she wanted to return to it.
My thoughts were shattered as the door behind me opened again, bearing Stephanie carrying both cat carriers. “You want a hand with those?”
“Nope, I’ve got them.” Stephanie answered before she set them both on the floor, pulling the door shut behind herself as she did. “So mom’s supposed to be by this afternoon with Isabella. Until then I thought after I get these two settled in and I’m unpacked and grab a shower that I would go set on the dock for a while.”
“How about finding something to eat first?” I asked turning around to look at her. Since she had divulged last night that she was a borderline diabetic last night I couldn’t help but worry about her.
She had been leaned over opening one of the cat carriers but rolled her head up to look at me now. “I thought I told you, that you weren’t allowed to worry about me anymore!” She chuckled as she spoke but she showed that part of her might be serious still. “I guess you’re right though, considering I haven’t eaten yet today it might be a good idea.”
“Occasionally I have one or two of those.” I offered with a cheeky smile. “Then again back home it’s only six am.”
“You’re welcome to crash if you’d like, I’ll get this stuff taken care of and then make a run to the store and pick up food and such. If I know my mother she’ll have been out and made the beds and cleaned towels knowing that we were coming.” She reached down opening the other carrier allowing the cat from within to go racing off into the living room upstairs.
“No, I’m fine. I caught a nap on the plane so right now I feel pretty good. As for you getting a shower, how about this, I’ll unpack, you take your shower. I think I can manage unpacking a suitcase into the dresser.”
“You know, I think I could go for that plan.” She offered with a wry smile before letting it take a contemplative twist. “That is unless you want to join me.”
I let my tongue slip between my lips as I debated how to answer her. She’d just been raped after all, but yet she had propositioned it. This was another situation where I could let my heart lead or let my head lead. My heart was saying hell yea, but my heart was saying to tell her no, not break her trust.
“I’m giving you a hard time.” Her words cut into the debate I was having with myself. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to, but is it what you really want to do?” I had decided to side with my head this time and err on the side of caution.
“Yes.” Her word was simple as she looked at me, seeming so certain in herself as she spoke.