What a Bachelor Needs (Bachelor Auction Book 4)(33)

“When?”

“Next week.”

And there was the difference between his life and hers. He looked at her thoughtfully. “You could come with me?”

And that was nothing but pie-in-the-sky, I-bedded-this-woman-last-night, thinking.

“I have a job. A mortgage. A wooden floor in need of staining. I can’t.”

“Independent,” he said.

“And I’m going to age well. Ella says. But I can’t come with you to Switzerland.”

“Can you eat a cheese omelet for breakfast?”

“That I can do.”

“It’ll be ready in ten minutes. I’ll see you in the honesty kitchen.”

It was only Friday morning. They still had all day, give or take his work and hers.

One entire day to get her goodbye in place.

She could do it.

Just.

*

Mardie took Friday afternoon from three to six p.m. off. Reese said she could. She picked Claire up from daycare and dropped her off at her parents and then she went home and found Jett taking the tarp away from her front porch and packing it into his truck. He stopped when he saw her and watched her walk up.

“Can I go through the front door?”

“You have a new deadlock,” he said and fished in his front pocket. “And a new key.” He handed her a pair of them. “And a peephole. Receipts are on the kitchen bench. And the stain for the deck is in your garage. It’s the same as for the floor. Same process. You need to wait until the weather’s better to put it on. Could be a while.”

“I’m going to paint the railing white. And have black-eyed daisies in pots. Claire’s going to love them.”

“Let’s hope they’re edible.”

“Good point.” She stepped onto the first step and the light came on. She headed for the front door, put the key in the lock and pushed, and the door bumped gently off the newly placed doorstop. “Did I mention how much I appreciate your attention to detail?”

“Wait ’til you get in the shower?”

“Do I have water pressure?”

“You do.”

“Genius, man.”

“I like to think so. I had to replace a few tiles though. They’re not the same color as the old ones. I got seconds.”

“What color are they?”

“Orange. But when you get under the hot, cascading waterfall that is now your shower, you won’t notice.”

“I do like your thinking.”

“I have many more thoughts.”

When she looked back, he was leaning against the pillar and wearing a really dirty smile. “Are you coming?” she said.

“Where to?”

“To christen my shower. I feel this burning need to get all naked and wet.”

“How much time do you have before you have to go back to work? Twenty minutes, half an hour?” He was right behind her, already shedding clothes.

“I don’t have to be back at the bar until six. How good’s your stamina?”

He smiled. “It’s really, really good.”

*

Mardie had welcomed Jett Casey into her house at seven thirty on Monday morning and she said goodbye to him on Friday afternoon at a quarter past five. Jett was uncommonly silent, leaving Mardie to do the talking.

“Thank you,” she said. “For the home improvements, for your time…for everything.”

“It doesn’t have to end like this.”

“You’re going to Switzerland. And in six weeks’ time you’re going to be back in training for ski events. It’s what you do.”

“It’s not all I do.”

“It’s what you want to do.”

“Can I come and see you when I get back?”

“Sure. I’ll probably be at the bar. Drinks are on me.”

His smile faltered and finally fell away altogether. “I’m not taking the commentary job next week. I’ll travel to compete, but that’s it. If that’s not an option, I’m more interested in being here. With you.” He pinned her with his gaze. “Am I going too fast for you? Because I’ve been thinking about my need for speed and your need to consider things thoroughly before making a decision. I have a proposition for you. For you and Claire.”

“I’m listening.”

“You give me six months to prove that we can make a relationship work. I’ll be away for some of it and there’ll probably be challenges. At the end of that time, if we’re still going strong, you give up your job, put tenants in your house, and come with me on tour while I chase one last World Championship. You give me eighteen more months of travel and then I’ll retire from racing and we’ll settle back here in time for Claire to start preschool. What do you say?”

“But… you could have anyone.”

“Exactly. And I want you. We fit together, Mardie, and I’m willing to back us all the way. Marriage when you’re ready for it. In six-month’s time or another ten years. I’ll wait.”

“No fear,” she murmured.

“I have a distinct lack of it.”

“I have more than I need.”

“This is going to work well.”

“And you’re an optimist,” she said darkly. “And a morning person.”