WindSwept Narrows: #18 Paige Andrews

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “Definitely…the one with black and red lace…”

  “Hold this and I’ll find your size and get it bagged for you,” Emily told her, letting her hold the cloth in place. “It only takes a couple minutes to set. You can remove it with baby oil, otherwise, four, five showers and it wears off itself.” They were still chatting as Paige laced herself back up and paid for her purchase, walking into the sunlight with Emily and going to drop her package into one of the side bags while Sebastian stood up and lifted his helmet.

  “I’ll be in touch. Thanks for keeping that stuff for me, Jack,” Sebastian faced Paige as the other couple went to their shops. “What’d you buy?”

  “Just underwear,” she waited and climbed behind him, tugging her gloves on and zipping them closed. “Imagine that…we’ll be able to close cold jewelry theft cases. Doesn’t that give you a little tingle of excitement?”

  “More baffled that it’s all been there all that time. You’d think repair people would have found any of it at some point,” Sebastian commented as he headed the bike down the coastal road.

  “I’d have to do some reading and find out when things really began falling apart for the granary. I’m guessing like most businesses, it starts to go slow and people don’t think much about repairs,” Paige watched the open road become less packed and relaxed a little, her hands still on his waist. “My place…” She said as they drew closer to Tacoma. “I want to collect some stuff and I’ll bring my car up there. Where we going tomorrow? It’s supposed to be really nice out.”

  “Since you’re adapting so well…maybe it should be your choice,” he said, only a hint of humor in his voice.

  “The beach. I know the way,” Paige answered instantly.

  “We’re surrounded by beach, Paige,” he said with a laugh.

  “No. The ocean beach. This is Puget Sound beaches. Miles and miles of ocean and it’s a gorgeous ride. You’ll love it,” she promised, carefully dismounting and stowing the helmet. She plucked her package and keys, backing up a few steps. “I’ll be at your place in an hour or so.” She saw him nod and close the visor before taking off.

  Paige laid the leather jacket by the door and stood staring around her apartment for a long minute before finding what she wanted from the top of a closet. She really didn’t have a lot of stuff, she thought, loading clothing into the case and wheeling it to the door before standing by the closet. She loaded the basket of clothes into the washer and sunk into a chair by the patio, just staring and thinking.

  She wasn’t sure why it didn’t feel like her place anymore. That was baffling her. He…was baffling and not all at the same time. She felt good with him. She felt like herself when she was with him and it was alright with him. She got the difference between being A girl and being HIS girl, how it could make you think differently about some things. She sunk a little lower, pulled her feet to the edge and wrapped her arms around her knees.

  Chapter Nineteen

  She’d agreed to live with a guy!

  “Oh god…my parents…sweet god, my brothers will want to kill him,” Paige dropped her head on her knees and groaned. She pried her cell from her pocket, pressed a button and waited.

  “Paige! What a nice surprise!” Maggie Andrews had a soft, feminine voice that betrayed all her emotions.

  “I got a question, mom,” she drew in a long breath. “How old do I have to be before the guys stop wanting to beat up someone I date?”

  Maggie laughed out loud and walked outside to the front porch where her husband was working on something beneath the hood of his truck.

  “I think brothers always feel that way, honey. Should I warn them?”

  “Let them know I will be extremely disturbed if they hurt him,” she admitted with a sigh. “Actually…he’s had a few similar reactions as the guys at times in my life. They’d probably sit around discussing tactics,” she said dryly, bringing another laugh from her mother.

  “So…come on…you’ve never mentioned anyone sounding so serious before, Paige. Do I get a photo? Is he cute?”

  “Hmm…hold on a minute…” Paige tapped through photos on her phone and sent a couple off that she’d snapped outside Emily’s. “Sent you a couple from this morning. Umm…cute…he makes my knees weak…and my stomach hurts when we argue…”

  “Oh, baby…you got it bad,” her mother chuckled, wishing she were there to hug her daughter. “And it’s not a bad thing, Paige. Oh…wow…Paige Melody Andrews…how tall is he? My goodness…”

  “Six-three…and very muscled…he likes running with me…and I think he does the resistance training thing, I saw the set up at his house,” Paige recalled, a flush of heat on her cheeks at her mother’s exclamation. “Cute…yeah…and then some…”

  “You’re riding a bike?” Her mother asked cautiously.

  “Yeah…well…yeah…yeah, I am…I think I’m getting better at it…he can breathe now when we ride,” she said with a little chuckle mixing with her mother’s.

  “How in the world did you meet him? What’s he do for a living?”

  “That was a minor point of contention,” she inhaled slowly. “I told you the office I’m admin in has the two sections and I told you about Chase and Pepper. Sebastian is the other boss.”

  “Oh…well that definitely could be sticky. But it also means he’s intelligent and determined and very good at his job. You’d have to be to take on the projects you’ve told me about,” Maggie nodded in approval. “And he makes you happy. I can hear it in your voice, baby. Don’t run from that because of the social stuff like being a boss. You’re very good at your job and won’t allow that to interfere,” she told her daughter confidently.

  “I’m moving in with him, mom,” she said quietly, holding her breath and biting on her lower lip. “I’ll send you the address when I find out what it is…”

  “That’s why you asked about your brothers,” Maggie said with a laugh. “Sometimes they’re afraid for you out there alone. I think it’s hard to give up years of protecting their little sister…I’ll convince them this is more along the lines of passing the care to someone else.”

  “Oh, please…don’t you start,” Paige snorted loudly, joining her mother in laughter at the teasing. “I’m sure they’ll be comparing notes as it is…and he doesn’t need their help, believe me. And he doesn’t run from the temper,” she finished as if it only just occurred to her.

  “See…I told you I could hear the happy in your voice,” Maggie inhaled to stop the little quiver in her voice. “We’ve had the sex talk…but it was so long ago…” A hint of humor had them both laughing.

  “I got that part figured out, mom…it’s okay…seriously…” Paige pushed a puff of air between her lips.

  “You know your father will want to come to Tacoma now,” her mother said, glancing over at the man covered with dirt and grime and swearing beneath the hood of the truck.

  “Whining right now would definitely not sound like a thirty-two year old,” Paige said with a sigh. “I suppose if he can handle me, he can handle family. Well…my laundry is finished and I told him I’d only be an hour…tell everyone I said hi and sometimes…I miss them,” she teased with a laugh. “I love you, mom, thanks for listening.”

  Paige dumped things into the dryer and set about cleaning up the kitchen and emptying the fridge, taking the trash out and putting things in order for an eventual move. She carried the one large plant she had down the stairs and was breathing heavily when she got it into the trunk of the car. She had two cases of clothing, an arm load of hanging things on the front seat and a brown bag of food when she finally pulled away from the apartment. How did it get to be five in the afternoon already, she thought, groaning and driving to his house.

  The gates sat open for her which meant he was either confident or working on something or both, she decided, stopping inside and pressing the button to close them behind her. She doubted they would be going anywhere tonight. She wanted to make big sandwiches and take them to the beach
tomorrow. She could smell food. Had it been that long since lunch? She opened the passenger door and popped the trunk, snagging the bag of food and one of the clothing before turning the doorknob. It went inward easily, the sound of small chirps making her realize the doors were armed. She looked over to see him coming from across the large space, bare foot.

  “More?”

  “Trunk and front seat…thanks…if you’re working, Sebastian, I can get this stuff,” Paige set the large bag of food on the counter and noticed the food scent was real strong and real good. Her stomach growled in anticipation.

  “I got it,” he called, following her to the second level and laying the hangers on the chair by the closet. “I moved some stuff and the long bureau is empty,” he told her before going back down to the car.

  “Oh god…I’m really doing this,” she whispered to herself, hanging things up quickly before pulling empty drawers open and laying her case on the chair to tuck things away.

  “This thing need shade or sunlight, Paige?” Sebastian called from the living room, the door kicked closed behind him.

  “Sunshine…by the patio doors would work,” she called back. She heard him come up the stairs and looked over to see him leaning in the archway, thumbs hitched in the pockets of his jeans.

  “Took a little longer?”

  “Washed my clothes.”

  “We have a washer and dryer, Paige,” he returned with a crooked grin.

  “I know…I was just…I don’t know…”

  “Thinking it over?” He offered lightly.

  “I’ve never lived with someone before, Sebastian…but the apartment…after being with you in either place…” she shrugged. “It didn’t feel right anymore. And I called my mom to break the news to her…and ask how old I had to be before my brothers wouldn’t want to interrogate you into the ground,” she looked over at his laugh and just sighed. Weak knees and sharp kick to the stomach. Yeah, he was beyond cute to her, she realized.

  “I’m pretty sure I can handle it, Paige.”

  “I smell food,” she said, turning to walk to him, her hands on his waist.

  “Dinner.”

  “You can cook?”

  He laughed and turned them to walk down the short flight of stairs. “One of my many talents, lady. Since I know from what you bought what you like, it was pretty easy…and should be about ready.”

  She stopped at the entrance to the kitchen, turning to face him. “You were worried I’d change my mind?” Paige slid her fingers into the loops on his jeans, her other hand up and touching the side of his face, watching the shades change in his eyes.

  “A little…” He said finally, his hands at her waist and tugging her closer. “You don’t think a guy might doubt himself now and then?”

  “Never cared enough to ask…or wonder…” She told him honestly, peeking through her lashes at him. “Got a surprise for you…” she laughed at the sudden spark in his gaze.

  “Something you bought at Emily’s?”

  “Oh…that’s a different surprise,” she waved a palm and tried moving away only to have the back of her jeans snagged and pulled back. “Hey!”

  “You opened the door…what’s the surprise?” He asked, his mouth moving over her throat and onto her shoulder, the bite stopped when a glimmer of color caught his attention. He brought one finger around and pulled the scoop neckline of the vest a little to the side. One brow went up and he released her, laughing deeply before pulling her hard against him. “You are one fascinating, continual delight, Paige Andrews.”

  Paige wondered how long dinner would keep when her hands tangled in his hair and her mouth teased and tasted his. When his palm went to her behind and lifted her against him, she hoped he knew what he was doing because she really wasn’t interested in dinner at the moment. She busied herself with his mouth, soft and hard and warm and pulsing with each new foray she made and all of them returned with heat she knew melted her bones but was glad his remained intact as he was carrying her up the short flight of stairs to the bedroom.

  She was also glad she remembered to bring their purchase and toss it to his side of the bed on the nightstand. They parted barely long enough to shed clothing before tumbling to the bed. His grin was amused and hot at the same time when he traced his finger around the delicate red rose buds temporarily inked on her breast. Then she totally lost track when his hands got busy.

  “Wow…” Paige breathed raggedly a while later. “A tattoo does this to you?”

  “You…do that to me,” he corrected when he returned to the bed, his hand lying on her stomach, fingers toying with the tiny ring piercing her naval. “Although…I won’t deny it’s nice…”

  “It’s also pain free,” she told him firmly. “But she does have some seriously cute ones…I’ll have fun with them, I think.”

  “Hmm…I’ll make it my mission to explore and find them when I know you’ve been visiting with Emily,” Sebastian kissed her stomach and leaned up. “Ready for dinner now? Since we’ve already had dessert.”

  “And a finer dessert I couldn’t imagine,” she said with a sigh, pulling a tap set from the drawer and dressing quickly, running down the stairs to the kitchen. He’d fixed one of the prepared dinners she’d bought for the freezer, added nice plump shrimp and some toasted garlic bread. The man was a serious keeper, she thought, looking over at him as she carried things to the table. “Were you working?”

  “I was…” He waited for her before beginning. “But if there’s something else you want to do later…”

  “Sebastian…we need to talk…” Paige winced at the tone of her own words. “That came out wrong…but…have you ever lived with someone before?”

  “I have,” was the clipped answer.

  “Well…did you have to entertain her?” She saw the answer in his face, wanting to smooth it away but resisting. “I don’t need entertained, Sebastian. But…what I would like…a lot…is…” she looked over where he’d placed a large old desk, his computer established along with folders and the soft case he carried to meetings. “A place…for us…like another desk, I think, for my computer and…books…where we can be together but apart. I like this space here…where you’re set up now.” She looked back to see him watching her. “I know it’s supposed to be a living room…but if that’s how we chose to live…”

  “I like the idea, Paige. You have stuff at the apartment that would fit what you want it to be?” He asked casually, spearing the pasta and shrimp hungrily.

  “Yes…yes, I suppose I do…I mean, the stuff I use is there…”

  “Then I’ll arrange to get it moved and you arrange it how you want,” Sebastian drained half the tea in his glass. “I saw some of the books you read,” he glanced toward where he’d set up his home office, gazing around. “There’s a large second living area on the lower level for entertaining and whatever. The main dining room here serves for that. We can set this up for us…TV, music, books…hobbies…for our life.”

  Paige grinned and continued eating. “Just so you know I don’t need entertained. When I want your attention for something…I know how to get it,” she said with a teasing wink.

  “I believe you’re going to abuse my shallowness…” Came the faked shock.

  “Every chance I get,” she chuckled happily, noting that dismay wasn’t one of the tones in his comment.

  Sebastian sat at the newly arranged desk, scowling between the computer screen and the woman pacing things off around the room. He had her upside down over his shoulder at one point when she tried dragging an empty entertain unit from the second level above the kitchen. He set her on her feet, closed his eyes and his mouth, turning to complete what she was attempting to do on her own.

  “You were working! I’m not helpless!” She shouted and slithered up the side to help lever the unit down the six stairs. The house was interestingly built, she thought, with higher levels and sunken levels.

  Sebastian kept one eye on her toes and maneuvered the unit where she wan
ted it, admitting it fit perfectly and would work well for what they wanted in the area. He took her hand and pulled her toward the front door.

  “You’re throwing me out already?” She yelped when the cold concrete came beneath her feet. “Hey…it’s cold out here!” She hopped after him. “Where…the garage? Sebastian…will you say something already!” She stopped when he pressed in a code and stood to the side, waiting. She saw the big black SUV first. In one portion of the three car garage. Then she saw the stuff. She forgot her feet were cold and went into the garage, looking, blinking and turning back to him. “What’re you doing with all this…stuff?”

  “It’s in here because I hadn’t decided yet, Paige. You want to use it in the house, tell me and I’ll move it or get it moved,” he took a step forward, satisfaction in his eyes when she backed against one of the large bureaus. “If you try moving it on your own, I swear I will be more than supremely pissed. Got it?” He watched the rapid nod of her head. “I’ll write the codes out for you. What you don’t want, we donate to the thrift shop attached to the health center. I’m sure they’ll get some funds out of it.”

  “Sebastian…” Paige ran back to the house, waiting in the warmth for him. “That stuff isn’t you…most of it…some of it’s okay…”

  “Just left over stuff, Paige,” he locked up and set the alarms. “I know we can use the dressers upstairs and...well…you do what you want with it,” he checked the patio door and swept her against him, drawing her along with him up the stairs to the bedroom. “It was just me when I set this up…now it’s not…so…” He shrugged and pulled his tee shirt off, tossing it into the laundry basket by the door.

  Paige curled against him and closed her eyes. Something was off. That stuff wasn’t him. Not even in her wildest imagination. It was too…feeble, she thought, as she drifted off to sleep.