Page 114 of Perfect Assumption

I roll my eyes at the droll note in his voice. “Falling in love with you came out of left field, Ward. We’re finding out things about one another every single day. I kind of like the newness of that right now.”

“So, I didn’t completely screw up by not bringing you to see my etchings right off the bat?” he jokes as we enter my suite.

Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes as he drops his bag before he hangs up his suits. I call out to him, “Ward, you know if you had brought me to see your etchings, I’d have likely run screaming from your cave.”

He steps from my closet, a serious expression on his face. “That’s what most of it feels like.”

“A cave?” I confirm. At his nod, I ask, “Then why didn’t you redecorate?”

“I did. The three rooms I cared about.”

“And the kitchen?”

“It’s functional.”

I can’t help giggling. “You’re such a man.”

“Me man. You woman.” He makes apelike sounds as he sheds his suit jacket.

“If the tabloids could see you now, I wonder if they’d name you most-eligible bachelor or most-delusional bachelor,” I wonder aloud.

Ward stops joking around and becomes very serious. “I don’t care what they call me as long as they stop using the word ‘bachelor.’ Because I’m very much off the market.”

I lick my lips in anticipation as he approaches me. I back up against the long dresser. Ward boosts me up onto it.

And soon I don’t care about anything other than what Ward’s making me feel.

It isn’t until much later when we’re both breathing heavily in each other’s arms we both hear the plaintive calls of Flower begging for her dinner like she hasn’t eaten in a week. For the sake of Ward’s laptop and both our cell phones, I find my robe and go feed the diabolical monster. Ward follows me soon after to begin moving the rest of the boxes in from the car while I get dinner ready.

It strikes me when we’re eating dinner, curled up together in the living room. I proclaim, “This is my definition of perfect.”

He pauses with a bite of chili halfway to his mouth. “What do you mean?”

“We’re just sitting here together having dinner, watching TV. It’s what people who are comfortable together do.”

His spoon drops to his bowl as he absorbs my words.

“I never thought I’d be able to feel like this—that in the darkest part of my soul, I feel every corner is filled with light.” I tilt my head up and brush my lips against his chin.

“That’s because your confidence has returned.”

“At least I’m a lot more than I was before I met you.”

He leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead. “You had this deep inside you, Angie. All you were waiting for was the right time to shine.”

I consider that. “Maybe.”

He smirks and shoves a spoonful of chili into his mouth before groaning. “This is delicious.”

“You’re remarkably easy.” The words escape my mouth before I can stop them.

“And you know me so well, love.” He winks.

We tumble against each other, laughing while still balancing our dinner. Flower hisses at us from her spot by the hearth, setting us off again.

This night makes my heart hopeful for more than just the short term.

Maybe, this could be more.