She leans forward to place her now empty bowl on the coffee table, quickly objecting when I stand to take hers along with mine into the kitchen.
“You’re a guest in my home, Isaac. I’m not letting you pick up after me.”
“And you cooked. My Grams taught me manners, Sawyer. The least I can do is clean up the dishes.” I bend at the waist and kiss her lips. “I’m just going to wash these. I’ll be right back.”
I take a moment in the kitchen to really absorb everything I see, to try to get more of an insight to Sawyer. She has such a unique style in her home. Everything has her personal touch, and nothing feels out of place. It’s crisp and clean, but it doesn’t feel stuffy. There are magnets on the fridge with papers, bills, and pictures attached, and one of those black cat clocks from the 80s by the door that leads to her backyard.
I place the bowls in the dish drainer then look down to see Herbert has decided to make figure eights between my ankles.
“What are you doing down there?”
I scoop him up in my arms and scratch his chin, which he seems to enjoy.
“Are you just checking me out? Making sure I’m good enough for your mama?”
He doesn’t answer, of course, unless you count licking his chops then wiggling his head as an answer.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
I shut off the light in the kitchen and head back into the living room with Herbert in my arms, and when Sawyer sees, she just scoffs.
“I don’t approve of this. He’s stealing you from me.”
She reaches over her head and pulls a blanket from the back of the sofa and tosses it out over her legs.
“What do you say, pal? I’ll put you down now so I can go make out with your mom, and then once she’s fast asleep, I’ll come find you in the cover of night, okay?” I hold him closer to my face, pretending he is answering me and then I put him on the floor. “Thanks. I’ll make it up to you.”
“You only want me for my kitty.” She wiggles her eyebrows then holds up the blanket, offering up the space next to her.
“I am fond of that kitty of yours. I haven’t spent enough time with said kitty though. We’ll have to remedy that, don’t you think?” I sink into the space beside her and tuck her into my side, pulling the blanket around us.
“You can pet my kitty anytime you want to. My kitty is your kitty.”
“Oh yeah?” I pull her legs up into my lap and trail my fingers along her knee.
“There’s only one way to get to know a kitty, right? You have to pet them and stroke them... learn what they like.”
I walk my fingers up her thigh, thankful she changed into shorts and I can feel the warmth of her skin under my touch.
I place kisses along her cheek to her ear. “Can I stay the night and leave from here tomorrow morning?”
She shivers and leans into me even more. “I had hoped you would.”
I take her hips in my hands and lift her up, settling her over my lap.
“I hope you don’t like very much sleep.”
Chapter 19
Isaac
It’s amazing how quickly two and a half months can pass when you find yourself having fun with someone every moment you aren’t working. Thanksgiving zips by and so does Christmas until we settle into the middle of January.
Sawyer and I have gotten closer every single day since the night we got back from Napa. I knew from the beginning she’d be a problem for me. What I didn’t count on was just how much of one, because even now, as I’m wiping down the truck after a call, I can’t hide the look on my face knowing I’m taking her to dinner with Grams tomorrow night. The two most important women in my life spending time together, formally, means everything to me.
“What’s gotten you so chipper today, Black?” Grady asks, with arms crossed over his chest.
I hop down off the side of the truck and toss the towel I was using over my shoulder. “Can’t a guy just be in a good mood?”
Sawyer and I haven’t really been advertising to folks back here in Sunnyville that we are seeing each other. We are just taking the time to get to know each other and just enjoying simply... being together. Being with her is, without a doubt, altering everything about me for the better. That’s for sure.
“You’re usually such a sulky bastard. I’m trying to understand the mood shift happening here.”
“Fuck you, I’m the life of the damn party and you know it.” I fling the towel from my shoulder to his as I walk by. “You all would be lost without me here.”
“You mispronounced happier. We’d be happier without you here.”
“Don’t you have something to be doing rather than out here flirting with me? It’s getting old, man. I appreciate the compliment though.” I pull a clipboard from the wall; checking things off I’ve done so far.
“You’re not exactly my type. You’re missing a few key things that I very much enjoy.”
“Black. You’ve got a visitor.”
Grady and I both turn toward the front at the sound of the chief’s voice over the intercom just as Sawyer comes into view with two to-go boxes in her hands.
“Well, hello there,” Grady says. “I think I have found my answer to why you’re so damn happy. You’re finally getting laid.”
I jokingly shove him back as I walk by him on my way to her.
“Hi,” she says sweetly, holding up the boxes. “I thought I could drop of some food for you? Olivia and I went to dinner so I ordered some for you. I figured I could bring it on my way back home.”
Fuck, she’s beautiful.
She’s wearing a pair of high-waisted jeans and this short
