Ready for You (Ready #3)(61)

His green eyes found mine, and in them, I saw the boy I’d left coming back to me. The anger he’d become so accustomed to was starting to bleed away, and I only hoped I wouldn’t hurt him again.

Then, you should tell him now, a voice in my head urged.

I quickly dismissed it, too swept up in my newfound bliss.

“Thank you for sending Liv over today. It was nice not to spend the day alone even if she did make me eat rabbit food.”

He chuckled, and I poked his ribs.

“Ouch! It couldn’t have been that bad.”

“No? There are still some baseball muffins in the kitchen if you’re hungry. Why don’t you go try one?”

“No, I’m good.”

“Wuss,” I muttered.

“No, I’m just smarter than you.”

I poked him in the ribs again, and he laughed.

“So, what’s with all the bags? I don’t see any food this time.”

His exuberant grin sent my pulse racing as he reached down and picked up the bags he’d dropped on the floor. He motioned me over to the couch, and we sat down. He started pulling out paint swatches and tile samples.

“You’re remodeling a house?” I asked.

“No, we are. I couldn’t focus at work today, so I took a half day and went shopping.”

I merely stared at him, completely tongue-tied.

He let out a nervous breath. “I wasn’t here to help you with the floors, and I hate that my anger got in the way of that. I’m sick of looking in the past when it comes to us. Wherever we’re going, we need to be headed there together, and I can’t do that if I’m constantly thinking about all the what-ifs and lost moments we could have had.”

My lips parted, and I tried to interrupt him, but he stopped me, placing his finger on my lips.

“Let me finish. I know there are obstacles and roadblocks in our future, but the point to all of this is that we are creating a future, right?”

I nodded, unable to speak. A future with Garrett was all I’d ever wished for, and my heart ached in want from hearing the words.

“So, let’s start doing it. We always wanted to fix up a house, and yours could definitely use it.”

“Hey! I love my house.” I pouted.

Chuckling, he touched my fingers, weaving our hands together. “I love your house, too, but it’s definitely a fixer-upper. With a bit of work, it could be great.” His eyes softened, and he smiled. “It just needs a bit of time and love, like us.”

Yes! I wanted to scream it, but I held it together. He wasn’t asking me to marry him. He just wanted permission to throw some paint on the walls.

“Okay, so where do we start?”

“Wherever you want. We can paint the walls and retile the bathrooms. Hell, we can even give you a new backsplash in the kitchen, if you want.”

I looked around my house. I’d been living within these walls for two months, yet it didn’t feel like home yet. There were no pictures on the white walls, and I had very little furniture. Nothing made it feel mine.

“I want to paint…every single wall.”

He pulled out a huge metal ring that had every color imaginable hanging from it. Dangling it in front of me, he said, “Pick a room and a color!”

We ordered a pizza and spent the rest of the evening hunched over the rainbow of colors, pointing out all the various shades we loved and hated.

“Orange for the bedroom?” I asked with a bit of amusement.

“Yes, it’s perfect.”

“And why is it more perfect than this tranquil blue I picked out?”

“Because that room always has a lingering hint of orange leftover from your lotion, and I’ve always thought orange looks good on you.”

“I’m not going to be wearing the bedroom,” I reminded him.

“No, but I plan on you being naked in there most of the time, so it will be the closest thing to clothes your skin sees in there.”

My breath caught at his smoldering words, and I suddenly didn’t care if the room was hot pink with purple polka dots.

“Orange it is,” I said quickly.

His face broke out into a smug grin. “I think we’re done for tonight.”

I nodded in agreement. “Yes, definitely.”

“Race you to the bedroom?” he challenged.

“Deal!” I yelled, taking off in a run toward the steps.

By the time we got to the top of the stairs, neither of us cared who would win.

~Garrett~

For the last three weeks, Mia and I had done nothing but paint. Mia had wanted every room a different color, and at first, I’d had serious doubts about her plan. But as we’d finished each room, the paint seemed to bring more and more vibrancy to the old house, resurrecting new life into the drab walls and bringing a renewed, fresh energy with every hue.

The house hadn’t been the only thing benefiting from the color enhancements. With every flick of the paintbrush, I’d found myself falling deeply and permanently in love with Mia. I’d never stopped loving her, even when I wanted to hate her. As the anger had melted, I had been able to turn away from the past, and I had fallen harder.

During our epic paint project, we’d painted the master bedroom a burnt orange. As soon as the paint had dried, I’d shown Mia just how serious I was about keeping her naked. I’d stripped her bare and kept her occupied in bed for almost an entire weekend.