Page 12

Chapter 11

Ainsley

I wake up in the guest bedroom across the hall from Shawn’s. After soaking in the tub, I knew if I slept next to him, I wouldn’t get sleep. My mind is in a constant loop of wanting to hold onto this man and never let go, to reminding me that I saw him again for the first time in years a few hours ago.

I grab my phone and see a missed text from Shawn. He must have texted me before I headed to bed.

Books

Bags and boxes in the chair are for you. Hope it’s okay. Sleep sweet, Sunshine.

I whip my head around to see several bags of clothing and shoe boxes. What in the motherfucking Christmas morning type of shit is this?

I run over to the bags and see multiple sets of pants, blazers, jumpsuits, and a cute dress. I gasp, and tears start to well in my eyes. From the tea and good soak in the tub last night to pulling this magical shopping spree so I don’t have to go home to get clothes…I’ve never felt so spoiled, no, important, no.

Loved.

My mind races. It seems so natural to love him. I did even as a kid, but this feels so much deeper, a different level I wasn’t prepared for. That I longed for, but it never came until…BAM!

Here he is.

I get lost in my thoughts as I get myself together for the day. Pulling back my hair in a low bun, I finish my look with a blue blazer.

Opening my door, I take a step and stumble as I hear the door across the hall open. I look down and see Blaze sleeping at the foot of my bedroom door. I immediately bend down to rub the big softie’s belly, looking up to see a pair of sneakers in front of me. Shawn stares at us, frozen, mouth hanging open, in jeans and a simple black tee. His small chains from last night are still on; I’m pretty sure he never takes them off, and a Titan’s snapback is in his hand. He smiles, pulls the hat up to put it on backwards, and then bends down to pet Blaze.

“Good morning, boys!” I call out nervously.

Shawn stands up and looks at me, his smirk already growing.

“Boys?”

“Um, well, you’re both boys, right?” I say as I try to squeeze around them, trying not to already make myself a permanent place in their life, but crossing my fingers that I am.

Blaze stands and snuggles up beside me, and Shawn leans in for a kiss on my cheek.

“That we are, Lee. Good morning.” He says, turning around as Luna comes up to us.

I blush and go to make sure I have everything for work in my bag.

“Are you ready for some Tim Hortons?”

I stop rummaging through my stuff as he puts leashes on both dogs. He looks up and chuckles as it dawns on him.

“Hortons? OHHH, I got it. Horton hears a who, but also Tim Horton’s either Timmies, or Hortons.”

I smile and start a slow clap.

“Oh, we have a smart one here. He catches on quickly, but yeah. Tim Hortons, Tims, Timmies, Hortons — all could be used at any time.”

He glares at me, walks back to his room, and comes back with my dress from last night in hand. I can’t believe I almost forgot it was in there. I reach over to take it from him, but he stops me.

“I just got this to put in my dry cleaning bag for when they come to collect it. Can I bring it to you later today if you have a break?”

He states as if this is happening, whether or not I dismiss the idea.

“Shawn Books Salisu, buying all these clothes, shoes, and my dry cleaning? I can’t let you. It’s too much.”

I feel my face turning red already.

“Lee. Remember when we were eight and you and Nora were about to head to the school’s daddy daughter dance. You both were playing in our backyard, waiting to go in those poofy dresses, and you fell?”

He recalls.

“Yeah, I was mortified. I knew my parents would be so upset at how dirty I got.”

“You were so panicked. I walked up, took you to the bathroom, and helped you clean the small dirt spots out before you left.”

“Yeah, I remember thinking you were so cool, calm, and collected.”

He was my rock so many times as a kid, especially when I was scared to bug my parents.

“I will always be there for you, to help you with all that you need. Whether or not you ask for it, I’ll be there for you, cool, calm, and collected.”

My heart melts. I almost forgot about that. I remember the photos from the dance, but Shawn always helped when it mattered most.

“Not to mention you blew my mind last night, Lee. I’m not going anywhere.”

I let out a breath, trying to make sense of all my feelings.

“Oh okay, so I guess that clears that up. Both our minds were blown, and no penetration even happened. Cool. Cool. Cool.”

“Not a good enough reason to use the word penetration.”

He looks back over his shoulder, and I laugh.

“Look at you making jokes this early, but seriously, thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome. I’m going to take the dogs out with us and then on a walk after we’re done at Timmie’s. You ready?”

I clap my hands. “I love it! You’re already calling it Timmie’s and getting out to see the area with these precious babies.”

Shawn grabs his wallet, and we head out the door.

“So, what are your plans after work?” He looks over at me.

“Honestly, grab some food on the way home and then pass out. Last night was a long night, but so much fun!” I try to downplay the fact that I want to spend every night like last night, but maybe with some dinner at home.

He nods before asking, “I understand. I would love to hang out again. Hey, actually, since we didn’t get around to our pizza last night, would you and Soph want some for lunch? I was going to drop some stuff off for Soph anyway, but I can warm it up and bring it to you both?”

I lean up and kiss his cheek as we step out of the building, and I head for Timmie’s.

“That would be amazing, thank you!”

Well, there goes trying to hide anything from Soph. She is going to know something went down the second he comes up for lunch…with my dress from last night.

“Of course! And maybe one of these days when I get my groceries, I can cook for you.”

I stop in my tracks and stare at him.

“You cook?” I say, shocked.

“Whenever I have the time. Absolutely!”

We round the corner and Timmie’s comes into view.

“That’s amazing, Shawn. I’d love to try out whatever you feed me.”

Why the fuck did I say that? Seriously. Maybe it’s because you can’t stop thinking about the way he fed you his cock last night, AINSLEY. I feel my face heat as I look down to hide. He side eyes me with another smirk on his face.

“I’m sure you’d love whatever I feed you.”

Then he motherfucking winks at me.

This dude, get the fuck out of here. As if I wasn’t still flustered from all last night and this morning. This is just adding to it. I open the door to Tim Hortons and he steps inside.

The smell of Timbits and coffee hitting us in the face.

“So you have your pick of options, you can get what I get, a double-double, which is a coffee with two shots of cream and two shots of sugar, or they have a ton of seasonal options,” I explain.

“Hit me with the double-double then. Anything good to eat here?”

“Stop it right now. You’re getting the 40-count assorted Timbits, and it is not up for discussion.”

“Timbits?”

I lean over and whisper in his ear. “They’re donut holes, but don’t let anyone around you hear you call them that.”

He laughs and gives me a thumbs up and a slight nod. We grab our Timmies, and walk back towards the office.

“Well, time to make sure all these other players have cars to pick them up and find places for them to stay.”

He sips his double-double now that it has finally stopped steaming.

“Holy fucking shit! This is like coffee ice cream melted in a cup.”

“Right, exactly! It will fucking change your life every morning.”

“Nope. You did that all on your own, Sunshine, but this was a delightful bonus.”

He comes up beside me, and I smell his cologne wafting over us. His arms wrap around me with his coffee still in hand. Breathing deeply, I lean into his hug. I missed this. I missed him.

He breaks away from me.

“So I’ll text you when I come to bring you both lunch.”

He says, knowing I need to leave.

“Sounds like a plan.”

I bend down to say my goodbyes to Luna and Blaze before giving Shawn a peck on the cheek. I head inside and turn around to see him walk away with the pups, hat still on backward with the Titans logo in big red letters facing me.

This man is going to bring some goodness into my life. I can feel it. Or maybe it’s that man in a backward hat?

Instant puddle.