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“Fuck yes, I’m interested.”
Blowing out a breath, she gave me a radiant smile. “Great.”
CHAPTER28
Esme
The moment Stef and I stepped into the discount furniture store, I felt like we’d entered a treasure trove of second-hand wonders. The scent of old wood and dusty upholstery filled my head as we eagerly began our search for items to fill my new house.
“Okay, my little blueberry muffin, tell me everything. You just left Wolfe’s house, and girl, you have that look in your eyes.”
I blushed, remembering all the hot sex we’d been having. No wonder there was a look in my eye. Still, I didn’t want to give too much away, so I shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah, it’s pretty good. He’s handy to have around.”
“Handy’s an interesting choice of words.”
I felt my blush deepen. “Well, he did organize for the child support payments. I’ve already got the first monthly check, which is amazing. And he insisted on taking me car shopping yesterday.”
“Seriously?” she laughed, her eyes wide with amusement. “Wolfe Rivers, billionaire playboy, is now your personal car shopping assistant? Oh, how the mighty have fallen!”
I playfully swatted her arm, rolling my eyes. “Stop it! He was just being helpful.”
“Helpful, huh?” Stef wiggled her eyebrows suggestively as she examined an antique dresser. “Is that what they’re calling it these days?”
“Stef!” I exclaimed, trying to maintain a stern expression but failing miserably as laughter bubbled up inside me.
“Okay, okay, I’ll stop teasing you… for now. How did the car shopping go? Since we’re still cruising around in Wolfe’s very shiny Merc, I’m gonna go with not great?”
“No, it was perfect. I’m getting a Honda CRV. It was a bit under my budget, so I’m getting better tires for it. And Wolfe made the sales guy give me an extended warranty, and he also threw in a buff and polish, and something about the undercarriage.” Stef arched a brow, and I hurried on before she could make some lewd remark. “Then, when I was in the office signing papers, the guy asked me who Wolfe was. I asked him why, because he looked sweaty and uncomfortable. He told me that Wolfe had said; if he didn’t sell me the best car at the best price and that if I had any problems with the car in the next ten years, he would make sure the poor guy never worked again.”
Stef burst out laughing. “God, I love it. I don’t suppose he’s got any brothers?”
“Two, actually.”
“Oooh, tell me more.”
“Rhett is okay. Like, friendly and normal, I guess. His older brother, Grayson, is…”
“Is?”
“Scary.” I chewed on my lip, absently gazing at some dinnerware in a foggy glass cabinet. “No, scary isn’t the right word. He’s... powerful.”
“Well, of course.”
“No, not just in a because he’s rich kind of way. It’s more than that. I can’t explain it. He seems cold. And unfeeling. And like he can see straight through you and knows exactly how you’re lacking.”
“Sounds nasty. Tell me more about Rhett. And when you’re done telling me, offer to set me up.”
I chuckled. “I’ve only met him once and we didn’t talk much. He’s a lot more like Wolfe. Really hot. And friendly, like I said. He didn’t freak me out, let’s just say.”
“Yep, okay, you can hook me up.”
“Haha,” was all I replied, smiling as I wandered deeper into the store, running my fingers along the worn edges of wooden tables and threadbare fabrics. It felt like every piece had a story behind it, waiting to be discovered. Each item we found seemed to symbolize the changes happening in my life, and I felt a sense of excitement for the future, for the first time ever.
“Look at this lamp!” Stef called out, holding up a quirky, vintage piece that caught my eye. “It’s perfect for your living room.”
I grinned, imagining it casting a warm glow over family game nights and evenings spent curled up with a good book. “You’re right. It’s perfect.”
Tucking the lamp under her arm, Stef moved on. “What do you think you need most?”